Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-06-14
GRADUATION LAST EVENING.
Address by President Harris of Am
herst,


practically on the first floor was oc-
cupied by holders of reserved seat
checks, and large number were seat
ed in the balconies. Across the front
of the platform was a high bank of
laurel bearing the date 1901" in white
flowers, while overhead hung the class
motto, AT the Threshold" in blue and
white, the class colors.
During the first selection by Lett
singers orchestra the members of the
graduating class, the speaker, Presi-
dent George Harris of Amherst col
lege, the High school teachers and the
members of the school board took
seats upon the platform, and at the
close of the orchestral selection the
school chorus assembled on the stage
and rendered the Bridal Chorus"
from Governs Rose Maiden, led by
Miss Emma Gregg, the music teacher
The selection was rendered with spirit
and assurance and was a good exam
pie of the excellent work which is be-
ing done in this line in the schools.
Rev. r. X. Marvin invoked divine
blessing upon the young people about
to go into new spheres of life. The
glee club then sang a march by Yea
zie, after which the orchestra render
ed a selection from "Tannhauser"
preceding the address. President
Harris's address was along new lines
as compared with previous addresses
before the graduating classes of the
High school, yet it was practical and
within the comprehension of all. At
its close the chorus sang Chorus of
Pilgrims by Verdi.
The Power of Attnetion, the Power
of Concentration.
President Harris said in part: The
number of pupils in the High school
has increased greatly in the last 10
to 20 years, and the number of second
airy schools, especially High schools,
has increased. In the former times
there were the county academies
which were attended chiefly by those
who were expecting to go to college.
Besides that, there was the district
school for part of a year, and the
bright, ambitious boys went to the
academy to prepare for college. Now,
in every considerable town. there is
a High school, and many of the pupils
are not intending to enter college. so
that the studies in the High schools
are not confined to classics and mathe-
MATES, but history English, sciences,
modern languages are taught. Those
who expect to go to college pursue
the classics and mathematics in the
High schools, but since some wish to
enter college the colleges now receive
those who have not pursued the old
classical course.
The High schools are debating to
the colleges concerning preparation.
and colleges are conforming them
selves to the schools on all lines of
education. When we ask what educa-
ton is, whether one pursues it for
longer or shorter time, we answer
that it is the power of attention. the
power of concentration and mastery.
One who has learned to attend exclu-
sively to that in which one is engaged
has trained mind. If we could look
into the mind of some boy during the
nour when he is looking on his book,
we might see a little Latin, some foot
ball, some thoughts of fishing, and a
great variety of other interests, with
the result at the end of the hour that
he knows very little what is in the
book.
If boy, when he is playing quarter
back, should not notice the signal
and so bad play be made, and should
say at that moment he was thinking
of the case of the ablative absolute or
OF an algebraic problem, he would be
dismissed from the team
And so, when he is studying, if he is
thinking of amusements he is no
scholar. When one has learned to fix
and hold his attention on the thing
in hand, so far he is educated. While
cd Of IirI ;,
preparation for life, the higher educa-
ton of the college is a still better pre-
paration. Those who are to enter the
professions need a college training.
While there are successful lawyers,
physicians, clergymen who are not col
lege graduates, still the culture which
is attained in college is requisite for
nearly all. Whether college training
is a good preparation for business is
a question often asked. Without at
tempting to answer that, it is certain
that the young man who goes through
| college has resources for his life, has
comprehensive of value which are life
long, has broader outlook, a greater
enjoyment and satisfaction than one
who has not had such advantages.
Business men who have not been to
college wish that their sons may have
a college education, although they may
intend to put them into business.
Those who have had several years in
school or college should follow out
some line in literature or history or
science, and these have a resource of
enjoyment apart from vulgar pursuit
| There is a legend of the middle ages
that every spring Charlemagne walked
up and down the land with blessing
| producing bountiful harvests and fruit
| full vintage. So every spring our
schools and colleges send out trained,
cultivated youth to be a blessing to
man and to the world.
Diplomas Presented.
In presenting the class to the school
board Principal Whitaker urged the
! members to be prepared to give of
themselves and of all that they have
! in a larger measure than in the past,
| by reason of which the country may
! be made better, to give freely that
others may be enriched thereby, but
in a way so as not to impoverish
! themselves. The diplomas were then
conferred by Rev. e. Q. S. Osgood, of
the school board, who alluded to the
many pleasant hours of the past and
expressed the wish that the future