Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-06-20
LELAND AND GRAY
C0MMENC CEMENT.
A Week Of Interesting and Diver
Sified Exercises.

Prize Defamation Awards-Dr. Mey-
er's Address-Alumni Day-Princi-
pals Reception.
There was just enough of cloud. shower
and sunshine to make the weather all
anyone could ask for during commence
ment week at Leland q Gray Seminary.
The exercises began Sunday June s,
with the annual sermon by Rev Il. a.
Royal, pastor Of the Baptist church.
Townshend. The subject of the dis
course, was based upon the passage of
scripture found i'm Acts 26:19. Mr.. Royal
was Thoroughly at home with the subject,
and brought out the different points i'm
a most forceful and eloquent manner.
1t could not have been otherwise but help
full and uplifting to everyone in the
large congregation that listened TO it.
The public examinations of classes took
place Tuesday and Wednesday. One
fact was brought out very prom
inently in the several classes that much
hard and thorough work had been done
by both students and teachers 1t Is n
noticeable and lamentable fact that more
of the trustees and citizens are not in
terested in this part of the exercises.
Annual Prize Defamation Contest.
Wednesday evening, June 18th, at Sem
mary hall occurred the annual prize dec
lamation contest, which was of unusual
merit The contestants were chosen from
the whole school as representing the best
speakers of Leland and Gray Seminary.
Following is the program:
PART I.
/. Back in War Days" Pauline Phelps
Charlie II. Palmer.
2. THE Honor of the Woods" w II.
II. Murray
Oren Smith.
3. The Traitors Death Bed" Geo. P.
Lppard
Willie c. Harvey.
4. THE Execution of Sidney Carton"
from a Tale of Two Cities. Charles
Dickens
Charlie l.. williamson
5. THE Stage Drivers Story" Anon.
Harry Cobb.
6. THE Firemans Prayer" Rollins
Raymond r. Starr.
PART II.
l. THE Egyptian and the Lion, from
Last Days of Pompeii Bulwer-Lytton
Esther Dale.
2. The Mountain Tragedy" Charles
Josephine Taft.
3. Louis Triumph over Ambition"
f. S. Phelps
Eta Cobb.
4. Heroine Of Nancy Anon.
Cora Barnes.
g. "A Perilous Adventure. from Ninety
Three Victor Hugo
Jessie johnson.
G. The Chariot Race" from Ben Hur.
Lew Wallace
Mabel Sage
The first prize for the young ladies was
awarded to Miss Mabel Jane Sage the
second to Miss Esther f. Dale. The
prizes for the boys were awarded as
follows: first prize Willie Harvey. second
prize Raymond Starr
The work OF each contestent was ex
ceptionally fine. and every one was
deserving of a prize. but special men
ton should he made Of the work of Miss
Josephine Taft as she took the place and
selection that had been assigned Miss
Starr who was obliged to leave school
al the close of the tenth week thus Civ
ing Miss Taft less than two weeks to
learn and work on her part while all
the others had six weeks, and as the
selection was an unusually strong and
difficult one to render it showed marked
ability on the part OF Miss Taft in hand
ling such a selection in so short a time.
Altogether 1t was one of the best con-
tests that the school has had and it
reflected much credit on the school and
contestants and especially on Miss Moor,
who had the work in charge. The con
test showed hard painstaking work.
music by Leitsinger's orchestra of Brat
tleboro. and was greatly enjoyed.
The judges were Miss Mabelle Harlow
teacher of elecution at Vermont Academy
Col Osgood of Bellows Falls and Mrs.
Gratia Davidson of Newfane.
Address by DR.. Myers.
The address before the alumni and stu
dents was delivered by DR.. Cortland
Myers of Brooklyn. Thursday at 10 o'clock
a. IN. DIR. Myers had chosen for his
subject. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit
of Happiness Words utterly fail to
give hardly a conception of the intensity
of feeling, the power and the eloquence
the speaker manifested in the address.
Never before was an audience so COM
pletely held captive or so completely
in the hands of another as the audi
ence was that listened. 1t is the
verdict of all who were present that the
address was the best ever given in
Townshend.
| am sure that there was no one present
who has not a higher ideal and a broader
conception of life than he had before.
1t is only to be regretted that more of
the citizens were not present. The ora
tor was applauded again and again and
when he had closed, the audience would
not let him go but called him back.
DR.. Myers in responding paid a noble
tribute to Principal Edgecomb and the
good work he is doing for the seminary
and implored the people of Townshend to
do all in their power to sustain him in
his noble efforts for l.. G.. S. which he
said was worthy of all that could be
done for it.
At the close of the address Principal
Edgecomb awarded the following prizes:
First prize for excellence In defamation
for the young ladies was awarded TO
Miss Mabel Sage, second prize, to Miss
Esther Dale; first prize for young men TO
William Harvey and second prize to Ray
mond Starr The prize for highest rank
in scholarship in junior class was equally
divided between Miss Myra Hardy and
Miss Ethel Johnson, each having the
same rank. The prize TO any member OF
the freshman class receiving the highest
rank in Latin was awarded to Miss Eta
| Davis; honorable mention was made OF
| Raymond Starr and Fred D. Osgood.
Alumni Banquet
Immediately following the exercises al
| the church, the alumni, faculty, and trus-
| tees went to the Townshend Inn, where
| Landlord Davis had prepared n fine ban
quet under the auspices of the Alumni
| association. At the close of the repast
| Prof Howe, the POSTMASTER, in few wei
| chosen remarks introduced the following
| speakers: Rev. Il. a. Royal who respond
! ed in a most enthusiastic manner to tho
/ toast Church and its Relation to School,
| Deacon c. @. Stebbins in a pleasing way
responded to "reminiscences before the
| War" Deacon Follett responded to the