Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-06-18
18TH COMMENCEMENT.
Randolph High School Graduates .
Class Of Seventeen.

Thursday, the 18th inst, was COM
mencement day OF the Randolph High
/ school and was one of June's rare days.
All nature seemed in sympathy with the
hopes and joys of youth and granted the
omen of fair weather to the voyagers just
setting out on the sea Of life.
There was a large assemblage for the
Glass day exercises at 2 o'clock in the aft
ernoon at Chandler Music hall, whose
stage was simply but very effectively dec
GRATED. The class motto, "Possunt, quia
posse videntur,' appeared in the class
colors of gold and white, the colors also
of the oxeye daisies that in large punches
hordered the stage, while ferns and palms
lent their graceful beauty to the scene.
The program was interspersed by selec-
ltions from the Music hall orchestra, the
opening march ushering in the seven
teen graduates, who took seats uron the
stage with Prin. E. G. Ham, while the
1 Junior class of the school marched down
an aisle to seats in front of the stage.
Thaddeus Allen and little Miss Helen
Morse were the flower bearers and their
baby bewilderment over the important
duties devolving upon them was pretty to
see.
Rev. Joseph Hamilton of the Methodist
church offered the invocation. Miss
Esther E. George then called the roll of
naughty-eigbt with few pointed refiec-
lions on the mischievous propensities or
distinguishing characteristics of its mern-
bers, wi no responded with apt quotations.
The presidents address by Ralph ID.
Twitchell was a thoughtful Grafton on
the responsibilities awaiting the young
people and the education that fits them TO
do their share of the worlds work.
Every person has some special calling,
and he can be somebody or nobody as he
chooses. Each has within him the ele-
ments of growth and his education is to
develop those elements into full-grown
powers. We have the spreading tree
from the little sapIing but not without
effort on the trees part. Like the body,
the mind is trained by exercise, and a
strong mind as well as a strong arm is
wanted in this busy world where there
are hard things to do and no halfway
work is tolerated. Education is not a
term to be applied only to what a man
gets out of books; it is finding what there
is TO a man--not So much increasing
what he knows as enabling him to prove
what he is.
The class history was rehearsed by
Miss Lena A. Kilburn, whose gentle
humor played over the simple facts of
caught and held the attention as she
sketched graphic picture of that happy
period in which, though there may be
sermons in stones, there is certainly fun
in everything. She has a nice style and
showed the art of the true historian,
whose master touch weaves facts into a
tale more enhancing than fiction.
The class essay by Miss Essie L. Smith
was an excellent elaboration of the
thought contained in the class motto
l"They can, because they think they can. y
Determination and perseverance, which
are half the battle in any undertaking,
are found in these words. They form no
motto for the weak-hearted, "who can't,
because they think they can't" but they
breathe that spirit of courage which makes
the achievement of what is possible, pos
sible. and leads on to victory.
Miss Emma A. Blakely justified her Sc
lection as class poet and in flowing num-
bers touched lightly on the foibles of her
classmates. She did rather difficult
thing we'll, and her poem merited the APP
probation with which it was received.
James s. Rand delivered the address to
undergraduates, upon whom, he assured
them, now rests the reputation OF the
school, and urged them to strive to work
together in the athletic field and in the
schoolroom. Changes in the faculty
through the regretted designations of
Miss Dubois and Miss Warner, and a
new course of study next year would give
them some things to overcome, the better
through united effort. He asked them to
use their influence to form lecture
course, with lectures by men of this and
other towns, which would stimulate
thought and broaden their outlook.
L. - i
toned an athletic association, in full con-
troll OF all athletic affairs, q track team and
a suitable place for the practice of basket
ball. The prospects for athletics another
year he thought very promising rs the
school has fine material for foot, as well
as base, ball. He took leave of the I'M
dergraduates with hopes for their future
success and prosperity and trusted that '0S
had their good wishes.
A bust Of Washington, the gift of the
class to the school, stood at one side OF
the stage and was gracefully presented by
Miss Stella L. Morse. Her essay on the
greatest of Americans cleverly brought
out those truly American qualities OF
Washington that, ripened in the rough
school of experience, hardened in the fire
of hostility and adverse criticism, at last
enabled him to place his country on a
firm basis of national prosperity and
made him first in war, first in peace and
first in the hearts of his coHntrymen.
jackson Vail, '09, accepted the gift for
the school and coupled with his &C.
acknowledgements regret for the loss of '0S
and hope for its future success.
Forts H. Abbott was the class prophet
and kindly refrained from INDUCING in
: the usual Nightmares of class seers, who
, from time immemorial have been in the
habit of dreaming dreams and seeing Wis
, ions on commencement occasions. In
stead, he preferred to prognosticate
, about the future of his classmates, who,
now strong in mind and heart and full OF
knowledge, are about to adventure upon
the world. Their paths would diverge
widely and the great majority would
probably have to work for their daily