St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-06-17
COMMENCEMENT.
Perfect Weather and a Very Large
Gathering Of Alumni Does Honor to
Class of 1908.

people not only from ST. Johnsbury but
from all over Caledonia County.
THE CLASS DAY EXERCISES.
The class day exercises were held on
the Academy grounds Thursday after
noon in the presence of large company
of alumni and friends of the class The
day was perfect and the air unusually
clear so that the speakers were very
easily heard. The scenic effect Of class
day, the white dresses and bright young
faces, against the background of June
green is something that appeals to
everyone and never was the picture
more perfect than this year
Soon after four the class marched from
the Academy to their seats north of the
building, led by their president John H.
Wilson of Cranky. The class essay, by
Vera Drew was on Castle Building
She said that people Of all ages and al
classes build castles and no two are
alike. The large beautiful castles we
should build are made of hopes and of
works which enlarge the character of
the builder. The class day grafton, by
Aloysius Beck was a description of the
British Expedition to Lhasa, the Capi-
tol ofMysterious Tibet, the hardships of
the trip and why it was a failure.
The class history by Pauline E. Ran
dali was an outline of the deeds and
misdeeds-especially the latter-of the
class of 1908 during their student days,
and was evidently much appreciated by
the class. The class prophecy by Anna
l.. Gibson of Hanover was an account
of her wanderings around the country in
1917 TO find the various members of the
class and urge them to come to a class
reunion. The prophecy of the prophet
by Clara D. Whitaker Of Newport
painted a rosy future for the prophet.
The most amusing part OF the class
day exercises is the presentation, an
ppropriate-sometimes embarrassingly
appropriate-gift to each member OF
the class. Many of the best hits are
wasted on the outsiders but class day is
above all for the class, and the presenta-
tion furnishes no end of fun tor them.
The presentations were made by the
class president. Charles Hill made the
presentation to the presenter of a bottle
of nerve-killer The exercises closed with
the singing of the class ode, written by
Helen Eastman to the music of "Old
Heideburg."
THE GRADUATING EXERCISES.
On Friday morning New Music Hall
was filled with friends OF the graduating
class. gathered from far and near. The
class of 1908 had the advantage over
previous classes of a newly decorated
hall The class colors, red and green,
were effectively used. Over the stage
was hung the motto, "Virtus in actione
consistit," in red letters on green back
ground, while ferns were banked in front
of the footlights, and in the center Of the
stage front was a huge bouquet of
American Beauty roses. The class was
seated on the stage this year, with the
trustees and faculty occupying boxes.
Young's orchestra played at intervals
during the program.
After prayer by Rev. S. G. Barnes, and
two selections by the orchestra, the
salutatory was given by Miss Dora NJ.
Wilson of Cranky. The subject of her
essay was "The worth of weeds. She
compared the. worthless members of
society to weeds. But nearly all plants
were once weeds; only by cultivation
have they become beautiful. Weeds only
need a chance to develop their latent
possibilities SO with human weeds.
Give the street waif chance, he may
become an Owen Kildare the drunkard,
John B. Cough; the poor foreigner
Jacob Riis; the negro, a Booker T.
Washington The salutatory, which
followed the essay, compared the ac-
quiring of an education to the running
of race, and graduation to the reaching
of goal.
William c. Walker of Cabot spoke on
"What revolution has accomplished for
the Russian people" Revolution in
Russia forced the government to insti-
tute certain reforms. Now the student
has a greater freedom to delve into
social and political subjects, the press
has greater freedom, and men of in
fluence may address the common people.
The Duma, so disappointing at first, has
at last demonstrated the capacity of
the Russian people for representative
selfgovernment. The revolution is not
over, but the people are sient-waiting,
hoping, trying to discover solutions for
their problems, preparing themselves for
the future struggle.
The next speaker was Miss Edna A.
Wells of CRANKY whose subject was
Vacation" She described the different
ways Of spending vacations, and what is
the best way. True vacation should
mean change A person whose work
necessitates a quiet, systematic life
should spend his vacation in some place
where there is more hustle ami hurry.
Those who are busy with books all the
year, should put them aside and spend
their vacation out-of-doors.
John B. Woods delivered an Grafton on
Mark Twain, the representative
American humorist." He outlined the
life of the great humorist and argued
that he is wholly American since
American" has come to mean originate
ty and audacity His styles audacious,
rather than scholarly, his English prim-
itive, not derivative, while his
characters are distinctly American. he
is not only fun-maker but a humorist,
having under all his drollery a vein OF
seriousness.
After music by the orchestra Col. c.
S. Emery ofNewport presented gradua,
tion certificates to thirteen graduates OF
the bookkeeping course and twelve OF
the shorthand course.
"The education of the voter" was the
subject of an oration by Dwight L. Wells
OF CRANKY. The chief causes OF the
downfall of Greece and Rome were bad
government and corruption in politics.