Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-06-23

gas is professor in Teachers college,
Columbia university, New York.
George Bernard Chase, a son of viii
f. Chase of West Brattleboro, was the
winner of the first prize. He will en-
fall Besides winning the first Austine
prize he was the winner of the Univer
sity of Vermont scholarship of 800.
Miss Lamoille Clark Langworthy won
the second Austine prize. She is
worthy of Hinsdale, N. H., and is an
high school orchestra.
Miss Hazel Dorothea Wentworth,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. William r.
Wentworth of Brattleboro, won the
third Austine prize.
Miss Ruth Marjorie Hale, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. d. NJ. Hale of East Do
yer, and Miss Mary Elizabeth Moran,
daughter of Postmaster and Mrs. NJ. j..
Moran of Brattleboro, were announced
as joint winners of the fourth prize.
In addition to these prizes Miss
Gertrude Mary Austin, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. James Austin of South Main
street was awarded a University Of
'
highest average for the college prepare
tory course.
While Leitsinger' IS orchestra played
march Principal f. Burr Smith con
Quoted the speaker of the evening, Mr.
IIillegas, to seat at the left of the
stage and was followed by the mem
bers of the school board and the facul-
ty of the high schol
The marshals, Howard Holland
Thayer and Dwight Beeman Fairman
of the junior class, conducted the mem.
bers of the graduating class to their
seats on the right side of the stage
and the orchestra played the overture,
Raymond, by Thomas. Rev. George f.
TomkinsOn, pastor of the First Baptist
church. invoked the divine blessing
and the high school glee club, under
the direction of Miss Lucy A. Proctor.
supervisor of music of the public
schools, sang My Dream, by Waldteu-
fel, selection considerably out of the
ordinary for high school clubs and one
remarkably well rendered. In fact the
musical part of the program revealed
an important advance in this branch
of the school work.
Principal Smith then briefly intro
duced Mr. Hillegas, whose subject was
Development Of Personality. Mr.. Hill
egas mentioned SOME of the elements
essential to a forceful personality and
showed by apt illustrations how they
could be developed. 1t was a clean
cut and logical address and dealt with
some commonplace things in a very UNI
usual and impressive manner.
Prof. Hillegas's Address.
Mr.. Hillegas said in part: "Some
years ago it was my duty to select
teachers for n school system. | soon
found that | tended to express my
Judgment of candidates in brief,
though conclusive, form by saying that
either | liked or did not like their per
sonality. Later l had the privilege of
training teachers. | found that other
principals and supsrintendents like
wise based their judgments upon per-
sonaity. What is true of these men
is also true of other professional men
and of business men generally.
Judgments based upon personality
are always given with such finahty
that one might suppose that personal
ity, like finger prints is Interchangeable
1t would be a cruel fate if weak per
sonality were joined to- an individual
at birth and he must take 1t to ms
grave, suffering all the limitations and
defeats which its possession imposes
vet unable to improve or change TINS
essential in his equipment. 1t would
be almost equally distressing II the
one who is credited with strong per-
sonality had to feel that he is strong
merely by accident and that he cannot
improve.
''The truth is that personality may
be Analysed into certain well defined
characteristics. Each Of these factors
is capable of marked development
Hence, personality, so far from beng
fixed and interchangeable, may be modl-
fed at ones will. / shall hope 10
bring to the attention of the class OF
1916 important features Of personall'y
and to indicate ways of developing
each.
"The first essential in strong per
sonality is knowledge, This must IN,
clude knowledge of men and AFFAIRS uS
well as knowledge of facts gained IRON.
books. There is no end to examples
that could be given to show the I'M
portance of knowledge. In fact we
sometimes value it too highly, and at'
cept the Judgment of specialists our lI.
side the boundaries of their own menus
Ono one doubts that knowledge can
be developed. Today momentous prop,
lens connected with public affairs sur
us in the face. Upon the settleemeh' ~
these problems depends not alone our
well being, but that of generations 20
come. 1t is safe to say that NOT SIN ti',,
the Civil war has there been the go stiim
illus for gaining knowledge OF anu raS
that exist now, when every neWSpaPel
presents the subjects for un'veis,oS
course in politics. 1 commend ~ 70"
this ever present SQUIRE OF khoWlcuse'
Supplement it by readng reliaDle mug
azines and books.
"Another Requirement OF a strong
personality is the ability to express
thoughts. Men and wmen have risen
from obscurity to the foremost places
among their fellows beause they were
able to express their thoughts clearly
and forcefully.
"This also is an ability that can be
improved. The princiles that govern
this improvement are efnte and you
are now supposed to now them 1t
remains for you to itpblish proper