The Portland daily press., 1865-08-12
COM MnNoEMENT AT VAUDEVILLE.
DltFce ct decOrum est pro patyia mort.
VAUDEVILLE, Aug. IL, Is

VAUDEVILLE, Aug. II, 1865.
Want OF time prevented me from entering
in my yesterdays letter, upon the proceedings
Wednesday respecting a suitable memorial Oh
the dead sons of Waterville who have fallen IN
defence of the country and the laws. Inc SUD
iect is too grave, touches too nearly the honor
of the college, and through the college OF the
State. to be treated slightly and inadequately.
At Harvard and Yale, special meetings Of
alumni have taken into grave consideration the
question, by what testimonial their apprecia-
ton of the self-sacrifcing patriotism of their
brothers dead on the field of honor, could best
be marked. Bowdoin has entrusted the same
matter to a committee, and the alumni of Wa
tervie at their meeting of Tuesday, as have
already mentioned, appointed committee for
the same purpose, with instructions to report
after the college dinner Wednesday.
The assemblage at the dinner was so large,
there were so many present who had some
thing to say and from whom all were glad to
hear, that it was late before the report was
called for. In the absence Of the President of
the Associated Alumni, DIR. Champin, Presi-
dent of the college, was invited to preside
The report was read by the chairman Of the
committee, Rev. HI. A. Hart, of 1857. The
committee state that three plans were suggest
ed to them, and as they were unable to give a
decided preference to any one, they deemed it
best to present all. The first contemplates the
erection of memorial column with suitable
Inscriptions, within the college precincts, where
it may stand forever, teaching lessons of pa
triotism to the latest generations. This propo-
sition has the merit Of being perfectly feasible;
it is better, much better than nothing. The
second contemplates the building of memori-
al hall. 1t is the plan which has been adopted
at Harvard, but attracted least notice at Water
vile. The third, which was received with
most favor, is novel. 1t proposes to endow
military professorship, as a lasting memorial
of the war; to provide a small armory and set
apart therein room for such relics OF the
war and such memorials of its heroes as may
be gathered; without turning the college
into military school, to ingraft upon it some
military features demanded by the spirit of the
dmes, and furnish the State and country with
| young men at least grounded in the elements
| of military science. All over the Southern
States are, or rather were, military schools; at
the North we have only West Point. Early in
the war, our volunteer officers suffered from
the lack of that very knowledge, which was
| the birthright Of many Southern volunteers.
Drill might take the place of gymnastic exer-
cises, as has often been suggested. These and
such as these are the arguments urged in be-
half of the scheme The alumni who have
seen service, were unanimous and enthusiast
tic in their approval of it. One of them offer
| ed at once to subscribe $4,000 for the endow-
ment. The estimated amount required is
about $4,000.
The report was accepted and the subject re-
ferred to a new committee of Is, who were in
| structed to consider the third plan and to re-
| ceive subscriptions, and empowered, if the
scheme proved feasible, to elaborate the details
subject to the approval of the faculty, and car
| ry it into effect The committee as constitute
ed, consisted OF Hon. Josiah FL. Drummond Of
1916, chairman, Maj. Gen. Chas FL. Smith, Of
| 1856, Brig. Gen. Fl. M. Plaisted, of 1858, 81. W.
Richardson, of 1858, Rev. Moses ]. Kelly, OF
1888, Rev. N. M. Wood, of 1914, Colonel R. B.
Shepherd, of 1857, Stephen Coburn, of 1880
Major Chas. P. Baldwin, of 1853, Rev. A. K.
| P. Small, of 1S49, Rev. Alfred Owen, of 1858
Prof o. S. Stearns, of 1910, S. r. Thurston, of
1853, Col. S. G. Fletcher, Of 1859, and Lieut..
Col. Hesseltine, of 1868.
A subcommittee, of which Col Plaisted was
chairman, was subsequently appointed to con-
| fer with Gen. Howard and ascertain his views
of the proposition. AT a meeting of the grand
committee yesterday morning, Col. Plaistel re
ported that he had waited upon Gen. Howard
and the scheme met that officers hearty APPROX
al. 1t was therefore decided to open subscrip
ton books at the earliest moment, the detail.
of committee work were arranged and distrib
uted, arrangements for future meetings and fol
monthly reports from the members were per
fected. Watervie will at least make the at
tempt to keep her fallen sons in memory, moi
bysigns but deeds, not by memorial tablets on
ly but by training new generations of men in
the spirit of Heath, and Boothby, and Parker
and Keene, and furnishing instruction which
these gathered for themselves on the perilous
edge Of battle. r. w.
4W lt