The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-18
The Military in College.
FREEPoRT, July II, 1874

hEEPORT, uIy &, loit
To the Editor Of the Press:
While looking over the columns of the Bruins
wick Telegraph | noticed an article on Bow
dom College, in which the editor extols the
drill and attacks "Parent," whose letter appear
ed in your columns. In the first part of his
article he discusses the question of physical
exercise. | desire to call attention to that part
OF his article, in which he speaks of the gym
nastic exercise at Bowdon He says: 1.-THE
more ordinary forms of exercise fall far short
of the results reached by the select classes, and
certainly far short of the good reached through
the infantry drill" The editor makes won
derful display of his ignorance of what is ac-
complished in gymnasium when he makes the
above statements. He does not know how
much is accomplished in the gymnasium. He
does not know the system of instructions given
in the gymnasium by one of the ablest direc-
tors in his own department, in the country.
Why should Mr.. Ienney endeavor to prove the
gymnasium a hoax? For he says it is wol Sc
than the infantry drill We have at Bowdoin
fine gvmnastic building valued, L believe, at
sixty thousand dollars. We have, in fact, the
best advantages for physical exercise of any
OOHcSc III the COuutIys SiuCC 4ul. Odi SCho boS
instituted his system of exercise in Bowdoin'
be has been to Yale to give them few months
instruction in his system, for two years past
think that is very fair recommendation for
the department.
l think the editor of the Telegraph must be
crazy on this drill question, be endeavors to
make people think and see as be does, when
they know themselves, he is entirely wrong in
his belief.
Certainly, General Anderson does not agree
with Bro. Tenuey on the drill question, judging
from his remarks on the fine military bearing of
the graduating class, and they are the only class
who have had full course in The military de
partmeDt.
He calls Parent ''sorehead." Well, 1 wish
there were more just such sore heads, If there
were Bowdoin would not be in her present con-
dition great while. He is the only one of
great many who dares to express his opinion
honestly and canddly. And l think the Tele
graph falls tar short of its duty when it en-
deavors to cover up the real facts in the case
He further says: 'Granted that there are
grounds of complaint, what possible good can
arse from 'hu loo just at PRESENT." 1
have been kept concealed long enough, and am
glad there is one who has backbone enough to
to publish mis- views, so that those alumni who
are not interested enough in the college to at
tend commencement bur who may, perhaps,
read the papers, can know just what condition
their alma mater is IT,
The Telegraph refers to his theology. L like
his theology much better than the heology of
those W no are on the Board, but send their sons
to Amherst and other colleges on account of
the bad moral influence of Bowdoin, or on &C
count of the lack of physical exercise, when
the physical exercise at Amherst is not to be
compared with that at Bowdoin. Yes, Brother
Telegraph, it is just such theologians we reed,
men who won't send their sous out of the state;
men who won't send their sons anywhere else,
but Bowdon. And when the alumni are thor
oughy imbued with such theology then, and
not till then, will our dear old Bowdoin prosper.
O. S.