Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1875-06-29
LFrom cur Special Reperter.l
MiddIebury Connencement.
MIDDLEBuRY, July 90.

MIDDLEBURY, July 90.
Now that the dust and smoke of bat
tie are past, and all things have fallen
into their usual channels, nearly every
one sees that the commencement just
passed was one of unusal excellence.
The attendance was very large, and yet
every one was provided for. The cor
dial hospitality of the people was taxed
perhaps, though by no means exhausted.
Its capacity seemed as great, and its well
come as hearty on the arrival of the last
visitor or long absent son, as when /
strolled almost solitary stranger into
the town Monday morning. About the
first thing 1 noticed on entering the
home of my friend that day was the sig
nificant word "Wclcome," tastefully
wrought with evergreen, and located so
that even he who ran might read, and
that was the spirit of the people. Surely
Wendell Phillips cannot include Chris
tian hospitality among the ''lost arts" of
this town. And this harmonizes with
Ou6 huuicss VI ISsAoSul hubCti ehot
the college is thoroughly Christian in its
instruction and influence. Closely allied
to this is high degree of social culture,
and strangers to Middlebury expressed
their surprise on discovering so much of
it in this town so far removed from our
bring together company more cultufed
in all respects than that found at Mrs.
Wainwright's on Wednesday evening.
There might be more wealth or ostenta-
ton, or display, but not more of the es-
sential elements of the highest manhood
and womanhood. Not that the material
incidentals of dress, equipage, etc,
were noticeably absent they were
rather conspicuous by their presence,
especially for a rural town of less than
four thousand inhabitants.
President Buckham emphasized the
value of these Influences to the students
in Burlington, and rightly, too, but l
cannot see in what respect young man
is less favorably situated in Middlebury.
| know that relatively speaking, the lat
ter town makes more of the college than
the former; the college is the great in
stitution of Middlebury, while Burling-
ton has, like every city, its absorbing
commercial interests. The point | would
make here-and | make it in justice to
both colleges-is that so far as social
advantages are concerned, there is but
little choice. All that could be desired
will be found in either place.
The more | think of it, the more ad-
mire the wisdom of President Hulbert's
position that each college has its special
| field of usefulness, and with him, l
would have each emphasize its special
ty. Let the distinguishing features of
the course of study in each college be
made even more markedly distinctive.
Middlebury make broader and more thor
ough, if possible, its classical and lltera-
nv curriculum, while Burlington do
the same in respect to its mathematical
and scientific departments, with as wide
a range of optional studies in each as
the circumstances will allow. Such a
course will be better for each college,
and vastly better for the cause of
sound learning in the State than
the fruitless endeavor ot each
to teach everything thoroughly.
Besides, public opinion among educated
men, as well as among those seeking an
education, is divided as to the desirable
| ity of purely classical and literary or
scientific and mathematical education.
The method advocated by DIR. Hubert
and myself How we apples swim =
as well as many others, leaves that opln-
ion Just where it should be, TO work 1t
self out in its own chosen way. Ihls
point reached, Presidents Buckham and
Hubert might canvass the State To-
gether for the further endowment OF
their respective colleges, and the spirit
of Isaiah's prophecy-xi:6 s. q-Would
find most desirable realization III the
borders of our own beloved common
wealth. Young men would be able TO
decide which college to select, ana they
might find it wise to avail themselves OF
the advantages of both during their col
legiate course of study.
The question of admitting young Ia
dies to an equal share with young men
in the advantages Of college training
might well be left where it is-the sole
work of Burlington. There may be
friends of that college who deprecate, Its
new departure in this direction, wnlle
some of the ardent supporters OF MID
dlebury wish it to open its doors 10 the a.,
young women also. Let it remain as II
is; it can be solved better by one coilege
than by both, and, if it falis, lel
one college have an d1amaaae which, II
J number, scholarship and influence, snal
have an honored place; the life and his
tory of the dina Mater, instead OF De
ing practically lost by a division between
the two. But if it succeeds, as beilev'
it will, Middlebury can adopt it at any
time, but as the matter now stands II
the public mind, Burlington can DO al
that needs to be done, and do it bette
alone than with any aid which Middle
: bury can offer.
| set out to say some things about tn
| record the aQllegat hoe made through IL