Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-20
School Dedication.


excelling 1t in adaptation to the wants Of our peo
ninety feet, and two stories high, surmounted by |
a be-tower. It is built Of wood, with granite |
foundation and slate roof Inside there are four
main rectaton-roOms on lower floor, opening of |
from the main hall above are three main rccta-
tion-rooms, the two rooms on the south being con-
nected by sliding doors 80 az TO form one room
when desired The northeast corner up stairs is
divided into two rooms which are intended for
library, cabinet, music aud ornamental rooms
The building in all It's parts is admirably fitted
for it, purpose and is really one Of the finest in
the state. The winter term began in It ON Mon
day, December I'd and on Friday last 1t was ap-
propratcly dedicated 10 It's work
Early candle light" saw every room illumin-
ated and the people began to come in soon after.
The first hour was devoted to general inspection
of the rooms and building generally, and judging
from the favorable comments heard ON all hands,
the building more than came up to their expecta-
tons in finish and fitness The exercises Of dedi.
cation were held in Sodth HAL, which was liter
ally cnmmed full.
First in order was a voluntary by the North
field Cornct Band, which was given In their usual
creditable manner opening prayer by Rev W l.
Hines, rector Of st. Mary's Parish. Introductory
remarks were then made by the chairman, DR. +.
d. Bradford, who in his customary felictous style
endorsed Christian education as second only TO
the Christian church in power and value. In
retrospective view he touched upon the origin aud
progress Of the public school system. lie spoke
Of the old Colonial records OF Plymouth Colony
as showing that In 1910 this colony enacted the
erection Of public Westinghouse in every parish
and made Il obligatory Tor the Governor to build
on neglect Of the parish and levy tax on the
parish 10 repay him The oil obtained from
whales cast upon the shores by tempest or other
wise was TO be sold and the proceeds deposited in
the county treasury for the support Of godly
ministry, attendance upon which, both Of parents
and children, was made compulsory the chill
dren in addition being taught some orthodox cate
chism. In 1919, just two hundred aud one years
ago, the law was passed by the same colony re-
quiring public school To be supported in every
parish by the profits Of the Cape cod fishery And
attendance on these schools was made compulsory.
From that day to the present the public school
system, enlarged and improved, has been the es-
sental prominent New England idea An elo-
quent reference was made To the invention Of
telegraphy, and 10 the origin Of the plan Of sub
marine teegnphy, or more particularly the sub
atlantic telegraph, which idea first prevailed in
the brain OF our own Professor General jackman,
OF Norwich University, hut who from lack Of
means TO make practical his scheme WIS forced to
see another New Highlander reap the benefit Of his
ingenuity and gain the honor which otherwise
would have been his
The Doctor spoke Of Washington county rs hav-
ing large educational privileges Montpelier with
her excellent Union School and her popular
seminary; Barre with its Goddard Seminary and
DR. Spaudngs Academy, both schools Of good
repute; Waterbury, with its Baptist Seminary,
and Mortified, with It's Norwich University an
institution TO which Vermont owes a debt Of
| gratitude it ought to acknowledge and our graded
school, while though yet comparatively in it, u-
fancy, Is one Of which we are proud, MS we have
a right 10 be The burning of the old academy
building regarded as a great and almost ire
| parable loss. We now see It was not an I'M
mixed evil, for that building had outlNed is
usefulness, had grown too small for our wants and
could not be repaired without destroying it, sym
metry, and we now see beauty arise from ashes
and grandeur out OF ruins-a permanent edifce
which we hope may stand for ears to bless our com
| munity and honor those concerned in It's erection
After music by the choir the Doctor introduced
Rev. Professor Buekham, President Of the Yer
mont University, who began by abiding to the
fact that twenty ears ago standing nearly in the
same place, he gave his first educational lecture,
at that time introducing and advocating the es-
Enlistment Of graded schools. Then there were
no graded schools in the state; now they are
found in every principal village lie compli-
mented the character Of the school building which
he pronounced a credit to the village, and he
honored those who, in spite Of difficulties and oI-
position, had projected aud carried through sue
cessfully the erection Of so fine building at so
large a cost to a village Of so moderate wealth.
lie then announced as his topic, The higher edu-
cation for business men, using the term business
largely to include all not included in the pro-
fessions
lie said the expression of a common business
education" was an insult TO business men. A
good opinion Of business required the giving to
It's young men the very best start possible lie
applied the term to common legal educa-
ton, common medical education, showing
the weakness Of the argument for applying
it to business and not to the professions. The
first argument against giving to boy such
an education is, the boy may change his mind
and not become business man after all The
boys talents cannot be foretold Ills prefer
euces may be- aud frequently are whimsical
merely. Higher education enlarges, quicSens and
develops the mind and makes him a broader man.
man who studies only what may be used in his
business in its narrowest sense becomes in his
life a mere apprentice to business machinery
but he who chooses the other course grows into
an enlarged and ennobled manhood, and he should
be so educated that he will become business
nun and not business nobody. lie said he
knew men who were rich and in that sense pros
perous, who outside Of business, were mean mon,
intellectually paltry and cheap and gross
1t is said America worships wealth only, that
character is at a discount but this is not true.
There is a gruff, old man, who has had his hands
to his elbows for sixteen years in the public treas
ury and came away poor there is another just
landed from Spain who betrayed his official trust
and is ricS And yet what boy would choose to
be Tweed instead Of Spinner?
To condemn q young man 10 a mere business
education is TO say to him. Take no account Of
usefulness in life or Of a nobler life hereafter,
but let your first aim be business, your second a
business, your third business | say to young
men; Don't hurry into life before YOU are ready.
Come in with mind worked up to a consciousness
of your powers and talents. Prepare yourself for
business, but do more-prepare yourself for a
large, noble and useful life
Second-l would urge the higher education he
cause of higher business success. The prevail
ing idea among many is that at this time extensive
knowledge and careful training is not n paying
investment; but this is a false conception. The
frightening and sharpening of the intellectual
faculties will help man everywhere In all bust
ness Like Agassiz, young man should be
trained to get through heap of hard work in a
day. Out OF a hundred average collegiates, but
very few failed in business. Having occasion to
acquaint myself recently with the alumni of
Vermont University, saw many at their homes
and their places Of business, and of those saw
or know none were other mems clerks or ser
wants All were masters in their business. Many
were eminently successful, and none were posi-
tive failures.
In pioneer times luck and shrewdness often got
the start, but now when competition is sharp, and
margins are small woe to the man who is not
thoroughbred. The business men Of the country
must meet the demand OF the times for Il higher
grade of industrial enterprise. bridges will be
built In the next generation rs superior TO the
Victoria bridge as it is superior to those Of the
last generation but they will not be built by men
who scorli the higher mathematics aud cling only