Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-02

NORWICH UNIVERSITY, J
Mortified, VT, January l, 1873. {


Northiield, Vt, January l, 1878.
The editors ofseveral of the leading pa
pers of Vermont have kindly allowed me
the use of their columns to correct few
false Impressions in regard to this school,
which exist in the minds of many of the
most intelligent young men in the State
The first is that the school is in any
sense connected with the United States
Government, or that its cadets are being
trained for service in the army. Govern
ment furnishes an officer of the army as
instructor of Military Science, and a sup
ply of infantry, artillery and signal equip
ments, with ascertain amount of ammuni-
ton, but the cadet is free to come or GO
as the student of any college or academy
We simply hold that the citizen of our re-
public is not trnly educated until he is
trained, not only for the calling of civil
life, but is capable of taking up arms in
her defence. Our school has done this by
furnishing in the late war five Major Gen
erals, seven Brgader Generals, forty
Colonies, and a great number of officers OF
the lower grades. These men were in
civil life or cadets at the outbreak of the
war, hut their military education gave
them immediate prominence.
A second impression is that our cadets
study principally military" Occasional
ly student of some other college calls up
on cadet friend, and looking over his
bookcase sees books of the higher mathe-
MATES and classics. The student generally
expresses his surprise. and acknowledges
that he had entertained the idea that the
cadet spent all his time in the study of
military subjects, We are military in
our government and discipline, i. e., we
do everything in Il military way, and we
drill in hour each day. All other military
branches are taught by lectures.
The third impression is that the course
is exacting, and hard on delicate student.
Parents sometimes fear that sickly boy
cannot stand the discipline. The regular
hours to bed and to rise, and the fixed
hours for meals, with the drill, are the
best means to secure improved health, to
such boys. Every consideration and
kindness possible is shown cadets, with n
proper attention to study, and the military
government is never used to Cypress them.
One more and less fattering impression
is that because we are military, our inst-
tuition is in some way reformatory in
character. This is wrong We are not a
school for the correction of bad fellows.
Our cadets are well behaved, and feel
certain that any Of the citizens of North
field, if referred to, will bear witness to
my assertion. 1t has frequently been the
case, however, that young gentlemen who
have had difficulties at other schools, have
come here and become our best cadets.
There is something in the military system,
with its responsibilities and the confidence
reposed in the cadet officers, that appeals
strongly to the manly qualities of a young
man, and develops his character in the
right direction. Military drill makes a
man graceful and easy in his manners, and
our cadets are always noted for this.
Finally, in regard to our c'1rjculu0s-
we devote most attention to scientific
architectural, typographical, engineering
and English branches, with ancient and
modern languages introduced to suit the
student. There is also a business and
academical course. Students leaving lis
for other colleges have always gone into
corresponding classes with those lhep left,
without condition.
CHARLES A. CURTIS,
Capt. U. S. Army, President.