The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-07-15

| ihE EOOhiMENCEMENTO OF mIDDLEBURY
COLLEGE, July G, 1881.
To The Honorable and Reverend Tyus.
tees of Middlebury CoUege..
In assuming the Office with which Won
have honored me, you may naturally
expect that would here discuss some
high theme of morals, or of speculative
truth, and in that way attempt TO vim.
dictate the wisdom of your choice.
But have chosen to depart very far
from the precedents of such occasions,
| shall attempt to give you in plain and
simple language my conception of a
college, of New England college, like
this college of ours, and also of my du-
ties as its president. My object will be
not scientific. not literary, but wholly
practical, such as the cxigencies of the
college at the present time seem to de-
mand. The first step towards recover
Ing lost position is fully to compre-
hend it.
What, then, is a New England College 7
1t Is an organism. II is an organic
whole, which has grown up out of the
life growth of the New England mind,
already furnished with the best expert
ence Of the Old World.
Its fundamental idea is the systematic
laying of firm foundations for the SUI
perstructure of professional and active
life. 1t is not so much the acquisition
of knowledge that is aimed at as the ac-
QUESTION of the principles and elements
OF chief leading departments of human
thought and science. The fields of
thought have been traversed with ex-
perienced and repeated steps, and those
portions selected which the philosophy
of mind and the philosophy of human
life have proved TO be most serviceable
to the end in view.
By naming them we may view the
different parts of the organic system,
and obtain clearer views of what is need
ed to promote its harmony, and growth,
and strength,
First in point of time, if not ofyalue,
is the scientific study of language. This
has been agreed upon for centuries as
| constituting an absolutely necessary.
part of d liberal education, and il would
be out of place to argue the question
heIe. The classic languages of antio-
nifty being fixed and nnchangeable in
all their attributes, have the first and
highest claim upon the scholar, and give
TO the close student the richest reward.
but not TO the exclusion of the great
living languages, especially of The
French and German, the repositories of
80 much science and art. If this COL
lege has somewhat underestimate
their high claims, that time is past, and
they are already classed among the
elective studies. One of the wants of
this college has thus been supplied, but
we are looking for some friend, and
we hope he is here present, who will
found profcssorship of these modern
languages, and then the linguistic part
of our curriculum is complete.
A second department is that of
mathematics, which has always been
held as necessary to the best mental
training. This science furnishes also
such Instruments of research and ex-
RFsssSa g aSa IL IL RpRS aappsa s sfS S
its position in course OF study can
never be doubtful one.
We have, thirdly, number of
connected studies, distinct, yet as.
sociated by natural affinities, that claim
your most serious attentions. They are
Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, Geol-
ogy, Zoology, Botany; magnificent and
brilliant sisterhood, now stepping grace
fully forward to receive the admiration
of the world. How shall Middlebury
college receive them? Like the beau
tiful everywhere they make great de-
mands upon the purse for their suita-
BILE array, and this has compelled us TO
treat them with what may have seemed
to some scant courtesy. We have
given them small or dark apartments.
a
light of day with an appearance of ori.
entail jealousy. But this sisterhood is
not only brilliant but useful, and that
in very high degree. They develop
natural wealth. They guide and in
spirit private and national enterprise.
They unfold to man the supreme wis
dom and power of God in his works.
They have prominent and rightful
place in every institution of learning
that can lay claim to the name of college.
The rapid progress of these sciences
makes IT difficult TO keep pace with
them. No one can be a specialist in
them all. But that which a college
course is designed to give-the leading
fundamental principles can be given
and received with lively interest and
true expansion of intellectual power.
Changes have been found necessary
in these departments which have met
with your appreciation. The old philos-
optical Instruments have been repair
ed, repolished, and brought out into
convenient glass cases. One thousand
dollars have been expended In the pur-
chase OF few of the modern instru-
ments much needed, and Prof. Brainerd
Is zealously prosecuting the latest
advances in that department. The
department will demand at least a
thousand dollars every year to keep it
abreast of the times.
For the department of chemistry a
new and more convenient laboratory
and lecture room is greatly needed, and
vii! be prepared during vacation. to-
gether with some better privileges for
students private work in chemistry. A
strong draft chimney will carry up,
both from the laboratory and the
students private workroom, all the
noxious gases. More abundant and
purer light will be let in which will
make Prof. Seely's not unamiable
countenance TO shine with new luster,
and he will be surrounded with better
facilities for work and demonstration
More money Is needed to make il all
that could be desired.
The museum of Natural Science, des-
tined for all collections in Geology,
Mineralogy, Zoology and Botany, hav.
ing been driven out of its old quarters
by Prof. seely TO obtain suitable place
for his new lecture room and laboratory
will find refuge in the former library
room. The exiles will find their new
home vast Improvement. Withou
crossing the desert or wandering fort,
years in the wilderness, they will fins
themselves in the promised land, tn,
Canaanites that dwelt there having fle,
before them and founded a colony In tn