Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-05-30
Colby University Notes.

The final examination of the Senior class
took place Friday. At the class, Mr.. L. w.
Grimes president of the class, addressing
DIR. Smith who has been acting president
during the past year. said: The class OF 81
have imposed upon me very pleasant duty.
About year ago our honored president was
suddenly compelled by reason of severe i'll
ness to reliDquish for a time the duties of his
office, those duties have since been performed
by you. An appreciation OF the manner in
which they have been performed So far as
they relate TO the Senior class have found eX
preston in this letter drafted by committee
appointed by the class, and adopted by the
unanimous vote of the class:
COLBY UNIVERSITY, May %, 1881.
To DR.. :. h. SMITH:
Allow TO express our appreciation of the man.
ner in which YOU have discharged your new and
difficult duties during the past wear For the spirit
of inquiry which you have aroused, for the nsiruc-
ton and for the earnest and personal counsel which
YOU have given We extend our sincere thanks The
memory of the hours spent in your classroom will
be among The peasantest which We shall carry with
US when we leave these halls.
Respectfully. CLASS OF 81.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
letter, DIR. Smith responded as follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT, GENTLEMEN OF THE SEN
IoR CLASS: / thank you for this expression
of your approval and appreciation of the
work have done in your behalf during the
portion of the year in which the class have
been placed under my charge. | have re-
ceived other indications of your appreciation
of my work during the course of the year.
and this has been one great source of strength
and encouragement to me, in the semew hat
trying position which have held. You have
given me to feel that | had the support of
the Senior class in the management of the
college. And this has rendered my work not
.,,,l,- h,,t in,
pleasure. l deeply regret that | have been
able to serve you no better. The duties of
my own department have led me very much
away from the fields we have explored togeth-
er this wear. OF course | had not neglected
the great question of political economy and
morals which have So engrossed the thought
of the age in which we live. But l have
studied them for myself rather than for others
and hence could not give you the results of
wide experience and practice in unfolding
and establishing the views hold. Something
may have been done however towards giving
prominence both by my example and teaching
to the great fact that love of truth for its own
sake and not mere prejudice in favor of some
dogma or stereotyped system is the first
requisite for successful study of the pro-
found subjects to which we have devoted our
attention. We have been occupied for the
most part with debatable questions. We have
discussed them with fairness and fullness
and we have come from their discussion with
views certainly not less settled than before
and ! may say with some difficulties removed
and some obscure ideas rendered clear.
Thanking you again for the expression of
your sentiments towards me | beg leave to
assure you of my deep interest in your well
fare and of my hope and confidence that your
future course will be as successful as your
past has been honorable to yourselves and
the College.