Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-02

Yesterday Hon. z. r. Webb Of wstervilIe.
formally presented TO President Pepper. in
behalf Of ex-Gov. Abner Cobarn, for Colby
University, the keys and the title to the Coburn
Classical Institute.
Remarks Of Hon z r. webb.
Mr.. President IL am intrusted with com.
munication to you, 40 the executive head Of
Colby University, from the Hon Abner
Coburn, who, by reason Of the infirmities
incident to more than four score years of
active and honorable life, is not present az
this time.
This is not the first time in the history of
the University, thar il has had occasion to
hold Gov CoDurn in grateful remembrance.
for bis broad minded liberalify and generous
gifts, which are traceable in every department
OF the University, and now following freshly
in their shadow. he adds another and stiii
greater to the heightened succession.
Ii Is fact Of general publicity that Gov.
Coburn has erected here. for the benefit of
the University, an imposing edifce, at az ex-
pense Of 10000.
This material structure Is designed by the
donor, both as monumental record, in hon.
orable memorial Of the names of his brother
thereon, and as q fountain of learning 70
which all may come who wish; nay more, he
has also covered into the treasury Of the Uni
versity the sum Of $50, 900 in money, a. an
endowment fund TO aid in the maintenance of
Coburn Classical Institute; thus making at
this time, and for this branch Of the Uniyer-
sity, the extraordinary and welcome donation
Of 500, 900.
IL is his desire to place the title to the same
in the University for all coming time, and
therefore, at his request, and in his behalf,
now deliver to you the keys. and with them
the title TO the edifee. and fund. thus plac-
Ing within your control powerful and sus-
tanning ally of the University, completely
equipped and ready for immediate service !;
equipped not only with palatial edifice and
generous endowment, but with an instructor
at its head Who embraces within himself al
most the elements Of Faculty.
Mr.. President, should feel that had leu
something undone. at this time. and in this
connection, should omit to make mention of
one who became connected with the Institute,
when it was known as Waterville Academy,
when its condition was enfeebled, and its
existence evidently yielding to apathy. and
want of encouragement; and who brought to
its rescue, his individual learning, labor and
reputation, and through whose efforts the
present high attainment of Coburn Classical
Institute has been achieved.
And, Sir, am not making DIR. Hanson in
delicately or unjustly prominent when / say
he has made the Institute honorably promi.
nent in the history of similar Institutions of
learning In the country.
Gov. Coburn, seeing the development of
the Institute menaced for want of a suitable
edifice and endowmsnt. and moved by the
impulses Ola noble heart. has made these
compreheueIs~s Acrsch e4etsemenss poor bow
of the fututh semi-annuaI convention OF lib
sfa1 sq4A meteur Journalists was held in this
ss- afternoon, q good number being,
And be- The following officers were ele,ation
IA theiekss4 Herbert Parsons of NortfKi0us
|ffee6om% .asyn,.ss. se Uni
versity with ia eenhM.. & nnuk- that they
shall be dedicated 70 the two great objects
which can never be rightfully separated from
each other-the honor Of God and the service
Of man.
President Peppers Reply.
President Pepper received the keys of Co
burn Classical Institute on behalf of the
the trustees. and emphasized the sacred trust
which they symbolized. He paid graceful
tribute to DIR. Hanson, its illustrious head,
who is also its heart. He congratulated ex.
Gov. Coburn that in this gift to learning he
had transformed gold and silver into mental
and moral life and had thus secured fit and
perpetual memorial Of himself and of those
whose names are inscribed upon its front.
Thrice happy must he be to realize and to
participate in the benefits and blessings OF
his own munifcenee. He remarked upon
the beautiful and suggestive location of the
building, facing the rising sun; the business
and life of the town; and contiguous to the
park, with its monument commemorative OF
the undying virtue of patriotism, and hsnked
by the spires of the temples of worship, and
surrounded by christian homes. He next
spoke Of the beauty, the symmetry and good
taste and substantial and enduring quality Of
the building. and said, "But we remember
that it IL school house and not a mere work
of art, and If not adapted to that purpose II
must be wretched failure. The true school
house il not less teacher teaching than q
place and means for teaching by teachers. II
| is an object lesson perpetually exerting q 81.
lent, but potent Influence on the community
in which il stands; and especially on the
youth who daily assemble in it, Very close
Is the affinity between good taste and good
morals and we cannot well over estimate the
power of such 4 structure as that we tonight
dedicate, to help our children to the ideal of
beautiful life and TO the realization of that
ideal Every dollar that has been here ex'
pended in obedience to q refined and refining
taste will henceforth by perpetual process
transform itself into sweet and pure manhood
| In the students of Coburn Classical Institute,
into such character and life as they had and
have whose names the building bears and
commemorate As in taste so also in mate
rial. IL is an object lesson ft to teach and to
be taught 10 all men. Every part has sub
stantial worth and 30 bespeaks worth OF
character and conduct, shames, shams. hon.
ors honesty and calls to q manhood sound to
the core every fibre true and tough. Such
lesson, always needed-was it ever more
needed than to day Can such lesson be bet
ter taught than in the very stud out Of which
the school house is made. The thorough
ness and skill of the builder have everywhere
embodied themselves and speak to all ages
DIR. Hanson's work in the school-house
has been thorough and exact, as Should be
the work of all teachers. When our schools
fail to demand and exact of students honest,
outright work when do-easy, go-easy never
mind slip shoiism prevails in the schools,
better burn the school-houses or transform
them into workshops. But how can q
teacher train his pupils to faithful study in
room where slovenliness of work stares at
him from ceiling and walls, from moor and
furniture and rattles in the windows and
whisties in the wind