Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-27
SHANNON OBSERVATORY.
Hoqesnt Address BY President Small
Words OF Eioqusnce ard Learning
Spoken BY Others

WArExviLfE, Sept 70.
The rainy weather intsrfered somewhat
with what would otherwise have been mos,
successful ceremony st the laying of 'he cor
ner stone of the nev Shannon Observatory.
The exercises were most interesting large
number Of the friends Of the college we're
! present. zmopg them several Of the trustee 8,
including Judge Bonney Of Portland. Ex-
ceilent music vas furnished by the Togus
Military Band.
Among the memorials placed in the copper
box beneath the stone. we're copies Of the
college publications, catalogues, reports and
obituary records. the charter Of the college,
various daily papers and portraits Of Col.
Shannon and Prof. Rogers.
PRESIDENT SMALL said:
THE fact which We celebrate today marks
. noteworthy stage in the development of
our college. Last evening 1 listened to an
address by the elder but one Of our living
Alumni. He spoke of Waterville college as
he RENE mbsred it during the ten years fre N
1920 To 1880, when its whole faculty co.,
sisted Of three professors. These three pre-
sided over three departments. Sacred Theo-
logy, Language, Mathematics and Natural
Philosophy. Ali the instruction given by
the college was included In three groups
We can imagine something of the breadth
and depth Of knowledge impaired under
those conditions. Since the first decade of
the life of the college, departments have
been differentiated As know ledge has grown
more special, and ability has increased to
give instruction in the methods Of investiga-
ton peculiar to specific sciences. Today,
we celebrate not the recognition of q distinct
department of research; that has gone be-
fore. We call attention to the individualiz-
ing of another departme mt by erecting for it
distinctive environment. August Comte,
the father of modern scientific classifca-
tons, declared that inorganic phenomena are
the materials Of three distinct sciences first.
Celestial Physics, or Astronomy; Terrestrial
physics, which is not one science but two;
namely: First, physics proper; second,
chemistry. In the building whose corner
stone we lay today, the muses. of celestial
ply sizes and of mechanical terrestrial physics
are to find home, and this home is in itself
= proclamation, the completed college con-
seriousness that inorganic phenomena are not
tumble which may be adequately distin-
tinguished by the loose and unsceptiic des.
ignation, ''mathematics' and '.natural his
tory
house of two tenements will be the home of
two scientists with their disciples; the one
studying the expounding of the phenomena
of the heavens, the other observing and de-
claring the laws of terrestrial mechanics.
Till that day comes, we are fortunate in
having our house tensnted by an occupant at
at home in either tenement; a searcher of
the heavens who has for years contributed
to astronomical owledge, and at the same
time physicist who Is to win still higher lau-
rels, stimulating to more careful research in
the realm of terrestrial mechanics. AS we
lay this corner stone, We are moved both by
q realization and an anticipation, for we
build upon it not merely the structure thar ia
seen before, we build upon it determination
that 1t shall be in u certain sense the corner
stone of another edifice to which Colby
10 able to give an equally worthy tenant a
laboratory for the sister science of charity. |
May Colby's chiefest wealth and justest |
pride ever be not her buildings but her men.
Yet may the merits of the men who here
labor as teachers and who here gather as
learners, demonstrate TO new friends of
higher education the wisdom of broadening
the material foundation upon which our col
lege labor rests To the nam's of Colb,
and Morrill, and Wording, and Colburn. and
and Shannon may many more he
added, who with large wealth, seek its most
productive Investment in furnishing the ma
terial means with which our teachers and
learning colaborers at Colby, shall work
for the improvement of the world.
Prof. Rogers enumerated the purposes of
the buil,iing as follows; First. an indispens-
able help to instruction in the regular curric /
ulum of the college. Second this building
tnI ,.tith Tar an1. 5
the stui lent in the experimental which he
may elect, either in physics or astronomy.
II will especially be the aim to give to
students such practical acquaintance with
the subject of electricity as will fit those who I
purpose to pursue the science as q profess
sion, to enter with advantage the best schools
of electrical engineering, such as Johns
Stevens Institute, Harvard, the .
institute of Technology, or
the more recently established special schools
at Worcester, Columbia College and Prince
ton. Third the building is planned with
reference TO special scientific investigation.
The speaker here gave detailed descrip-
ton Of the construction of certain portions
of the building. Fourth, the building
should be the means Of contributing to the :
enjoyment and knowledge of all friends of
the college. especially by the free use of the
telescope in viewing interesting objects in
the heavens. Fifth, this building with all
it's appointments. is consecrated not only to
the students now connected with the college,
but to all who shall hereafter enter its walls.
1t ought to be the means of turning the at
tention of students to this college, and when
they are once matriculsted, it ought to be /
one Of the means of increasing their loyalty
to the college. Ii ought to help make the
college known for what it does, rather than
for what il promises to do.
Prof. Hall gave an interesting account CT |
his student relations with Col Shannon He .
him as a student and a man of I
the most uncompromising honesty. He felt .
that Colby had conferred a blessing upon
him which it was his duty to repay. The /
payment came in the form of the fund for I
the observatory.
Prof. Hall was followed bv Mr.. George N. |
Hurd, class of 80, who delivered an oration /
on behalf of the students. Mr. Hurd voiced /
sentiments in keeping with the advanced !
thought of college student bodies of today. I
arguing in favor of greater cooperation be-
tween students and faculty.
The reception rendered DR. Small in the /
evening at Memorial Hall was a brilliant
gathering and by its numbers and euthusias- I
tic welcome of the new president showed the !
appreciation in which DR.. Small is held in
this community.
A short sddres. of welcome on the part of
the trustees of the college WAS delivered By
Hon. +. Webb, on the part of the faculty by
Prof Elder and on the part of the under