Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1891-06-30

urr, with the emphasis OF soliiity, the
forvc and conviction 10 such perfect ,dsp'
tation Ia the place aud the demand.
Not a mansoleum for any imposing
burial, not a coliseum for rude exhibit
tlon II physical athletes, not memorial
~ military achievements, a depository
of ancient relies, q baIaar of fashion
not pantheon IL Hydrologic deltics, of
temple ~ the mlghtier controlling nam
mon: but what will nov venture DELHI
crsi.ly o. affirm !. nearest Fundamentally .ln
the best civilization ot the most cnllglien-
"a permanent rrpubllc-,he achisu,y. U.
th. family flrstf Then, beside the church
of Christ, next to II. 80 nearly part 81
u. the true academy. In u. own place,
doing It. own work, radlsting IT. own
legitimate Influence. may h. second In
worth Ia no other Institution In the rc-
public.
IN comparison with the Acknowledged
Importance of the Office ~ the Inventor,
the accountant, th. manufacture; az
the more conspicuous college, uul'ersl-
~, professional schools, halls ~ legisla-
tlou, this may secm fcoll.hly prcsump-
tuous claim. Vet, even n.sillng In ~
tirrment among the hills, lik. the rustic
cottage 10 Virgil. -carccly seen behind
the corn. the mo.ls-t academy may prove
the truth of What seems so prcsumP,u-
ou..
For L. lmportanc. appears ar'i In the
very iis,s of IT, special power or the ags
~ their lives when the soyercigns ~ the
republic r-crly, It. peculiar Impression.
Earliest family life !. according - the
varied condition. ~ p,rcutagc, birth, in-
fancy, which, alas are not always most
promising.
The primary schools hay. their own
brief importance during the develop
ment ~ .otns capacity for introductory
u.e, like the preparatory icnpcring II
clay. But when the plastic clay comes
to the pottcr's wheel, u begins "a catch
those moulding, formative touche. of
impression 80 deciding the .hape ~ your
future ya.c, aud the marks u must al
WAYS wear.
What time Ot life .o nearly like that
q. When coming ~ the academy From
almost Involuntary childhood, With
scarcely a decisive thought, the eNentful
turn, Just stepping Independently up %
the door II the academy, Indicates the
birth ~ an ambition, q look onward, an
awakened aspiration, which really b.
gin. to catch, crystalirc, secure indell-
blc impressions. How many an emi-
ncnt man tsstlnc. that when, from the
farm hou.s, ~. entered the door of the
academy for hl. first enrollment, the
very place was to him more august than
sfterwari was any public forum; the
prrc,ptor, who dictated his firsi "Aic,
kasc. No." wa. a morr Imposing. author
iiatiy. oracle than afterwards was any
Socrsie. or Plato.
In two or thr-. years then, were re-
cel,cd those peculiar, decisive lmprcs-
.lon. never Ia b. ef'ac.d; and evidently
because they wcr- really the hrst main
Impressions voluntarily accepted, for
some real life purpose.
Then a ssc0Rd fact 81 such importance
I. that for such large proportion oi
citizenship, the academy must furnish
the completion ~ their special school
education; since not twenty per cent oi
it, student, ever enter higher lnstltu'
tlOn.
The fcs forts, ob.c,atorie., church
spires, are prominent, but not -o essen
tial a. the dwellings for all the people
The learned profession. have thelr
good place a. they can have only In con
nectIon with the main body of citlken'
.hIp, Ia all IN. essential csllings Of life,
where /. az much of useful knowledge
Pres. wayland said, II step Into AL
most any workman's place so SURE I.
ilnd one knowing something of which
am ignorant, doing something beyond
INV power, contributing his share of th'
national strength. How can .o many
~ these bc In front ranks Of practica
lnielllgcnccr'
The acadcmy, at just the crisis time,
gave them the essential working outfit
sufficient knowledge of their own Ian
guage, of mathematics, natural science
political economy. methods of inyestlga
iion, for practical application to all In
du.trIe., for becoming accurate towi
officers, members ~ legislature, sud a
have seen them from this academy, be
becoming foremost merchant princes.
Then, "a such ones become the parent
of the community, In only = generation
how perceptibly the academy, more ans
more. throws best influences ever bacl
behind itself. Families are started Will
II. higher impulse; a. Dr. Talm,ge sug
ge.ts "the children are better born !;
the primary school. are qulckene'l, send
Ing up brighter jewels; the academl
| thus rising In It, power by reinforce
meut of IL. own sous and daughters 10
it, own increasing laurels Of higher hon
or.
The venerable friend who for NOR
than a quarter Of q century was th
watehful secretary of this board of tru.
tees, aud through hls entire life so wei
knew all its surroundings, most conf
| IDENTIFY declared to me his mature convic
ton that thus, In the special stage q
their influence, the successful precep
tors Of Hebron Academy had left a per
mancnt moulding impression upon nor
persons than any other one In any pos'
lion In Oxford County.
But, beside all this, its more local 10
f,uence, the academy has It, peculia
position as the opening gateway towar'
best upward eminence. Essential !
drouth Of summer are the frelghte
clouds of rains Ready are they onl
when filed by the unnoticed fee'iinI
vapors.
Essential are are the waving fields @
ripened grsiny Never found, only wher
at the right time, had been the earne'
seed-sowers.
Essential are the college, the univers
ty, equipped professions, scicntifi
studios and laboratoriess
The academy Il how pre-cmlnently,
not the only, unquestionably the tel
opening gateway toward them all.
Without the college, special applies
tion Of special genius may rise to pr,
fessionaI eminence. hut without IN
planting Of fundamental essential
equivalent to the good work OF the acas
emy, the prospect II how hopeless.
II for lack Of time or means, . goo
builder must Be superficial anywhere,
will not b In constructing his found
ton. A distinguished educator, doctt