Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-11-11

mand Of the Times on Always
Broadening Basis.
A visit to Vermont Academy, made in
the bright sunshine and inyigoratng air
of recent November day, was revelation
of the progress which ltas been made there
i'm the past two years, our last previous
visit having been at the time of the com
mencement in 1890. The Academy then
seemed complete, for all the purposes of
such a school, but the many advances since
made show that it is an institution of prog
ress, which believes in its own future, and
which uses each point OF vantage gained
as a stepping stone to something still higher
and better. The most notable advances
made are the erection of a new library
building, of building to be used as a hos
pital if occasion requires, and the addition
of a farm of IS acres, with well-equipped
farm buildings.
The new library building is a gem. We
know of no better way to characterize it
than as happy thought in architecture.
In style it is entirely different from the
other buildings, and as one comes suddenly
upon it in its position nearly in the rear of
Fuller hall and the girls dormtOry build
ing, it seems to give new atmosphere and
seeming to the entire campus In its gen
I
is Richardsonian The material is field
cobbles, taken from the farm pasture, the
sizes being assorted TO their various places
and uses, and the century-old lichens, with
which they were covered as they lay in the
old stone walls, being retained as far as
possible The roof swels and curves in
graceful lines over the large windows on
either side of the reading Dom, the corners
are buttressed in easy lines. and the effect
as a whole is picturesque and pleasing to
an unusual degree. The interior finish is
of Southern pine with general treatment
which will give combined lightness and
gracefulness of effect. In front. As one en-
tiers. is the reading room with the alcoves
for hooks beyond. The inside work is
nearing completion and the building will
be occupied early in the winter. The re-
moval TO it of the library. now occupying a
large room in Fuller hall. will release room
which is much needed there for recitation
purposes.
The hospital building neat one-story
structure, stands at the farther edge Of the
campus, or, In point of fact, on the edge
of the farm land, which last year became
an adjunct of the institution. So far, for
tunately there have been no cases of i'll
ness requiring treatment there, and several
of the girl students have their rooms in the
building. -Four or more rooms are, how
ever in readiness for immediate use should
they be required. There is a sitting room
neatly furnished. A family lives in the L
adjoining the building in the rear, and the
means of living and Of care of the inmates
are entirely separate from the school proper.
The building is heated by steam, and the
ventilation is perfect tubes of ample size
leading from registers in every room direct
" through the roof Gases of contagious
disease could be completely isolated here,
and any case of sickness would be as com
fortably cared for as in the patients own
home.
The farm is in many respects the most i'm
portant addition which has been made. 1t
Immediately adjoins the Academy grounds
in the rear and comprises % acres of as
good farming land as one may hope to see.
The farm was the gift of Gov. l.. X. Fuller,
the president of the board of trustees. He
has built upon it a set of model farm build
ings, and has made beginning of stocking
it with thoroughbred cattle, sheep and
swine The barns are built so as to enclose
an inner square The idea in their con-
struction was to show what can be done
with the simplest materials if wisely used,
Instead of the usual heavy frame work,
scantling and boards we'll nailed together
and tightly rooted furnish snug, commo-
dious quarters for animals, hay and grain,
and the acme OF economy in room and eX-
. pense and of convenience in care seems to
have been reached. The cows are thor
oughbred Holsteins from the Vermont
Asylum registered stock. The purpose is
to breed from the beginning made, an
ample herd TO stock the farm. The sheep
are Shropshires, bought at the Vermont
state fair from the prize herds exhibited by
Addison county growers. The swine are
, mainly White Chesters.
The purpose of Gov. Fuller in buying
and presenting this farm was to furnish q
means of economical supply for the stew
ards department, and also to give the boy:
j an object lesson in modern farm methods
a One important cash item saved the present
, year is that of S7OO for the milk supply
Five hundred or 600 baskets of corn were
1 grown, 800 or 400 bushels of potatoes, 20(
a bushels of oats, and vegetables in variety
: equal to all the school needs. Boys whC
/. wish are privileged to work about the barn:
Z or on the farm, and for this work they
4 have an allowance of 10 cents an hour
They are trained to keep the farm building.
e clean and in order, and to understand tn,
r details of farm work so far as time and op
: portunity permit.
e has not been by any means entirely in tn
\ outward and tangible things which W,
+ have thus far mentioned. New depart
r ments in physics have been opened tn
= present term, where the students are laugh
/ not TO rely on what they are told in thei
e text books, but TO prove for themselve
\ whether these things are so. 1t is unnec
: essary to say that the youngsters ente
g upon these lines of original study and in
u vestigatlon with real zest. The institution
a now bears the names OF 100 students on it
IS rolls, who are taught and cared for will
u genuine personal interest by Principa
n Geo. A. Williams and Miss Davis, the lad
d principal and their 10 or y assstan
4 teachers.
1t 1t is interesting to the visitor to hear tn
e president of the board of trustees and MI
q Williams discuss the immediate needs O
the Academy and its future prospects
music building is next on the program,
having grown TO be a necessity to remov
h the numerous pianos from the dormitore
e and TO provide separate halls and room
V for the pupils in instrumental music an
/ the classes in vocal study. A scientif
n building is also projected and a new armor
5. and gymnasium for the boys, the preser
n one being little more than half large enoug
II for present needs.
J. In its separate and combined branches {
= classical, English, scientific, technical an
e military study, Vermont Academy is doin
IS a good work, year by year, and more an
b moro each adlad wear for Soma DO0 hoy