The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-22
The Infancy of Dartmouth.

Our admiration of Dartmouth College
a. il stands to-day the pride and glory Of
the State is enhanced by knoWledge OF
its humble origin and early history. but
having passed its day of small things peo-
Die fail to recall it; and many, even, VINO
note the hours by the CLOCK in its steeple
can tell but a meagre story of its beginning.
A few extracts from its history may per-
haps interest readers OF the OPINION
especially some who are looking to 1t as
their future Alma Mater.
By the humane and pious efforts OF the
Rev. Eleazer Wheelock, C0ngregatlodnal
minister in Lebanon, Conn.,, about ll40,
small class of Indian boys was brought TO-
gether in his house to struggle with the
English alphabet and the lowest primaries.
Literally, Mission Work taken home. An
experiment dictated by christian philan-
thropy on the mental capacity OF the
American savage This wa: the egg from
The zeal, ability ant high standing of
DIR. Wheelock soon secured the cooperation
of the colonial clergy and gentry. and ma
terial aid from friends of the work at nome
and in England Su with increased num-
bers and better quarters, the school became
a permanency. In grateful recognltlon OF
the generous donation of Joshua Moor OF
Mansfield it received the name. of "Moors
Indian Charity School," which was par
TALLY retained for a primary or fitting de-
partment till about 1850 when it was
dropped from the catalogue.
During It's thirty years in Connecticut a
few white boys from families OF the stand
ing order (the number OF such Steadlly
increasing pledged to Indian MISSION
work and the ministry were received into
the school; for the eminent and pious
founder had an eve single to educating
and christianizing Indians under OrthodoX
training. The whirllgig of time has JOS,
tied out the Indians, butts dtnomlnatlonal
character remains unchangt q.
Nv a iudiciOuS act of DR.. WheelocK q
..Rnard ot Trust'' was invited To act witt
him adding character and standing TO th'
! Ach,ol and at length the adoption OF par
| tial college course. In 1859 it obtained {
| rival charter, and to W4llian, Earl 0
Dartmouth, its most generous uohor an. ~
| Jealous friend, was accorded the honor o.
ns,ning the new college. But 1t seems
misnnmer and an injustice; for without
| vhpeIock there would have been nelthel
Indian school nor College to boom or en-
dow. AS America should nave peer
Columbia, so should Dartmouth have per
Detuated Tn the name Of its eminent founder
who wisely conceived and nobly wrought
building even better than he knew.
| Yale ana Dartmouth were TOO near
each other and Connecticut could only
support one. Indians could be better
reached in newer country and the pur
nose of the Institution more fully carried
ont After a careful and doubtless pray
erfnl examination of many localities 1t.
present site was wisely accepted; and II
l77O the new College was moved to Han
over. n. H., where, unbroken by th'
woodmans axe, still stood the fores
nr,meyal. The order of its going is thu
given in Sanborn's History of New
Hampshire:
"The long and tedious journey of cou
ME of hundred miles was made by part o
i)r. Whpelock's family in coach whicl
had been presented to him; but by the rest
with all the students, on loot, the company
numbering in all some seventy, wendln!
their way along the streams and through
the forests, driving few swine Detor
tham, being the meat most easily raised II
a new country. SO they moved on-tha
novel spectacle of a college turned eml
prant-pioneer settler-upi into the unbroker
wilderness, clearing place for the mrs
log structures"
The energetic and praisewOrthy efforts
~ llr. " hrvlock and his Jealous associate
t. EDUCATE. chrisianize and elevate IN
measure successful; their high hopes bu
partially realized; and the poor ina la
with still untutOred mind has continued I
hunt and fish and fight; but the lndla
Charity School has come to be glorlOu
White Mans College.
! DR.. WheelOck lived Dut nine years
Hanover. and rests near the magnlhcen
structures that cluster around the site q
the first rude cabin. Nine presidents hav
succeeded him, and the most eminent eau
Gators and ablest scientists of the countr.
have been and still are connected with tn
college.
Dartmouth may be justly proud of 1t
history and of its noble Alumni living ant
dead. 49,, ,o,s H.
Piermont, n. H., November 18th, 1875.