Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-01

Or the business and professional world.
Joseph Colby. son OF Gardner sofpy, 10
whom the college WAS named ana resi-
dent OF Jamaica Plain. Mass, was the
next Introduced Mr.. Colby IL one OF the
newly elected member OF the board OF
trustees He srokc Of the carly history
of the institution: CT the father. now dead
who had left TO him. AS one OF the execu-
tors OF his last will and testament the
care Of the Investment tina. the fatner
had made IN the funding OF the ins.iiu.
tion, the legacy of the future investment
Of the CODY fund. For II years CODY
had been producing just such classes as
she had produced, today. The speaker
had been asking many questions since his
arrival In the city and he had puzzled the
good gentleman with whom he was s.op-
ping Until the latter had been Obliged 70
refer 10 catalogues and reports innumef-
able. But the speaker found that the cor
lese had been doing noble work, ana,
the money invested by his father had
been judlciOusly expended. am now the
classes that had been graduated had come
together and he could see almost the
whole Stare of Maine before him and
around the table.
He spoke earnestly for the education OF
the people and the putting OF Christianity
en- top of all. Grand strategy Is needed IN
| the future the century now about to
open can not be 50 much century OF new
things and new IDEAS as 1t VIII be the per-
| fectng OF the things and IDEAS of today
| The different societies CT the Baptist
church should come together and work
| ing for the common good of all would be
| the means of turning to ehis college $780,
| 600 a year The alumni should be APP
poaled I'd. They should combine in the
great work All colleges should combine
| and cast their influence over the great
| alumni body Of this country. The alumni
| should lend its aid.
| speaker stated that he had received a
] letter from President Whitman of Column
4 bran University of Washington, ID. g., m
| PRODUCING a man who Is one Of a trio who
/ NO the hpprrP rpDreSent this
/ ton before the court Of Spain and 1t was
i with great pleasure that he Introduced
| Hen. J. l.. NJ. 1'urric, trustee OF Column
| lion. Mir. Currie was given a warm re-
/ ocption ard when he had proceeded for
i few sentences II was plain 10 be seen
/ tii.sf he was possessed of a vein Of humor
l that was bound to keep the audience all
/ attention. He began by saying that he
i was grateful for the kindly reception the
alumni had given and that the greeting
| could not have been more cordial had a
degree been conferred up7n him.
| u have not enjoyed the advantage OF
even common , .ene ~ e ednsdti sdh ~ ~
/ that l ever went 10 came from Maine
| daughter and applausep
i lie went on TO pay glowing Tributes 70
4 the men from Maine that he had met and
known both In this country and abroad !:
| ha had heard the eloquenec Of the Old
World ana he had heard The e!oquence of
| the New and he did not hesitate to say
/ that he TWO master pFdtotS VI Alit Wotfh
were natives of this country. and one of
/ them was the Hon. Sargent Prentiss of
| Maine. The speaker iniimated that his
4 time was short and he would not be able
/ 10 touch upon certain matters with the
degree Of satisfaction he wished for.
Ii was here that a great surprise was
| given those assembled. 1t was like a
shock though a pleasant one; 1t set all
| hearts beating rapidly and the people
! were stirred with enthusiasm in a mo-
4 ment. The speaker was standing in Me
| mortal hall. a building raised as nlonu-
| ment to the yaior of coibys sons on the
/ field OF battle soldiers of the war of the
Rebellion. The speaker knew this. Draw
| ing his magnificent and commanding
| form to its extreme height. he exclaimed.
| in tones that reached to the campus, and
| fell upon the ears OF those crowded upon
4 the stairs and in the lower hall:
| II was Il Confederate soldier.
I Quick 10 catch the proper inspiration.
| the audience burst into loud and eontin-
! ned applause Heads were raised and
| eve Tyone rivetted the eye on the speaker
And ye. i Hlves me great and dis
| tiHctive pleasure to stand in this hall. a
| who dared in the face OF death to stand
| out in the defence of the great principle
upon which they pinned their faith in the
glorious nation lApplause)
| u am not reviving dead issues nor seek
| ing 10 stir anew sectional strife. Stand
| ing here. today, ] cap cordially clasp the
hand that made my scars (Continued
| aEplause.t ! can cheer the flag. CTnun-
| ders of appiause) / can shout for glory,
| with you, that the stars are all on the
| glorious emblem Of our country" storm
| of applause.l
With voice trembling with the emotion
| that he could not suppress, his massive
| breast swelling and dropping in the earn
| estness of the speech. his eloquence sub
! lime and deep diving into the very souls
| of his hearers the speaker inspired. en-
Unused and electrified all present. He
touched upon the education of the negro,
| the necessity of the education of the
masses. preached the democracy of ac-
ton as people. told OF the great ques-
lions to be grtppled with in the future;
paid Watervile handsome tribute. say
| ing, "it is a magnificent spot, with splen-
did streets and weM-kept lawns. wondrous
water power and beautiful women" He
asked the president II all the teachers of
Waterville Were married. and said that
he hoped that after the harvest of wives
had been garnered there might be one
left for some old preacher
Mr.. Currie was given an ovation al the
close of his remarks. 1t was an episode
that will long be remembered by those
present. AT the close of his speech, Dr.
Butler advanced to where the gentleman
sat and extending his hand, made a fit
ling climax to the visit OF the Southerner
by guaranteeing the North to meet the
South on common level in friendship
patriotism and equality. This produced
a storm of applause in approval.
President Butler in Introducing the
next speaker stated that during the mast
| winter considerable had been said pro
and con about the standing of the differ
| ent colleges of Maine. and he had made
up hia mind that If he ever caught Presi-
dent Harris of the University of Maine
| on the Colby premises he would make an
example OF nm. The gentleman had been
caught on the premises this day and he
was 10 ne called upon the speak
President Harris did not seem to be
Mich frightened and 1t took him but a
second to recover from any real or fam
| cied embarrassment. for he at once
| plunged into q spicy review of his ac-
| Quaintance with politicians: the good
| record that he knew Colby had made: he
| paid both ex-Presdent Whitman ana
President Butler pretty compliments and
spoke confidently of the future of the in
stitution.
| Hon. Leslie c. Cornish Of Augusta ono
| of the board of trustees of Colby was
next introduced. Mr.. Cornish started in
| by saying that when he came into tho
| hall he had thought of what a fool he
had been to consent to make an after
| dinner speech on this occasion. After
| listening to the wonderful eloauence Of
| the gentleman from the South he had
| been stirred as he never had been he fore
and sitting there he had gone back 10
| that time when the Memorial building
hppn 1Sliya tn1t ,xyl,.n IL ~,