Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-05

Depot square, 1t was headed by Cadet
Captain John P. Mosely, mounted. Then
came the Mortified cornet band H. H.
Slack leader the Norwich university ca
diets, under Capt. Charles H. Eaton, es-
corting carriages containing Capt. and Mrs.
Clark, Speaker kittredge Haskins of Brat
tleboro, President Brown, trustees of the
university and prominent citizens, followed
by the Grand Army, Order of Foresters
and concourse of people on foot, the total
number present being 20OO.
After music by the band and prayer by
Rev. Mr.. Hazen President Brown formally
opened the exercises. He spoke of the
pride the state felt in Dewey's birth and of
the glory Norwich university took to itself
in Dewey's attendance here.
"Our purpose today" he continued, lis
not only to honor Norwich's greatest sou,
but to begin work we believe is destined
to be a memorial of the great action at Ma
Mia, and also an incentive to patriotism to
future students in Dewey hall, who shall
learn to emulate his virtues and learn, like
him, to be equal to the emergency when
the chance shall come to them" The glee
club sang several selections, one Of which
was the Dewey Song" written by Presi-
dent Brown last year, and set to the tune
of ''The Old South Barracks" an air Nor
wich men well recall.
Capt. Clark was then introduced and
said: The brilliant achievement of Ad
miral Dewey, May /, 1898. when with the
fleet under his command he annihilated
that of Spain in the east, and the noble
purpose for which you have assembled here
on this first anniversary of that glorious
day, are alike worthy of the most eloquent
tributes, and therefore it seems well that
l. who have never addressed public as
sembly, should attempt little beyond the
enviable part for which | have been select
ed, that of beginning the work which will
be continued until Dewey Hall is complet-
ed. | fully appreciate the great
honor that has been conferred upon me to-
day and am truly grateful for this cordial
welcome from the trustees, professors and
the students of the university, and from
the citizens of Vermont. | feel that they
have been accorded because Of the friend
ship of Commander Brown, my classmate
and your honored president; because be-
long to the service that now has the hero
of Manila at its head and because, like
nearly all of you, l had the great good for
tune TO be born in the Green Mountain
state"
The principal address was by Hon. Kit
tredge Haskins of Brattleboro, speaker of
the Vermont house. Col. Haskins, in open
ing his address, said
Assembled as we are on this beautiful
May-day, the first anniversary of that bril-
| liant naval victory achieved by an alumnus
of this university in the far distant Orient,
| to break ground on which shall rest the
| foundation stones of a monumental building
to be erected in his name and to his honor,
| a few remarks,-not in the nature OF an
Grafton as has been advertised-predicated
upon thoughts that have occurred to me
may not be inappropriate on this occasion
and in this presence.
1t has often times been said that when
our fathers erected this magnificent govern
ment which has come down to us,-a price
less heritage,-and shaped, fashioned and
set in operation its vast and diversified
machinery, they builded better than they
knew.
| Whoever that has arrived at a mans
estate and has studied the history of ma
tions, and of men, and kept himself in
touch with events of the everything pres
emit, can avoid the conclusion, if he would,
that
| There is a divinity which shapes our end,
Rough hew them as we will
So. therefore, when we consider the his
tory of Norwich University, its past and
present, made resplendent through the lus-
| trous deeds on land and sea and in the halls
of legislation of its long list of graduates
NAV it not, also, be said that when Capt
Alden Partridge, graduate, professor and
Commandment of the IS. Military Academy
at West Point, returned to his native state
in 1919 and established at Norwich his
school known as the American Literary
Scientific and Military Academy" he, too
builded far better than he knew, and thai
the unseen hand of Almighty God directed
his course From that small beginning
was laid the foundation of Norwich Uni
versity, which was chartered by the legis-
lature of this state in 1884, and ever sine,
then, with the exception of the US. Mill
tarv Academy at West Point and the U S
Naval Academy at Annapolis, both undo
the patronage of and supported and sus
tanned by the general government, it ha
held its rank as a military, scientific an
classical institution of learning, second t
none other in the land.
Col. Haskins reviewed the meagre sup
port formerly given the university by tn
state and the recent recognition by the leg
islan,re. He declared that Vermont ha
never done for the university what
| ought. wv
Here. as nowhere else save at We;
/ Point and Annapolis is taught, not alon
the classics, but military science, the art {
government, loyalty to country, and dee
i devotion to principle, which qualities me
to become leaders of their fellowmen, wis
counseiors, trusted and faithful officials
, profound statesmen and great command
: ! ers. so essential to the safety and prospe
: ity of the nation, both in peace and IN wa
May our proud state see its way .lear
continue its benefactions, mot grudging
I or of necessity" but with hberality. for v
a are told that "God loveth cheerful giver
' And may more and more of our soPs, al
4 the sons of other states, find their futul
A Alma Mater here, and within the walls
this university, made sacred and glorio