Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-10-20

cept and example, teaching and tradition
made the man. The home coming of the
alumnus during commencement days to
the university is always an interesting in
cident in his life, but when he comes back
crowned with glory and honor to &C.
knowledge his debt, the old college has in
spiration for her sons. The life of Adj
miral Dewey is manual for the young
American. It demonstrates that work
and thoroughness are the essentials of sue
cess. Opportunity or accident, if you
please, happen to everyone. If ready, he
seizes upon it, his career is made If un-
prepared, it passes by and seldom returns.
The trial period of successful commander
is after the battle. Then his wisdom and
capacity have their supreme test Grants
terms to Lee after Appomattox surpassed
his victory. In the bay of Manila, were
the fleets of the great Powers of Europe
All but one we're hostile or jealous of the
republic of the West, whose startling ad-
vent might compel a Encouragement of
their plans for the division of the East
On shore were the Spanish army to be held
in check until the troops could arrive from
America, and insurgent forces with wild
and passionate eagerness to execute ven
geance upon their oppressors by fire, sword
the control of this situation rested with
Commodore Dewey. Foreign Admirals
we're kept within bounds by firmness
which meant force. The Spanish army
surrendered Commissioned to capture a
fleet, he had conquered an empire for his
country.
Pride in ones state is like love for the
old homestead. The absorbing duties of
his later life and tremendous events in
which he has been so distinguished an
actor have never weakened the affection
nor weaned the interest of Dewey from
Vermont. His heart has ever been full of
the simple lives and homey virtues of this
staid New England commonwealth. Her
soil might not yield as rich returns to the
husbandman as the prairie farms of the
West, but her marble and granite have
always furnished tombstones for her in
vaders and statues for her heroes. Forty
years ago, standing as a young cadet at
the capital of Montpelier and gazing upon
the statue of Ethan Allen, he exclaimed,
Life can achieve no greater reward than
that" He has won that reward. Beside
the hero of Ticonderoga will stand
champion figure. Under the one will be
the immortal words which began the first
victory of our revolutionary war, 81 de-
demand your surrender, in the name of the
Great Jehovah and the Continental Con-
gress;" and under the other, the statue of
Admiral George Dewey, the sentence
which opened the gates of the Orient for
this country, ''You may fire, Gridley,
when you are ready"
President Brown, in introducing Ad-
miral Dewey, said in part:
1.-THE Admiral has been visiting capitals,
first the commercial, then the national, and
yesterday the state capital, and now he
comes to the temporary, at least, collegiate
capital Of the country While we do not
greet him as did the great cities, we do
give him a hearty welcome to Norwich
University. 1t is gratifying that so many
former cadets can come back to their alma
mater. We welcome our guest of today as
the idol of his countrymen. Not only the
victories, but in the completeness of his
success does Dewey's work at Manila
take its place in the worlds history. We
look on his achievement for its most glor-
ious results. On the first day of May he
not only wrote his own name on the scroll
of fame, but he opened a new epoch in his
tory and changed the map of the world.
He comes to us in the fullness of his glory,
to the hill where he was once a STRIPPING
cadet like those you see before you. He
comes to us the recipient of the greatest
ovations the nation has ever accorded to a
citizen"
With these words Admiral Dewey step
ped forward and laid the corner stone,
which is set in the northeast corner of the
building. He said: 81 now declare this
stone duly and truly laid and according to
my wish"
Around him upon the platform at this
time were Governor Smith and his staff,
Congressman Grout, Ex-Governor Dilling-
ham, DIR. W. Seward Webb and other
guests. The stone is about two feet square,
with receptacle for box, which contains,
among other things, history of the col
lege, copies of Boston, Montpelier and
Mortified papers, roll of honor of all the
honor cadets of the university and pict-
ure of them at drill, catalogue of the
university and number Of mementoes of
the old and present building. The stone
itself was cut from boulder found on the
hill during the excavation for the founda-
ton of the building. 1t rests on smaller
stone taken from the old university at Nor
wich