New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-11
BRARCLLFF COMMENCEMENT
MR.. POWELL, TELLS OF BRIGHT FUTURE
PLANS FOR THE AGRICULT-
URAL SCHOOL.

Rain dripped softly down the green fields and
gay gardens of the Briarclif Agricultural School
yesterday, and yet it was the brightest day in the
history Of the institution Started two years ago.
without a building, its first terms lessons given in
the basement of the little Briarcif village school,
1t yesterday graduated its first class, with the
pleasing knowledge that 45O-acre farm awaits its
occupancy and that 100000 will be forthcoming
during the next year for equipment. Superinten-
dent George Powell said yesterday that he antici-
pated no trouble in raising the 100000 necessary
TO erect the buildings and stock the farm.
This farm. located at Popghkeepsie." said he.
is 10 be true experiment in commercial farming
Land IN Westminster is too suburban to give a
true test but in Duchess County we shall have
land fairly typical of the average Eastern farming
land. We shall go into extensive stock raising
operations and we expect TO set out orchard trees
by thousands. We expect TO move to the
farm next April"
Four graduates received diplomas, and four
tihcates for special work. Among the eight, five
were among the nine pupils who present
the opening of the school, and three among
the second nine who entered within the three fol-
lowing months.
Theodore Langdon Van Norden, president Of the
board Of trustees, presided, and presented the
diplomas. In doing he said he would refrain
from the usual custom of giving advice to the
graduates. - everybody hated advice. and he
thought it specially tough to be obliged to sit still
and take it without being able to answer back.
He told two stories, which he said illustrated what
they did not do at Br1arclin. one or the man
who knew the Latin names of only two flowers
Aurora boreals and Delirium tremens. The other
related to the old woman who sought TO crafty
her thrifty instincts by mixing sawdust with the
old hens bran which resulted in the chickens all
having wooden legs. One thing he wished to i'm
press upon the graduates-the fact that agri-
culturist has an influence IN his community of
all proportion TO that exercised by the city man.
"a man is individual in the country he said;
'in the city mis- individuality is lost, unless he is
very great and conspicuous man"
J. H. Hale of South Glastonbury, Conn. the
well known peach grower, down upon the
programme. but was prevented from attending.
Mr. Van Norden therefore called upon w. J. Hart,
the Apple King" of Duchess County, to say a
few words. Mr.. Hart welcomed the school to
Duchess County which he declared, before the
decline in farming, to have been one Of the three
richest counties in the United States. Among
other things he said that he hoped the influence
Of the landscape garden courses would lead Vas
sar 10 uodernize and beautfy the grounds laid out
forty years ago.
Mr.. Powell and Professor Kans talked upon the
work Of the school H. W. Collingwood made the
address Of the day. He said in part:
This country is now old enough to classify its
elements of strength or weakness with something
like scientific accuracy. The strength Of the
upon the farm, rather than in the town. have the
great solid gifts which America mas given the
John Fiske in THE Beginnings Of New-Eng-
lano, says that had IL not DteH AoI lIIe
movement early in the seventeenth century, polit-
iCal freedom If not human liberty would nave ols-
appeared from the earth Those who Will care
fully study the social conditions Of Europe at that
time must agree with that statement. IL may as
truly be said that had il not been for the amer
lean farm home the Puritan would have lost ms
battle for rights. Had there been no outlet
away from the stagnation Of European conul-
tons the struggle for human liberty IN the seven
tenth century would nave ended vigorously
Had the Mayhower and other English SHIPS gone
to the South as was first intended, IL IS not I'M
lkey that American independence would nave been
set back for a century. The large farms, cuii-
waited by slave labor and given TO the production
Of single crop, like tobacco cotton or rice coGo
produce the self-reliant, well rounded man VINO
needed TO make America / wish 10 MAKE II
owner, gave the men ana the strength OF char
acter that made nation possible
The American small farm commanded the des-
TIMES and fortunes Of this country until the best
OF its blood and the bulk of It's earnings ran down
hill to the town and city. II IS needless for me
10 enumerate the causes which led to this concen-
tration Of population and wealth in few crowded
centres. II Will look at the matter calmly and
Without prejudice think We VIII agree that unjust
burdens have been heaped upon the land Other
forms Of wealth have escaped taxation and public
benefits have stimulated other lines of business to
pay larger and surer interest and create shoddy
and artificial form of society.
BY breaking down the Independence and charac>
lne governor the steam engine the most
hefVatve element in American society. With our
congestion of population In the cities are like
z man with defective circulation. The blood may
crowd at the heart while the hands and feet
soia When the old farmer turns his farm
70 tenant and away the farm
ee9mes a less inspiring force of good government.
- ~ no longer Ia It's true home. Two
"scofnes a machine for grinding out dollars rather