Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-06-27
COMMENCEMENT WEEK.
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Continued from first page.)
o'clock. Every seat was filled long be-
fore that time and large number were
only too glad to stand through the exer-
cises After the planting of the ivy,
George Rufus Drake of New Haven. as
president of the class, extended very
hearty welcome to those who had gath
cred to witness the days exercises. He
said:
Friends and Fellow Students The occa-
sion which copvenes us todayis of interest and
enjoyment to the class of 1902. We bring
with us memories of the past, many of which
will be revived by those who are chosen to
address you.
As a class we bid you welcome to the par
tcipation of our pleasures, and trust you may
find at least some delight in attending to the
illusions which to you may have little signih-
cance but to us are the record of the four
happy years spent at Middlebury College.
So trust we may have your indulgence in
what may seem trivial and that we may deport
ourselves SO as to impart to you some small
part of the pleasures and interest we ourselves
take in this occasion.
The Ivy Grafton was delivered in a very
entertaining way by Orvis *. Collins of
Ferrisburg. John E. Thompson gave in
very amusing manner the class history.
The class grafton was delivered by John
Il. Duflield; the poem by Elizabeth f.
Barrett; and the prophecy by Ruth S.
Murdoch. The presentation of gifts to
the under classes by Frederick B. Miner
was made in accordance with custom
of long standing. Each class received
something especially significant.
In his class Grafton Mr.. Duf1ield said
in part:
1t seems hardly four years ago that listened
to the class day exercises Of the class of 'QS.
We now present ourselves to the world as
what we are not as what we seem to be. The
nation is calling for men who are worthy of
the name, and furthermore is looking to the
colleges to supply the need. The student that
has for his prime object the betterment of
mankind, and that college which developes
such men, is the student and the college that
is realizing the true purposes Of life. If we
have not come up to the highest mark as
students, let us make it the browning effort of
our lives to be true to our highest instincts
The alumni address was delivered by
Prof. William Rolin Shipman, d. D.,
LII. D., class of 80. professor of rhet-
oric, logic and English literature in
Tufts college. 1t was in part as follows ::
The danger signal is said to be out for
all such as the six hundred of Middlebury
standing in the ways where a thousand
before us and with us have borne their
part and passed to their reward. For we
are the representatives of what is called,
with much variation of accent a small"
college. and if really "the small college
must go" we as a body of graduates have
no future but our decaying past. Increase
Of numbers promises no relief and to put
on the form of university" is only the
abandonment of our position. The move
ment Of the times towards combinations.
trusts ana monopolies, has caught educa-
tonal systems and institutions in it's
sweep-whither ward does not yet appear.
For the recognition of new subjects in the
college curriculum together with great
changes of method has led to specializa-
ton, which has but just begun and must
continue indefinitely. This specializing
spreads to the schools below as well as
above, with the result of such demand for
time that getting ready for the real work
of life is like running ourself out of breath
in preparation for a race. Nhen prepara-
tory school college and professional school
insist on four years each, nature, wiser
than educational theorists, stoutly rebels
When it comes to the shortening of time,
curiously enough it is the college that is
threatened with loss, partial, perhaps
utter loss me CoHeEe Which rom t Inn
While administrators of the college are
considering how to spare a year. the great
universities are grinding down to the six
years double degree course to the conster-
nation of the old fashioned college. 1t is
indeed n revolutionary period, the out
come of which dedes prediction. There
would seem to be no assurance of safety
but to remember that the man is of more
consequence than the college. Even II
there We're no colleges there might be men.
and men greatly worth the while In fact