Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-09-18
ALMA COLLEGE HAS
COMMENCED 18TH YEAR.
The Enrolment is More Than
Double That at the Open.
ing One Year Ago.
DR.. GEO. F. BUTLER
MADE OPENING ADDRESS.
PROSPECTS Are Bright for the Most
= PROSPEROUS Year in the History of
the Institution.

Alma college opened its seventeenth
year very successfully Wednesday. All
the week students ,have been arriving
by every train and the attendance this
year bids fair 90 eclipse anything of past
history. During the summer many ex-
tensive improvements have been made
in the buildings and campus. The dor
motories have been thoroughly reno.
waited and repaired, and present a very
homelike appearance.
On Wednesday morning at the open.
ing chapel exercises nearly every seat
in the room was filled. A number Of
prominent friends of the college were
present to witness the opening.
The opening address was given by Dr.
Geo. f. Butler, Of the Alma sanitarlum.
His subject was Wanted, Man" and
was listened TO very intently. DR..
Butler treated his theme from very
practical standpoint, although his paper
was model Of literary style and
abounded in beautiful thoughts poetical-
ly EXPRESSED. He declared that the
lectures which students have been hear
ing from the popular platform for the
last few years, had given many errone-
Gus ideas of life. They have too often
measured success by political, social and
financial gain, and have set up as ideals
men who have achieved success in these,
forgetting the real merits OF life.
Mans life is conflict between the
Godlike and the Beastlike, and the real
success is found in him who allows the
Godlike TO triumph. There is too much
optimism today. An optimist is one
who thinks that everything is all right,
who is contented with progress already
made and is not fighting the battles Of
life. All noble achievements OF the past
have been those of pessimists, and the
great men of history are those who have
been dis ,ontented with their present
Their company is better sought than
that of the optimist. There are great
problems and evils today; problems Of
labor and wealth; and the love Of gold
is the root Of all. Only those who con.
quer self and who are good and useful
are the truly successful
The different professions were then
discussed in the light OF true success
and Dr. Butler closed with plea for
continual striving 10 attain 1t.
At the close of DR.. Buffers address
the Hon. Marcus Pollasky gave the
students a short but interesting talk.
After the chapel exercises classified.
tion occupied most of the day. BY night
fully 100 students had registered. or
these, 100 will be in the college depart.
ment. The Freshmen class thus far
numbers 20. The special departments of
music, kindergarten and commercial are
to be more largely attended than ever.
The college this year presents one new
face on its faculty, Miss Salisbury, who
will have charge of the girls athletics
and will be instructor in German, Miss
Inglis will return to the head of the de-
partment Of modern languages and Miss
Culls, Of Saginaw, will have the violin.
Altogether it looks as II Almas
sixteenth year is to be very pros.
porous one for students, faculty and
friends Of the college.