The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-01
SPEAKS AT SEWANEE
sTERNnERG DELiv-
ERS COMMENCEMENT Address.


Cablegram Seat the 0erman Emperor
ExpressinG Wishes Of the Uni-
| versity for welfars Of Him
self asa His Nation.
Sewannee. Tenn. June 3o.--At the
| commencement services this morning
the Vice-Chancellor, DR.. Virgins, an
nounced the receipt OF this message:
The President conveys TO the Uni
versity of the South his congratula-
lions and best wishes for its success
and Prosperity"
The vice-Chanceilor. In reply, sent
this telegram:
| I beg to acknowledge, with high
appreciation. on behalf OF the Un;yer-
sfty Of the South. your. message OF
greetings and to express our heartfelt
wishes for the welfare of our President
ana the prosperity Of the nation.
p. L. Virgins.
"Vice-Chancellor."
The Vice-Chancellor also announces
that he had sent this cablegram to the
| German Emperor:
ITO His Imperial Majesty. the EN-
peror OF Germany. Berlin: ! desire 10
| extend in behalf Of the University of
the South our heartfelt wishes for your
prosperity and welfare. and the pros
perity OF the German nation.
"B. L. Virgins.
vice-Chancellor."
During the reading Of the messages.
the entire student body remained stand
ing. All the faculty and students wore
small German flags today in recogni-
ton of Ambassador Sternberg's visit.
The Ambassadors address follows:
Mr.. Vice Chancellor, Gentlemen Of
the Board Of Trustees. Scholars ana
Students OF the University OF the South /:
Among the numerous honorable and
pleasant duties that dteolve upon me
as the representative OF the German
Emperor to the United States. certainly
none are more delightful and enjoyable
than those which bring me into rela-
tionship with the universities of Amer
lea. This hardly could be otherwise.
because there The German feels the at
mosphere of his own alma mater, who.
as universally acknowledged. gave
birth to the modern American univer-
sity:
relations between the science of our
two countries. This happy event re-
mains of far-reaching significance IN
the nistory of letters, especially as It
President Roosevelt and Emperor Will
liam. Americas and Germany's two
foremost scholars and educators.
president Roosevelt, in dwelling on
ship, said; German ideals and German
science have given the inspiration IN
our universities for the existing de-
velopments Of research and investlga-
ton.
These ideals are the strong and
harmonious expressions or the most no.
BILE virtues of the German people. They
are the same ideals which have become
so dear to America, because much did
they contribute to make her great and
strong among nations.
The first academic relationship be-
tween the United States and Germany
dates back to the eighteenth century,
the time when Franklin was in close
touch with two of Germany's leading
centres OF learning, Halle and Goet-
tingen. In the following century the
stiles of Germany were considerably
strengthened by some Of the great
minds of the New World, men like
Ticknor and the Theologist Everett.
On these men Gevman university life
made profound and lasting impress
sion. Everett openly proclaimed that
America in the development of her uni
versities should closely follow the lire
taken by the German universities. /
recall with much delight the many
chats had In the early days of my ca
reer with George Bancroft during our
rides about Washington and In his
Newport rose garden. The venerable
gentleman loved nothing more than To
wander back to his college days in Ger
many. He would dwell on the pro-
found conscientiousness the German
student would display in his literary
suits and in the fulfillment of his du-
ties. on his deep sense of independence
in the solution OF the scientific and
spiritual problems, on the fearless way
he would uphold his convictions, and
on his untiring, energy. He especially
loved to dwell on the sunny side of the
German student life and on the happy
way in which sincere and truly literary
View of life in the German alma mater
is blended with an innocent. almost
childlike delight in the most simple
pleasures. The influence of George
Bancroft and his contemporaries soon
increased the numbers OF American stu
dents at the Germany universities. 1t
Is owing to these men, and not to Ger
man men of letters who visited Amer
the German university ideal on Ameri-
can soil came from the Americans
themselves.
81 should like to say a word here
about those characteristics of German
university life which have most forci-
bly, Influenced the American universe
ties and which still are the most i'm
opment. The older college of the Uni
ted States. as we all know. held as it's
exclusive ideal general education. The
result was that it's main efforts were
concentrated towards handing down
existing knowledge and science from
generation TO generation. This natur-
ally gave the college a most conserva-
tive character as regards the introduce
ton of new science. But gradually
the leading university men of America.
the majority of whom were closely con-
nected with the universities of Ger