Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-06
President Fellows Speaks to
Students of u. of M.
large Audience in Attendance at Ivy
Day Exercises.
.,,.n;or Exhibition One of the Features
of Commencement.


,,,..,a sermon was delivered by Presi-
,.rt Geo Emery Fellows to the grad
,,,inq class of the University of Maine.
,rh. main theme of the discourse was;
che willingness OF the people of the
world to assume and carry the re-
.,oneibilitv Of the worlds work. Upon
,bom does this responsibility rest?
Who are those who are willing to
car,y it" 1t is those whose talents and
training have fitted them for it, and
th. talents are not sufficient without
the training.
Just at this time when large num-
berg Of young people, educated as far
as the schools can educate, are going
out to accept responsibilities, or to
shirk them, it is entirely hitting to con-
TEMPLATE some of the responsibilities
of the educated man. Think Of the re-
sponsibility of the engineer who is to
construct a tWenty-Seven story office
building, or an East river bridge. Per
Iaps less striking but just as impor-
tant is the responsibility of every citi-
zen of the United States may be law
yer. minister, or doctor, his education
a reason for a willingness to take part
in the work of the world.
DIR. Fellows preached very eloquently
or the above subject bringing in many
clear-cut illustrations and forcible
comparisOns. He then concluded with
an address to the members of the class
Il part of which was:
You have here been preparing for
life. You have perhaps spent n third
of the time allotted you on this earth.
You are now to find the fruit of the
seeds, which you yourselves nave
nlanted. One of the things your sue
cess here has taught you, is that II
is not the easily attained ends that are
most satisfying. Tomorrow you are to
take up life in new capacity. the re-
sponsibility is on you. Will you accept
it chenrfully and manfully? You can
not shirk it for your own knowledge
and training put it upon you. That you
NAV have success and be cheerful
through all the process of achieving
success IL nv most earnest wish.
The Junior Exhibition, the second
feature of commencement at the Uni
ve,Sjtv of Maine came off in the
chapel, Saturday night.
The chapel was decorated as for the
Ivy Day. exercises. Friday, and a
large audience Wis in attendance.
FREQUENT applause accorded the
sneakers showed the appreciation of
the spectators. President Fellows an
nounc,d that the winner Of the contest
would he chosen on tn" merits OF the
subject, composition and delivery. The
winner Of the prize will be announced
at convocation, Monday morning.
The first speaker Of the evening was
Howard a. Stanley Of Beverly, Mass.
, who chose for his theme subject tine
Evolution of the College Curriculum.
Mr., Stanley handled the subject in 4
.killfuI manner. treating first of the
narrowncss of the old prescribed course
which u few years ago was the one
rours. leading to the ore degree con-
ferred. He then compared tins cur
ri, ulun to the pr, sent system where
the required work included only = part
of tn. course. leaving the student tt
elect such studies as seem To hiu th'
most useful. in the life work he is
about to take up.
The question naturally suggests it.
self what are the causes OF TINS radi'a
change in the s.stem of edu'atinn? IN
first cause is the change that has tak"r
placp in the purpose of higher educI'
ZION The first colleges We're founded
with the idea Of eduacting men for tn
three so-callcd learned professions. bu
today, there are open to the coileS'
graduate 10 times that number Of pro
fcssions. All this has come about be
- hn advance in CiVlllZ
alton throughout the world.
The second reason for this change i
the growth of democratic spirit of "i
ucation. According to modern stan
ards the Greek scholar is no more high
" educated than the engineer. The out
growth of this idea is the state univcr
:;ity which has been foremost in lead
ing Off with the elective system. TIL
state university is the result OF the evo
lntion In the college curriculum an
the university has forwarded the devel
npment Of Il broader view Of education
John Noal-The Author ana til
Man." was the subject which the secon'
speaker. Miss Marion II. Wentworth
had chosen. AS the subject suggests
the selection was n well written bioG
Ianhy of John Neal Although he re
ccivrd no school education after ne wa
u years of age. he was nevertheless
training his mind for Il literary career
1t was about this time that he starte
a small library as a beginning for hi
education. The theme goes on to eX
plain the difficulties which were over
come by his steadfast perseverance. 1
then proceeds to his later successes an
literary works. The arrangements an
composition Of this life history coul
not be improved upon and deserved tn
hearty applause accorded TO it.
The next speaker was Lester Fl
Mitchell Of Ncwfield Me. who spo!i
suite ably upon the Influences of tn
College Fraternity Below is Il brie
sketch of his theme:
The influence Of the college fraternit
can not be overestimated. A man en-
9or'' college when his character is jus
ready for The making. He is suscep
tiblc To influences from whatever asso
"ates he becomes intimate with an
the varied assortment Of men. wit
opinions and views on all subjects
I.l