Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-25
And Graduating Exer-
cises at Coburn Classical.
Large Audiences at Both 0c'
casions in Baptist Church.
Friends Of Institution and Graduates
Much Pleased With the Programs
The School 10 in Highly Prosperous
Condition.

Waterv1lle, Me-, JuHe 1'-tSPeS'o''
The exercises commemorating the 18th
anniversary of the opening Of Coburn
Classical Institute were held in the
BAPTIST church, Friday afternoon, and
were followed by reception at the City
hall and a banquet at the Armory in
the evening. The anniversary and
commencement coming together
brought q great crowd of alumni and
visitors to the city, and the exercises
at the church were attended by large
audience. Halls orchestra which fur
nished delightful music during the
commencement at the institute, also
played for the anniversary exercises,
and added greatly to the enjoyment OF
the occasion.
The exercises Of the afternoon opened
with PRAYER by Rev. r. NJ. Preble, u.
D., of the class Of IT. who oficiated IN
the absence of Rev. A. K. Crane, d. ~,
class of so. who was unable to be pres
ent. Principal Franklin w. johnson or
the institute introduced Prof. Arthur J.
Roberts. A. NJ, who read the historical
"reminiscences in the absence OF william
Matthews, LII. D., class OF 81. MT.
Matthews paper was In part as FOL
lows:
One of the interesting features of the
proeram was the address of DIR. Will
liam Mathews LII. d. Of Boston who
was a pupil of the Waterville acade-
nv. now Coburn Classical Institute,
seventy five years ago. Dr. Mathews
spoke OF his school days at Coburn,
in part as follows:
"reminiscences of WaterviIie Academy.
The Roman poet, who more than
any other has been the delight of ages
since his time, l mean of course
Horace, pleads with Maecenas In his
first epistle for release from the toll
of verse making, on the ground that
non eadcm est aetas, non mems. thai
is, my age is not the same, my habits
Of thinking are changed" Moreover
he has q monitor that keeps cOntinu-
ally ringing I'm his ear: Wisely. In
time, release your Pagasus now ad-
yancing In years lest he fail at last
only to be laughed at and become
broken winded." And yet this exquis-
ite poet was then but fortysiX years
old and had written for but twenty
years II writer so divinely gifted
might write and plead for a release
from literary labor at that early age,
with how much more potent reason
might l who am forty years older and
who has not a spark of his inSenium
ct divitcm venam. ask to be excused
from farther pen work and especially
from discharging the task that has
bte.f tsNr1p
Gladly would I be a listener only on
this joyous day; and yet l love the
dear old school, and would Shirk no
effort which my early connection with
IL can enable ME to contribute to the
interest of this occasion. If l feel
that that contribution must be humble.
1 find inspiration and encouragement
in the words of one OF my favOrite
English writers-that witty divine and
divine wit. DR.. Thomas Fuller. Speak
ing of the pastor of church, he says
that "he conceivcth himself to hear his
mother college always speaking to him
in the language of Joseph to Pharoah's
butler: But think on me l pray thee
when 1t shall be well with thee" and
IT,, good old divine kindly adds: IF
tie pastor hath but little. the less from
him Is the more acceptable: a drop
from a sponge is rs much as a ton
from n marsh"
1t has long been the fashion to mock
at the Puritan. 1t has been asserted
by men not worthy to loose the latchet
of his shoes. that he was a foe to all
gaiety, grace. and beauty, and pre-
ferred his own heavenly hawings and
hummings" ps;llmody of his own
nose-to the vocal harmonies of the
angelic choir. l have come, however,
to believe that our grim stccple- HATED
fOrefathers. though they took their
pleasures sadly" were, on the whole
wise, sagacious men; but in nothing
was their sagacity more strongly man
Tested than i'm their profound appre-
citation OF classical scholarship, and
in the pains they took to foster 1t.
Knowing the value of such attainment
in the Old World-the power, influence.
and charm 1t gave to its possessor
there-they sought to transplant it,
along with the culture of the higher
branches Of English education in
this country. To this end they founded
both academies and colleges in all
parts of New England. The former
institutions and colleges in all parts of
New England. The former institutions
were designed to form a middle ground
between the college and the primary or
grammar school. and to furnish educa-
tion. not gratuitously. like the gram
mar school. but at low price-a price
low enough to tempt every young man
OF ambition, spirit. and energy to strive
for its attainment. Our forefathers
held that the elements OF education
should be given to every young man,
but that IL he aspired to a higher Gull
ture. he should pay a part of its cost.
Thus the student In the academy
would be taught self-reliance. self
help. and self-respect: energy and
manliness of character would be deyel-
oped; frugality i'm living would be en-
couraged: and the education which
thus cost effort and severe self-denial
would be likely to be appreciated and
devoted to noble uses.
The result was the founding OF Hop