Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-06-21
,obnrn was made nm Of Gifts from Gard.

Coburn, was made up Of gifts from Gard
ner Colby, Eustace @. Fitz and others, o.
which Hebron's share was $25. 900. In
dependently of this, Hannibal Hamlir
gave $1,000 as library fund and Mrs
Catherine L. Worthing gave $4,000 fol
general purposes. Chester W. Kingsley
founded the Kingsley scholarship OF
$500. David Anderson and his wife
Nancy, have given $4,000. In the later
eighties nearly $4,000 was raised, the
largest contributor being Mr.. B. F.
Sturtevant of Boston, and some uf the
next largest my good classmate here and
leading New York merchant since, Seth
NJ. Milliken, and again Chester W.
Kingsley; while among other donors
were Elisha S. Converse, Jas. W. Con.
verse, John H. Roberts and Alvin Rec,
ord. At that time, Edward S. Durham,
citizen of bingham and descendant
of Deacon William Barrows, gave to the
academy the valuable land lying on the
slope to the south of it. Josiah w.
Cook besueathed it in the early nine
ties over $4,000.
To Benjamin F. Sturtevant and his
wife, Phoebe r. Sturtevant-par Mobile
sociorum-who have made the largest
donations to the academy, who erected
these magnificent buildings which now
adorn its grounds, and who have left the
great fund with which Mrs. Sturteyant's
name will always be associated, and
which has made Hebron Academy the
foremost institution of its class in the
State of Maine, what fitting tribute can
be paid? No word is so eloquent as the
monuments which they themselves have
erected on these grounds and still more
impressively in the heart of every
alumnuS and student of the academy. /
love to think of them as one in the spirit
not only of man and wife but in the
spirit of their generous benefactions.
That united life was typically American,
in thorough keeping with the genius OF
the American system of freedom, oppor-
tunity and achievement. 1t is the ia
miliar story of the thrifty home, the
humble start, the industry, economy
and honesty of succeeding years, the ac-
qnirement of large fortune, and then the
high-minded and disinterested recOgni-
ton of it as a trust to be applied and adj
ministered for their fellOwmen and
women.
All former teachers, however, fall far
short in length of service OF the present
preceptor, who for nineteen years and
each year more efficiently and it almost
seems more ardently than the year be
fore, has been at the head of this acad-
envy, William +. Sargent. He, too, is a
part-magna pars-of its recent tre-
mendous expansion and growth. 1t is
hardly too much to say that he has made
it new institutions; no longer the small
academy but the college, larger in the
number of its students than the Maine
colleges in my school days, and ranking
with them in it's course of study and the
accomplishments it gives its students.
The graduate of Hebron Academy to-
day in the line of classical, practical,
scientific, fundamental education, is
equipped to enter the opening avenues
of any profession or vocation in practical
life. As an older alumnus, loyal to the
old days, tenderly reverent to the old
academy, cherishing the memories and
associations of half a century ago, Ipay
nv tribute of grateful respect to its
present head, and to Miss Whitman, his
accomplished assistant.
1t is pleasant and perhaps it is not an
stretch of the imagination
to think that at this delightful and ten
der regathering of all who have been
associated with this dear old academy
there are present even more than those
who to-day fill these seats and walk
these grounds. | am sure that this is
welcome to them all. And what strik-
ing and representative body it would be,
if we could see them all, face to face;
the bows and girls who were eager stu
dents here twenty-five, fifty and hun
dred wears ago, the earlier trustees, the
long line of faithful teachers. Among
them would be Albion Keith Paris, later
governor of the state and judge of its
supreme judicial court and its United
States senator; Elijah L., and Hannibal
Hamlin, the latter vice president of the
United States, born leader OF the peo-
pie, both loyal sons of the academy;
William Pitt Fessenden with his clear
cnt face, secretary of the treasury and
United States senator, whose keenness
in debate was like the cut of sharp
edged scimitar, and the courage OF
whose convictions was equally strong
and unwavering, whether they met the
nopular favor or resisted it; Eugene
Hale. his successor and still in senatorial
service; and hosts of others noted in
public and private life. Some of them
have left the record of their experiences
here. In his Grafton fifty years ago, on
an occasion like this, Adam Wilson, who
it is not too much to say was one of the
greatest preachers and strongest minds
of his time, tells how "alOne and on foot
he wendell his way over hill and dale to
these classic shades" and boarded at
farmhouse at a distance which gave him
daily exercise. George F. Emery has
told the story of his father Stephens
early struggles; his pushing out for He
bron academy penniless and on foot; his
paving his way by teaching by day and
conducting a singing school at night,
and his here acquiring legal education
which enabled him to enter upon
career full of promise and | may add OF
success in his profession. l recall my
reyered fathers verses descriptive of his
own poverty-stricken term at Hebron In
1917.
GLOW was poor and lame and lean,
Wore homespuu clothes OF bottle.green,\
NV grandsire's wedding coat resigned,
Turned inside out and patched behind,
NV brother Toms old vest of blue,
Five summers after 1t was new,
And how travelled to recite
Two miles at morning, two at night,
Because could not then afford
To nav the price Of nearer board,
Or people nearer did not choose
To take their pay in making shoes"
There is not an alumnus here who is
not sitting with his classmates. | find
the names of mine all written in the
diary which 1 kept at that time, and in
which at the end of the list l sagely
wrote that 81 thought would write the
names of the scholars down so that
when hear of some of them becoming
great persons in the world, / can think
that | went to school at Hebron Acad-
envy with them"
The young are looking forward; those
of us who are older look fondly back.
You must forgive us if after all it is the
personal suggestion that is now strong
est in our thoughts; that we recall the
oe 1SSn nc IN far pla IF