Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-01
By Pres. Chase Of Bates
Towards the $4,000
Needed TO Secure Gift From
Andrew Carnegie.
Visits Carnegie's Secreiary...con.
dItlons In Big Cities.


The students listened this morning to
a very interesting talk by Pres. Chase
President Chase, who has been away
getting subscriptions for the college
il order that the $4,000 offered by Mr..
Carnegie may become available, has
met with some success, but not such
as he might have if, as the old say
ing goes, times weren't so hard"
Pres. Chase said: students, as this
is matter of mutual interest, / will
relate To you some of my experiences
since I left you. A few days ago l
called upon Mr.. Carnegie's secretary
and ne said to me that he considered
MI Carnegie's offer q remarkable one.
considering the fact that he had but
recently made the college an offer Of
Il similar nature. Students, you WHO
are here at Bates with few response
bilities do not realize the state of de-
preston that vast numbers of Your
fellow men have been in and are now
expcriencing; scores of people worn
down by adverse circumstances have
committed suicide; scores have been
This is true, especially in Boston.
New York and Philadclphia-tllrc?
three that / have visited, but l am
glad to say that conditions are some
what improving now and money can
be procured at a lower rate OF inter-
est than some time ago.
I'VE here at Bates have difficulties
to be sure, but we are apt to look up
on the outside as all rosy and eaSygo-
ing. but it isn't so, rs you will find out
when You leave for good.
Hundreds of thousands of men have
been thrown out of employment this
winter. One Sunday l attended Phil
lips Brooks church in Philadelphia.
The services were about to begin when
in marched a large body of Workmen
who had been out of work and de-
nandcd OF the minister that he preach
for them and have contributions TAX
en- Up for them. They were unaware
that this was the day that contriDu-
lions were to be made for foreign
missionary work and thus you see
what 4 difficulty lay before the min
lister; he was a predetermined man and
his wits served him well. He quietly
explained to the mob how things
stood. telling them they had done right
in coming to the house of Gcd. but
that they would have to wait until the
following Sunday, when a collection
would be taken for them.
Il am glad to say l have had some
success: the first subscription that
secured was from Mr. Berry, the great
piano manufacturers sum of S5o5o
Mr.. Berry has been good friend to
our college: he has given us several
pianos-this one here in chapel, the
one in the Y. NJ. G. a. room and one
in Whittier house.
"Other subscriptions I found more
difficult; they ran all the way from
$1,000 down TO $40; altogether l have
secured just $4,000. Another difficulty
that | met with was the questioning
by many of the value of a college edu-
cation. The first of this kind met witt
was at The Baldwin LocomotN'
Works. OF all the company. met witt
encouragement from only one man. He
said he had never had coilegt
education and according to things Ia
had heard he didn't believe that stu
dents went to college for one He re-
ferred especially to the Soph- Fresh
man fight that occurred recently
PENNSYLVANIA University. l told him o
what kind of men We had here a
Bates and he finally became interested
and promised to consider the matte
and write to me-"
President Chase concluded with
few words of advice to the student
and urged them to be with him IN DIP
holding the ideals Of the college.
He said Il appeal to you to stan
true to the best things that our colleg
represents-manhood, truth. honest!
etc, only as we are true and hold our
selves to these shall we have a colleS
that ranks among the best in the coun
try. You are the backbone of the col
lege. Don't fail to furnish one that
strong and reliable in time of need.
The Varsity basketball team WI
play return game with the Portlan
Y NJ. c. A. team in the Bates gym TO
morrow evening. Ellsworth, the lei
guard, will not be able to play, OWN
&c his condition.