The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-16
URGES VERMONT DEVELOPMENT.
~e-@~~-@~s
Pres. Spooner Of Norwich University Ad-
dressed Layman's League.

President Charles II. Spooner Of Nor
wich university was the guest and speak.
er Of the evening at the first banquet
this season, Of the Layman's league OF
the Unyersalist church, held in the yes.
try last evening. There were many
other honored guests present, as the
league observed ladies' night, and as the
party sat down to the tables Il was
observed that there were very few bach
elors To be seen in the company. The
whole company numbered eightyfve.
The supper was one OF the best that
the league has ever enjoyed. II was
prepared by the Ladies' union, and
young ladies' OF the church assisted as
mattresses, The regular business OF the
league was held after the good things
had been eaten, at which time two new
members were taken into the league
President r. w Bisbee then introduced
President Spooner
The speaker began by saying that he
wished first 60 speak Of two matters
that are Of vital interest to the state
and those are its waters and its land
He declared that there should be imme-
date steps taken to develop the water
power in the many streams that ripple
down the mountains, so that every farm
house may have the luxury Of an elec-
tric light, as IL now has the rural tele-
phone lines and more manufacturing
may be carried on in the state.
The agricultural development of the
land should be increased, he said, all to
the end that the young men may be kept
in the state and not wander away TO
swell the numbers in the cities OF other
states. as they have been doing by the
hundreds every year. Il think there is
no state in the union, Of ike climate,
that is SO prolific as Vermont, and
hope the time viii come when the peo-
ple OF the state will wake up to the
agricultural possibilities Of the state.
wish II we're possible for this state to
follow along in the same lines as states
In the West as regards the Importance
which they attach to their agricultural
colleges, and let the agricultural college
here be the means Of increasing the ag-
riculture Of the state
President Spooner then read an inter-
esting and instructive paper on the "Mil.
itary College, which he said he had
written and read at some previous time.
He gave a little of the history of the
rise of educational institutions and
schools IN the state and then spoke OF
the military colleges of the country as
ranking at the head of all colleges rs
regards the number Of its graduates that
have become eminent in civil life, which
fact. he claims, goes to prove that the
military exercises, drills and tactics
which the student has to engage in
and learn, in addition to the regular
curriculum Of other colleges, rather than
being superfuous in direct factor In
educating and moulding the lives Of its
students.
West Point, he said. has been found
to stand ahead of Harvard college in
the number Of graduates that have left
the service and become eminent in pure
" civil life. Harvard, he said, stood
next in the line of colleges; but Har-
wards 100 years and over of existence
before West Point was founded brought
it only second to West Point .sThe
reign Of peace is not in our day any
more than 1t was in our forefathers'
day, and whether a man becomes doc
tor, a lawyer or minister, there may
come a time III his life when he will be
called into service for his country, and
ii he has had the military training in
his younger days he will be prepared,
and preparation IS essential in war"
Peace is the watehword OF the ma
tions to-day and there is no greater ad-
vocate Of peace than man who knows
the havoc Of war. The ignorant cry for
war, but the educated, trained soldier
knows better. The exercises and drills,
camp life and the military tactics
throughout build up the systems Of
many a weak student, train him to meet
responsibilities and carry them, to do
and act in a straightforward, manly way
all the duties Of life"