Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-03-26
PRES. THOMAS APPEALS.
500, 900 at Stake. Need Of $1,000
More. Value Of the College to
This Vicinity.


Presidents Office, Middlebury College.
March 90, 1909.
To the People of Middlebury and vi
cinity:-
For the past seven months | have
labored, as earnestly as other duties have
allowed, TO secure fund of $100, 900 for
the expansion of the work of our College.
DIR. d. K. Pearsons, a native of the State,
promised us $25, 900 on condition that we
would raise $4,000 more. Mr.. A. Bar
ton Hepburn, who was only here in Col.
lege year, has made success in this
undertaking possible by a munificent
gift of 10000. Other former students
and graduates have brought the amount
to within $1,000 of success. Over 225
have contributed according to their abil-
ity, some So 900, and others, perhaps not
less generous, from $100 to So. | have
appealed to our old students as urgently
as / know how. Many of them have
made sacrifices. The affection of large
number for our College and our town is
clearly evident.
have been asked by many Alumni
why don't the people of Middlebury
help" have replied, 81 have not asked
them" But now, my friends, | must
ask you. Last Saturdays Free Press
contained this despatch from California ::
DIR. Pearsons, the Chicago philanthro-
pist, is suffering from touch of heart
failure at Pasadena. His condition
caused great uneasiness for a time, but
it is said that he is improving" In this
crisis to whom can turn for help if not
to the friends of the College right here?
We must have the balance needed, and
that at once.
am sure the College has warm place
in the hearts of the good people of this
vicinity. The fathers of our town were
its founders and their benefactions its
chief support. The value of the College
to the county is large. Because of its
presence here our young people receive
at small cost higher education, surpassed
only in few educational centers of Amer
ica. For many decades the College has
dispensed thouands annually in free tut
ton. Hundreds have been encouraged
to secure thorough education and pre-
pare themselves for positions of useful
ness.
100000 is now expended annually in
this town by Middlebury students. That
is about $40 day. This amount will
be doubled in five years, if the success of
the last few years is maintained. The
Corporation of the College has a capital
of $3.50, 900, aside from its buildings and
grounds, the income of which is almost
entirely expended in this town.
| The action of the last Legislature
means that the State of Vermont will
hereafter put into our town $4,000 year,
| o. $500 a month.
The College continually keeps the
name of Middlebury before the people of
Vermont, and it can be safely said that
SO far as Middlebury is known to the
world, it is through its College. If we
can put our College where she belongs,
and where it will require no great genius,
but only hard, united effort TO put her,
the name of our village will be known
throughout the nation as the home of
one of the strong and worthy colleges of
New gland.
Will you help me in this work? l am
working for you and foi your children.
The time was when citizens of this town
gave $50, 900 for the College in one sub
scription. | do not ask for that much,
but do ask for good lift toward the
81 900 necessary to close up the Pearsons
! Fund. | want very much long list of
Addison County givers, to assure our
Alumni and friends that the people of
this village and county appreciate their
College, and are not ungenerous toward
her in her hour of need. DIR. Pearsons
has urged me to complete the fund
quickly; he has millions more to give
and we are likely to get some of it if we
do our part. Every little counts, but
every big counts more, and every dollar
will be welcome.
Yours for Middlebury.
JOHN NJ. THOMAS.