Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-25
VERMONT ALUMNI
Of DARTMOUTH
Green Mountain Association Of
Granite State College
Enjoy Banquet.
new PRESIDENT THERE
President Buckham of the U. v.
M. a Guest-Songs by the
Glee Club and illustrated
Lecture.
ne W PRESIDENT THERE

House, gave 10 privileged few the OPP
por;unity 10 hear one OF the oldest and
one of the youngest OF American college
presidents. as we'll as a group of other
distinguished men, witch spoke well for
the quality OF Dartmouth men in YER
mont. President NJ. II. Buckham of the
University Of Vermont was the guest of
the association ard delivered an after
dinner address, and President +. F.
Nichols OF Dartmouth College gave the
principal address of the evening.
At n short business session of the
ISOLATION, which was held n: seven
o o'clock. just preceding the banquet. the
officers Of last year We're reelected as
follows:
President. Dr. Charles 6. Caverly of
Rutland.
Vice President, Prof. o. n. Mathewson
Of Barre.
Secretary. Charles NJ. Smith of Rut-
land.
Treasurer, r. T.. Laird of Montpelier.
No other business of importance was
transacted.
THE BANQUET.
The banquet, which was elaborate and
daintily served began at eight o'clock
and at intervals the Glee club CT Dart
mouth, which was tho guest of the as
socat!on. sang the college songs. About
20 members and guests were present The
post-prandial exercises were opened by
the presiden'. DIR. c. S. Caverly Of Rut-
land, who introduced F. A. Rowland Of
Montpelier rs the toastmaster. President
Nichols was tho first speaker and he was
received with cheers, the diners rising
to their feet.
PRESIDENT NICHOLS.
President Nichols said that he was glad
to see such manifest enthusiasm in Yer
mont and that 1t was one OF his duties.
as we'll as one OF his privileges. to keep
the alumni In close touch with the col
lege. He said that with the recent stir
in the college world over the Inauguration
Of several now college presidents had
come n renewed interest, and much dis
cussion. in the subject of higher educa-
ton.
One of the questions which has been
raised is as to VIVA; the higher cdu-
| cation is for. and what is its rela-
ton TO active life. the active life of
the nation. For time the colleges
were out OF touch with the active life
| of tho people. Men received training
| in subjects which they did not keep
UP after leaving college. What they
used was the training and the men
tai grasp acquired but they applied
it to other things. other material And
because Of this they thought that the
classics had been Of little benefit
When it came time for the men of
the older generation to send their
| sons to college they wanted them to
study something which they could
use; hence. as resul, we have
courses in engineering, economics,
etc, subjects which now reach out
into every branch of active life
| Under the present conditions, if
man fails in college. he Is wasting
time OF else he has no possibility OF
intellectual Improvement. 1t IS not as
easy now 20 stay in college as IL
used TO be in the good old days, for
the students OF this generation have
10 work harder.
And 1t Is also true that the proportion
OF men who attain high standing in
their work is less than formerly. There
has been n leveling process, both up and
down, and this Is not good. The college
must not lose tho opportunity to produce
as many brilliant men possible.
scholarship now means the power to
apply learning to some practical use. not
the mere power Of n retentlve memory.
The element OF reason Is emphasized.
With the new idea in educate came also
the elective system. But the student Is
not always the best Judge OF what he
should study. as has been proven by the
failure of that system in a certain meas
ure. The group system, which directs the
general trend of his course after he has
chosen the subject. Is steadily corning
into favor.
Tho social side of college life has
grown wonderfully of late years.
But all these new interests have
real value, for they have trained the
students to conduct themselves as
men and to assume the responsible
ties OF men. The college gives to the
student a strong pull from the front
but II counts on the home to give
him q push from behind. In this 1t is
often sadly disappointed. The father
is too apt to picture college to his
son as place in which to have
good time and not as q place for hard
work.
| Physical training has a great part
and value in the college life, for il
prepares and shapes the body as 1T
| house for the mind. In closing Pres
| ident Nichols spoke more particularly
| OF Dartmouth and its spirit which he
| attributed partly to the fact that 1t
was not in larger place, and that the
| college, therefore, must necessarily DO
the center Of tho student thought and
| activity.
! PRESIDENT BuCKHAM.
| President Buckham was the next
speaker, and in Introducing him the
toastmaster referred to him as the
Nestor Of university presidents, and
as n man distinguished by the highest
and best scholarship.
| President Buckham said that no
one could make him Jealous by prais-
ing Dartmouth. for he had worn a
Dartmouth hood for 80 years and that
he had many reasons for feeling good
toward Dartmouth. He then went on
to speak at some length Of the ques-
tons OF education now confronting
college men and he said that there
were three classes of men to consult
In settling them. the experts. or col
lege men. who had remained In che
college atmosphere. the college men