Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-09-24
CoLCeGE OPENING.
Largest Npmber OF Students Ever
$EnrofIed At 6esinnfcsef
CoIlege Year.

ident Thomas made an address on The
Ideals of Middlebury. he stated that
the attitude of criticism toward Ameri-
can coll eges in general which now pre-
walls, ought to deliver Midelebury from
the 80 rit of imitation. Continuing, he
said: 1--WE want here our own college,
the college which ought to be in re-
sponse to the situation in which Middle
bury finds herself, like none other East
or west, learning from all and cordial to
suggestions from every source, but imi-
tating none We want a Middlebury
spirit which can be distinguished from
the tember of enthusiasm and ambition
which prevails elsewhere, which we
would not exchange if we could
l believe there exists a Middlebury
wisest friends of the institution, and that
that ideal is g worthy one. l think it is
agreed that we want here college of
the simple life, plain mans college, in
which extravaganza shall not be popular
and students who have to rely largely on
their own endeavors, and those who can
count upon only moderate sums for the
requirement of education, find not only
cordial welcome, but also such student
habits and practices as will not make
them feel out of place. He said also
that Middlebury must be a college which
does it's full duty by both men and
women. The successful working out of
the problem of the education of both men
and women in the same college and the
same location, under the same corpora
ton and Faculty, and in an eastern insti-
tuition, will be a triumph of no uncertain
value. 1t has been attempted elsewhere
in the East, and sad failures have been
made, greatly to the damage of the col
leges where they have occurred. Our
great eastern colleges, their presidents,
corporations and faculties, are afraid of
the girls. They do not dare give them
full place at their table of privileges. If
we can work out the problem and
achieve success; it will mean more than
wereaize, and Middlebury will be known
III tiiC NOt III 90 q OOiiC6C "lliSh huo pOhC
what others have been afraid to dare
Further, as to our ideal for Middle
bury. | think we want here an institu-
ton where the first interests are unques-
tionably educational interests. I con-
ceive college to be society of scholars
and those who have the ambition TO be-
come scholars and receive the benefits of
scholarly pursuits. | believe a college
ought to be place of intellectual inter.
ests, where minds are broadened and
faculties trained to a degree impossible
among those who have not had the op-
portunity of continued study under the
leadership of trained minds. | wish to
speak of one common fallacy as to stu
dent attainment. We hear not infre-
qnenty of men who could attain high
rank. or even lead their class, if they
wanted to- and sometimes a man stands
out as quite distinguished for intellec
tual ability whose college record does not
mark him even mediocre. 1t is explained
that he has no desire to stand we'll, or to
attain such knowledge of his subject as
will entitle him to creditable record.
, / believe in the majority of these in
stances the analysis is decidedly at fault.
1t is not true that the man could if he
wanted to- The truth is that he cannot
summon and control his will sufficiently
to form the purpose to succeed in what a
college is supposed to be doing, and to
, stick 10 it. 1t is Just as bad not to be able
to want to, as to want to and not to be
able to do it; in fact think i is worse.
Failure of will, failure of vision to see
the real worth of things, is the most
:. stupendous failure into which man who
is supposed to be man, can degenerate.
: | would rather men would some day say
of me that | was not able to succeed as
President of Middlebury College, that l
didn't have the talent, than have them
say that | had the ability but did not
have the grit to try, and keep on till
won out. If you can't do a thing, own
up that you can't, and don't pretend that
you can merely because you have one Oh
two of the minor elements of success. II
is the will, 365 days in the year, that is
the hardest thing TO get. Most any man
can be clever now and then, but the
sound practical wis 1om and the grit tt
do the right thing every day, even when
it is hard, even when you are tired ano
nave lne FlBnJ W De IiISu, Is tne nlOS'
difficult of attainments, and the one
therefore we should most arouse ourselves
to reach"
A number of new courses were an
nounced, including a course in Sociology
by Miss White the new Dean of Women
A new system of excuse absences hai
been established, in connection with tn,
Deans offices.
Prizes in the departments of HistOr,
and English to the annual value of $l2
were announced for the next three years
They will be awarded to Junior ant
Senior women, to men in History and t
women in English.
In closing President Thomas said @
| feel very confident that we are openinl
! the best year Middlebury ever had. Tn
college never offered to her students s
much as she is offering you today. >Sh
was never so well organized for affectiv