Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-23

great mass of our more clerical breth-
ercn true ard determined on their ira
ditIoEal fare of locust and wild honey.
Sponze found time to build a philoso-
pnlcal system while grinding his lenses
and Kant built up another while
teaching for his bread. Iloth Kant and
Splnoze by determined use of the
margin of time allotted achieved large
results.
With the passing of each successive
commencement the American college
IS ah"rinS to become Il more vital fac
tor in American civilization 1t is more
thoroughly adjusting itself to life. 1t
Is training men for service in the first
half OF the twentieth century. With
tins training. however, the college man
must combine responsibility in service
"A distinguished state officer at re-
cent Cornell dinner could not keep
from shouting out: Let the college
man rid himself of any idea that IL col.
leEe education gives him q monopoly
of wisdom and knowledge and let him
eVincc Willingness to assume the re-
Sppnsihility of minor things" This is
an extraction that the social order is
making of the Individual and one
wherein the college man may become
a cheerful, diligcnt cXemplar. In every
sphere that is open there is a cry for
descent to the same level of plain liv-
ing and high thinking which was char
actcrlStc of the college man Il gcucr-
ali"n ago. The aim of the college is
[" develop the needed responsibility in
an atmosphere of liberty and to bring
the college man to a clear recognition
in the face of his high destiny that its
training can he of use in the largest
S'l'5c only by close subordination to
til" things which are small.
In the third place to lilcrate culture
from any tinSc of cgofsm or SclliShncSS
the college man must be loyal to some
"nI whose realization reacts to the adj
valccncnt and bcttcrmcnt of IL" race.
During the past year The death of an
alusnnus has shown what an object of
deviation this college was to him. De
Votion because it offered a sphere for
great physical, moral and intellectual
advancement. His whole life WAS IL
life o: loyalty; loyal to home: loyal t"
the interests of his friends and loyal to
his college. In Washington on May
seventh last in the presence Of Il largo
and distinguished audience. Il statu"
was presented by Mr. Brainerd War
n.r as an image of Il poet beloved by
the Whole world. Attorney General
Wirkcrsham accepted the statue rs the
property Of the nation and American
Literature in Il bronze figure of Henry
Wordsworth I.ongfcllow had at last
found recognition in n noble monumen-
tai form at the national capitol. At
the time I;liSS Perry said: "1.onSfcllow
was the ideal American citizen of his
day. AS Il. true college man he has
loyal to the higher ideals of life In
the hearts of the people his power has
been mighty. That bronz" figure of
man who as student and professor
passed his life in college halls stands
eloquent OF true training and culture:
eloquent of the large sphere of good the
college man may hold: eloquent of
Rowduin and the ideals for which she
stands in art and i'll life. and eloquent
in it's plea to graduates and under
graduates for loyalty to their best
In the present age it has been seen
that the duty. of tho college man is
= large. His sphere has been in the ful-
filing the ideals of the people In the
face If hostile criticism and even boy
cott it remains for those who love the
American college and who work 1or IL.
good as it is, to make il better. I" COM
bine its truth, its training and its Gull
turc with their own inherent worth, 10
increase its power for securing us
highest ideals. to enlarge its material
cniowments and to quick TIE force oil
its great personalities. AS college men 1t
is our privilege to bear our snare Oh
this burden and to help make the Nm
erican college more vital fa 70" 80
Il more vigorous part of Amerit".i ..fe.