Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-06-24

The persons who had received honor
airy degrees in the morning were the
speakers of the day. Before introduce
ing the first speaker, President Thomas
read the following telegram:
S. S. Carmania, via
Sea Gate, N. Y, %.
Expected to be with YOU Storm pre-
vents. Hurrah for Middlebury!
Rev. Geo. Nye Boardman, Al, Lift.
D., was the first speaker His degree
is the first Lift. D. ever bestowed by
Middlebury College. In this connection.
Mr.. Boardman drew upon his memory
for many of Middleburys early grad
yates who had merited the degree. He
mentioned S. S. Beaman. 1907, Judge
Thompson, 20, Truman NJ. Post, 70,
John G. SAKE, SO, and many others of
whom Middlebury is justly proud.
After the applause for Mr.. Board
mans speech had subsidized, President
Thomas called upon the class of 1860 to
rise. Six out of seven living members
were present and responded.
Mr.. Henry Wayland Hill of Buffalo.
was the next speaker. He was a men,
Der of the New York Champlain Ter
centenary Commission, and spoke of his
relations with President Thomas in re-
gard to the latter's connection with the
Vermont Commission.
His speech took up the important part
played by colleges in our national life
and welfare, especially in the field of
politics. The American college," he
said, contributes largely to an appre-
citation of the great Anglo-Saxon princi-
pies which under-lie our civilization the
principles of Individual Liberty, Securi-
ty and Property He spoke of Social
ism and Sensationalism as 1.-THE two
greatest menaces to republican govern
ment.
Irving Batcheller was next called
upon. He spoke of the intimate rela-
tons existing between northern New
York and Vermont, and between their
colleges, st. Lawrence University (his
own alma mater) and Middleburv.
He then entered upon the subject
proper of his speech, 1.-THE Modern Au-
thor and His Work The keynote of
his remarks was that simplicity is the
first principle of literature. The arti-
fetal life of our cities, with its artificial
amusements, has substituted other
forms of recreation for reading, and
many authors, in order to win back the
public, cater to their sensational and
over developed tastes
But the people of the cities are not.
thank God, in the majority. There are
still, in our country towns, people who
find sane and decent delight in the
beauties and peace of nature; and it is
to these people that the modern author
must appeal if he desires his work to be
worth while.
Mr.. Batchellers speech was full of
sparkling wit, which kept the audience
in roars of laughter, and his sound com
nonsense made great impression up
on his hearers.
Mrs. Julia C. R. Dorr, Vermont S
greatest living poet, was next called
upon She said, by way of introduc-
ton:
81 feel very humble today. but very
happy and very grateful as well. Pres
ident Thomas, regard this honor as
given not to me alone, but to the women
of my generation; women who never
dreamed of college education who
lived their quiet lives in their home
circles, and quietly did their duty. In
comforting this degree upon me, Pres-
dent Thomas, you have dropped flower
in their graves, and in their name give
you thanks. she then read two poems
recently composed by her.
President Thomas then told the history
of the Mccullough Gymnasium Fund,
and made the welcome announcement
that it is now practically assured.
Timothy Prescott Frost, d. ID. of
Evanston, Ill.,, next spoke of the in
fluence exercised by Vermont men all
over the country, and of the work of
the Vermont colleges in turning out
those men. The administration of Mid
dlebury College came in for its share of
praise. at is less the breadth than the
depth of its teachings, he said, e" that
makes a college pre-eminent; less the
number than the quality of its gradu-
ates. He closed with a few words on
the duty of a college to its students,
and said that Middlebury is now fulfilling
that duty faithfully.
The last speaker on the program was
Judge Wendell P. Stafford. In introduc-
ing him, President Thomas said:
'This Commencement has in many
ways been a most memorable one. The
events of this week will go down in the
history of the college. But perhaps the
most memorable part is that which is
now to come. have the honor to call
upon the Hon, Wendell Phillips Stafford.
to answer to the toast, Vermont and
DIR. Stafford will respond in verse.