Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-02-25
TENTH ANNUAL BANQUET.
Washineton's Birthday Observed
bv Middlebury Colleqe.

The annual Washin gton's birthday ban
quet of Middlebury College was held in
the town hall Tuesday evening. There
were about two hundred present, and the
affair was the most successful held in
many years. The president of the even
ing was j. Gordon Peach, II. Harold
S. Tuck, II, made the Grafton, and
Charles w Mulcahy. ~, the declama-
ton. Prof f. w. Cady was toastmas-
ter, ana toasts were gwen by one mem
Der of each class. Lyman A. Morhous,
representing the seniors. spoke on "The
Spirit of '76;n Margerv Burdett, II, gave
! a toast to "rhe Faculty." Kathleen V.
| DriscoIl. of the sophomore class, had for
her subject. "Resolutions,' and Wilfred
| f. Dawson, 10, sp oke on THE Wash
ington of Today" Prof Cunningham
sang solo, and the college orchestra
| played two selections.
The principal speakers were the Hon.
VIM. b. G. Stcknev, of Bethel, and Pres
dent Thomas. Mr.. Stckney is gradu
ate of Harvard. class OF '65, and is well
known us Il friend of Middlebury. He
said in part: "The purpose of this kind
of meeting is to vitalize patriotism. and
find out what the great men who have
made our country what 1t is. were. OF
! these Washington is the greatest. The
first eptome of Washington's character
was written bv an Englishman years
after Washington's death He said that
no greater man was ever at the head of
a nation. The colonists learned only
little by little the greatness of their lead
er. He never felt a mean or personal
ambition, and gradually made them love
him and regard him with reverence.
The question has arisen: Are our no
tons of Washington IDEAL | have
read lately in a newspaper that we do
not regard him as he really was. But ]
do not believe this. Our ideas of Wash
ington are founded on what he did.
His first act after the capitulation of
CORVALLIS was to order religious serv-
ices to be held the next day and request
ed all the soldiers, as their commander
n.chief to attend with the proper de-
voutness. He had the proclamation of
peace read in each regiment, and ordered
the chaplain to then offer prayer.
The spirit of attributing benefits to
their true source prevailed the age in
which Washington lived. That was the
spirit in which the Constitution was
adopted, and was the moving spirit of
| Washington's whole career. Washing
ton had one sole purpose: In every way,
by every means in his power to perpet-
uate the Union. The Nation has passed
through many crises. First there was
trouble in the North. then in the South,
then the Civil War. But the Union still
stands. In my way Of thinking,
whether the Union will stand depends
upon the institutions of learning founded
by the government; upon you, boys and
girls. fathers and mothers of future gen
,-il no 70
proposed to the constitution, perhaps
chan ing the principles. In such a case
think well over how you will vote. All
that is necessary is to understand our
/ duties as citizens Understand " hat
| you are about. The college is to teach
those things. 1t is in your hands. The
/ Nermonter knows the requirements of
hIs country, and how to respond to them.
| He understands the significance of sym
bols, of our flag whose blue Is heaven.
whose star is our home. and whose red
is the red blood of sacrifice. When you
go from Middlebury, DO you duty.
stand boldly for the right"
President Thomas had for his subje
"Washngton Success" After speaking
of the success of the celebration, he paid
Mr.. Stickney some compliments, and
told of Mr.. Stickney's efforts in behalf of
Middlebury with the State Legislature.
Then he said in part: "A New York
paper at the end of recent political
campaign said, Merit wins. Washing
ton won at the head of his army, as
president, in his private life, by merit.
In the long run, though sometimes a cor
rupt person may have good fortune, or
good person. bad fortune, merit will win.
In that conviction, am going on in hope
for Middlebury. A college must have
righteous foundation. 1t must not exist
for sectarian principles, to carry out the
theory of some man, nor for credit 10
ones self or friends, but to try to do
good in its community This is our
foundation, if ever college had one.
The pioneers, the lumbermen of old Yer
mont, deliberated as to how they might
found college at Middlebury. before
Dr. Dwight appeared. The college was
A I