Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-06-30
PORTRAIT PRESENTED.
Tribute to Memory OF One of Hest
Loved Professors.

Loved Professors.
AT four O'Clock IL the college chapel
the presentation Of the portrait Of
Professor Mckendree Petty to the
university took place. The address of
presentation was made by Daniel L.
Cady OF the class of 1856. on whom
the greatest credit Is reflected by his
efforts in getting the necessary funds
for the portrait. President Buckham
accepted for the university in a short
speech. remarkable for its delicate
appreciation Of Professor Petty NJ
kendree Petty. a grandson OF the pro-
fessor unveiled the picture and the
ceremony was concluded with a few
remarks by the Rev. II. c. Petty of
Castleton- on the Hudson. the young
est son of the professor.
J. J. Allen presided at the presenta-
tion and in few appropriate remark :
spoke OF the great debt owed by the
university to Mr.. Cady for his work
He then introduced Mr. Cadv. who
said:
As 1t IL remarkable that no ADEQUATE
appreciation OF Professor Petty has ever
been written. SO is It remarkable that
none is likely to he written. AS Professor
| Petty said little Of others in writing. so
| In all likelihood will little be written OF
him. beyond the tributes Of the present
| occasion. For this there are two reasons:
, FIRST: Professor Petty's biography was
lived by himself rather than left to be
| compiled or narrated by others. He was
essentially an actor, and when he left the
stage he era ced. his hour, like every great
actors hour, was mainly closed. There
Is little therefore, TO seize upon except
memories. and these ere so ma iestic that
1t Is difficult to arrange them in an or
derly way, or to speak Of them truthfully
! IN detail. II IL Of little profit to descant
ABOUT the approaches. the passes or the
foothills OF the H!malayas. when the SPLEEN
did altitude Of Mount Everest has at
tracted us, Why explore arms. inlets and
hackwaters, when an ocean has drawn us
10 It's shore' McKendree Pettv-how much
we know of him, and how little, How
much we love him and owe him,
second II Is commonly remarked that
the hravest are the tenderest; We may also
observe that the most modest are The
most self-reiant Strange as it may seenl
they possess beyond others that splendid
quality of trusting their own Judgment
witch amounts to Independence anu -
near akin to pride OF the best kind Prof.
Petty was modest beyond almost all men
deferential. retiring ard non-asscrt ve.
nut as against these qualities and marks
suppose no man took his positions with
more assurance. or had more faith that
what he did WAS right. and would be r.eht
| for all time. Did he seem to defer II WIZ g
that another should first, I'm courtesy no
heard. Did he seem to hesitate. II vas
that no error be made not tina, tho
problem was difficult. Whatever tho ont.
ward exhibition with Prof Petty tho
inner light was always present. always
certain. Every day he could have said
with Hannah More:
20 when on earth things look but odd
| They're working out some scheme ~
God
Perhaps not one person in thouearde
Possesses this quality. which in IFS mani
hesitation gently separates them from, tho
outer world the true world FOR thc,, ,s
an inner world, the true life the ir,ar no
and 10 that inner life and world are c,,.
stantly and confidently referred tho
perp!eSing questions OF the hour-a rIsca
where no other may come, a eanc,u.r,.
none may violate Ordinary mon ana
women may indeed glance whit, MAJ,
even know hours and DAYS of col,
examination and introspection. I'm, fo
such as Prof. Petty the assurances voc
the comforts "of this our moral NO :,
arise through the inward vision. So tho,
at the same time he was with ne forc,b,,
with us-a loving tender man and moe,
| eHectual teacher-at the same time b,s
soul as the poet mas 1t, was like a et.r
ana dwelt apart; he saw lights an,
beacons invisible to most OF us-the secrot
OF his power, the reason for this doy,.
assembage.
no adequate biography or apprecIa-
Hoh or professor Petty will thersfore
over be written. because mono NAV ~.
written. To make plain what am
attempting to say--does anyone nrcse
Ont suppose that an adequate or com
plete life OF President Lincoln has
boen' OF ever will be, produced? There
| was another Lincoln besides the sad
faced President; there was another
Petty besides the modest and self
effacing professor
II Is high honor in scholar to
master advanced mathematics. IL the
truth Is to be told. there are many
Scholars or good parts WHO are either
deficient in high mathematical cana-
city or lack the incentive for such
concentration of thought rs Is neces.
sary to follow the Newtons the Bur
ritts and the Newcombs---to cope with
and grasp the sublime science OF nux-
IONS as 1t used to DO called Whether
this condition results from incapacity
or from want OF motive. and whether
II Is to be excused by saying-I don't
| like mathematics do not know
Perhaps the mathematicians Themselves
should be permitted to decide.
The subject was forcibly brought
before me the other day. upon hearinp
granddaughter OF Professor Petty
remark that she was very FOND of
mathematics, while the LANGUAGES
were her despair. ! drst wished that