Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-09-22
MlDDLEBURY COLLEGE
Opens With Largest Freshman
Glass in History.


All previous records and expectations
were exceeded in the freshman class re-
ceived by Middlebury college Thursday
morning The registration of the new
class at noon was 12l, and several more
are expected. The class is a third
larger than any previously received by
Mddlebury.
The college dormitories are full and
many students are quartered in homes
in the village. 1t has been difficult to
find sufficient places.
President Thomas announced that the
general education board fund of $780,
600 was nearly completed. Since his
illness committee of alumni have been
busy securing subscriptions and they
have succeeded in securing several
large donations. Yesterday a pledge
of $4,000 was received from Hon. Levi
P. Morton, eX-vice-president of the
United States and a former governor of
New York. Governor Morton was born
in Shoreham. His father was grad
aute and trustee of Middlebury and his
uncle, Levi Parsons, from whom he was
named, was also an aumnus.
The opening address was delivered
by Professor Charles B. Wright of the
department of English. 1t was an able
and forceful presentation of the i'm
portance of method and spirit in study,
e ho Of
President Thomas addressed the in
coming class in formal recognition of
their matriculation. He said in part
Members of the Glass of 1915:
1t is simple act to sign an enroll
ment blank in the office of the college
registrar and record your choice of
studies for the next few months. The
significance of it may easily escape you.
| wish to impress you with the fact that
in reality you have performed one of
most important acts of your lives.
You are now members of a college !
community, amenable to its rules and
subject to its control. From this mo-
ment no reputable institution would ac-
cept you as student without certifi-
cate of honorable dismissal from Mid /
dlebury college. The world thus recog-
nzes that you are an integral part of
our institution.
You cannot thus become member of
a new community without assuming
new obligation. You are now response /
fle to the college for industry, zeal and
honorable conduct, which should char
acterize disciple of the higher learning. (
1T is your obligation to render to the
college, which values its fair name
above all other treasures, the best ef- /
forts of which you are capable for your
own improvement and for the cultiva-
ton of your powers of service to the /
world.
Yesterday parents and friends We're |
interested in you. They retain their in
terest, but today are added the plea and
expectation of your college that you do
your full duty as youth in training for
positions of trust in needy and trying
world.
A college is made by its students.
For eleven years beyond century
Middlebury college has welcomed to its
halls youths of serious purpose and earn .
est minds who have made her name
spoken in honor the wide earth over.
That honor is now in your keeping.
We are confident you come to US with
high ideals and resolute purpose to do
your best. My only anxiety is to
whether you have the grip to hold these
ideals and purposes.
Whatever of good you have learned
from the cradle onwards guard with
your might. Never be ashamed of
anything good because you learned it
young.
But urge you not merely to hold fast /
whatever excellent principles you have !
cherished hitherto, but to add to them. |
Learn to take still tighter grip on
whatsoever things are of good report.
Let your eyes open to yet higher
heights of manhood and womanhood. /
There are noble qualities of which you
have not yet dreamed. When. they
come within your vista, see them clear
and take them to your heart.
Thus may your college course be a
constant progress in strength and no.
bility of manhood, and may you leave
our college halls not only wiser, but
also purer and nobler.