The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-12-10
AN APPEAL TO LOYALTY.
Stirring Address Given by Pres. Benton
Before vincitia Club.

DIR. Guy Potter Benton, president o.
the University of Vermont, was tho
speaker at Vincitia clubs first smoke
talk OF the season, held at the clut
rooms in the Blanchard building last
evening, and the subject of his address
was "The New Loyalty" the speaker
taking look ahead into Vermont fu-
ture and expressing great confidence in
Nermont's possibilities while at the same
time reyering the states past and com
mending its present activities.
The address, which the speaker en-
deavored to make as informal as pos
sible, was followed with keenest interest
by large gathering of men, who ex-
pressed their appreciation with hearty
applause, followed by rising vote as
indicative of that appreciation
DIR. Benton outlined the various phases
of loyalty loyalty to ones self, to 9th
er individuals, to the family, to the va
rious units of eivilization--and then said
that true loyalty is never complacent,
that it is constantly looking about and
endeavoring to determine what it can
do for the betterment of humanity.
True loyalty is never satisfied; and,
bringing the application to Vermont, he
said that while Vermont has reason to
be proud of splendid history, of it's
quota of men in the Civil war, of its
scenery of its commercial and agricul-
tural activities, of its education, vet the
states largest ground for loyalty is not
in its past but in its possibilities.
Vermont, he said, is just on the bor-
derland of its possibilities; there are al
most unmeasured opportunities for the
growth and development of the state in
many ways. chiefly in agriculture and
commercial life. He expressed his belief
that Vermont is likely to be one of the
richest states Of the Union, according to
its area.
Turning. then, to the municipal life Of
the state. DR.. Benton said that there are
two ways in which one can show his
loyalty, (l) by civic pride, and (2) by
social service. He told of the adyan-
tages which come to community
through having well-deserved self-re-
spect, how it pays TO have the reputation
of being clean town both as to morals
and as to physical conditions.
Social service he described as helping
ones neighbor; and he said that ones
neighbors are not merely the persons
who live on ones street, but all hui
manity. whether it be at home or in
some other part of the universe. Social
service consists in helping along all peo-
pie toward better conditions of life: and
to that end he expressed his belief in
many of the movements of the present
day toward furnishing proper amuse.
ments.
He referred in particular to the
change in such city as Rochester, \.
". where the old idea of the sehoolhouse
being closed except to school purposes
has been done away with and now the
schools are the centers for social life
of the people; in such a city as North
ampton, Mass, where municipal thea
tire has been built and in now doing
fine work toward the uplift of the peo.
pie Indeed. he was inclined TO think
that even the church itself might find
a valuable adjunct in its work with the
theatre of the right sort in such city
as Dayton, o., where the commission
form OF government is finding lodgment
through a desire of the people to have
more honest, more able government In
these and various other ways he thought
the new loyalty is being expressed and
he closed with the hope that the new
loyalty would find ready response in
Nermont's cities and towns.
At the close of the talk the cigars
were passed around and buffet lunch
was served, and in the meantime the
speaker OF the evening was introduced
to the members by Vice President NJ, s.
Rounds of the club. Afterwards. cards,
billiards and pool furnished entertain
ment 1t was announced that the first
of the seasons matches with Apollo club
will be held at Montpelier next Tuesday
night.