Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-12-24

in the field of aesthetic criticism of the
great dramatist he has had no superior
in any nation. Both Edwin Booth and
Henry Irving placed this Cornwall man
at the head of all Shakesperian writers
whose interpretation had been of serv-
ice to them. Middlebury College is now
seeking to endow Professorship in his
honor, that his name may be linked per-
petually with the studies he did so much
to promote.
have by no means exhausted the list,
yet time fails me. 1t would be I'M
gracious in me not to add the name of
Judge Ashley Samson, of the class of
1872. son of Daniel Samson, who was an
honored Judge in the city of Rochester.
N. T., for many years, and who be-
queathed third of his estate to Mid
dlebury College, from which the insti-
tuition received the sum of $4,000. 20.
With his name should be coupled that of
Gilbert Cook Lane, of the class of 1853,
son of William Lane, who was stricken
with consumption only ayear or two
after his graduation, yet who managed
to lay by $3.50 for the library of his alma
mater, and also 500 for the Library
Association of this town, which has so
long borne his name and which is an in
tegral part of your present library.
The list might be much prolonged,
hlt hava cold anouob ~ do~,ooc+,oto
that Cornwall has much to remember
much beside the men of 81 to '65 and
the earlier heroes of 1912 and the Revo-
luton. Peace has had her victories
here, not less than war. The establish
ment of the town tradition for high
character, business energy, and devoted
piety was the great achievement of the
fathers. The maintenance of the steady
stream of men of power and ability who
have rendered invaluable service to the
State and nation is the peculiar glory of
this town through all the long years of
its history. The record has been made
through the devotion of the town to
public education and to sound and
thoughtful piety. The influence of the
early literary society of young men and
of the library should not be forgotten.
These institutions and traditions,
which have proved so fruitful in the
past, should not be allowed to languish
and decay. The blood is here still and
it has yet to be proved that it has lost
its potency. Through this building, a
center for the intellectual life of the
town and the cultivation of patriotic
sentiment, there should go forth con-
slant stimulus to equal in quality and
temper of life the great days of the
past, and constant encouragement and
assistance to the young men and women
of the following generations to pursue
those paths of ambition and achieve
ment which so many have followed in
the past and by which they have at
tanned the eminence and usefulness
which makes the history of their native
town record of honor and pride.
congratulate the boys and girls who
dlc DOi IL III SOTHWdll. NO0e can nave
right to greater pride in their native
place. / advise them all to give their
address as Cornwall, not Middlebury,
R. d. If could boast of Cornwall l
would not throw the privilege away.
If it is not unseemly in an outsider,
would like to make one suggestion.
Your library has notable and unusual
history. 1t goes back to 1.-The Young
Gentleman's Society,"" established in
1904 after the pattern of the Philo-
mathesian Society of Middlebury Col
lege. Some of the books of that his
toric society are still on your shelves.
1t includes the collection of the LANE
Library Association" founded in 1859
in the pathetic manner have described.
Toward this organization citizens sub
(COntinued on Pace \