Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-06-25
ALUMNI AT BREAD LOAF.
CONTINUED from Page ~

times almost the power of divination |
of truths unsupported by the dull
world and of the course of events in the
far future yelled from common eyes.
"In his death the town of Middlebury
lost her best friend, and the State of
Vermont one OF her most loyal and de-
voted sons. Joseph Battell worked for
our village and town, in his own
way, but patiently, perslstently, far
sightedly, and generously, through all
his active life. Our beautiful and sub
stantia village, in its central portion,
is a monument to his faith, his industry,
and his generosity.
There is not a town in Vermont
which has changed its outward look
more substantially for the better in the
last quarter century than our own Mid
dlebury, and the major portion of the
improvement has been due to the labor
of MIR. Battell. Memories of my stu
dent days include the steep hill on Main
street from the railroad to the bridge,
the decayed and unsightly structure
where the new part of the Battell
Block stands, the Nancy store where
is now the fountain and park, and the
ugly and lettering bridge over the
Otter. How different must be the i'm
preston upon the visitor to-day, and
how much of the change was brought
about by the careful planning and self
sacrificing labor of our good, true
friend
"He loved the village and wanted his
life. He loved the town and worked for
everything that would make it better
town. He loved the entire region and
thought and felt that no where else in
the world had God made a land more
fair He loved our State and prided
himself in its mountains and hills, its
valleys and fields, its noble men and
women its heroic history and story
His soul was flied with strong and
tender affection toward all that pre-
tanned in any way to his home and to his
native State. have stood with him on
the height Of the land which he gen
erously gave to the college and watched
the tears rain down his face as he looked
down upon the village, with the fair
church spire framed in the trees and
the river cleaning bright between the
fields, and Off to the majestic mountains
whose native green he had kept from
the vandals touch He loved our rocks
and rills, our woods and tempted hills
no man ever loved them more.
"Mr. Battell was man of sentiment
Beauty stirred him, whether of out
wal d nature, or music, or a work Of
art. Sentiment governed his conduct
in situations where others would have
acted from lesser motives. 1t is common
to slur at sentiment, as weak and IN
worthy indulgence Ct the idle and in
capable. But sentiment in its noble
forms of passion for ones home and
birthplace, delight in old scenes and
boyhood memories. emotion from the
grand or the eXquisitely beautiful in
nature, is a noble quality of the strongest
natures. Such was the sentiment of
David when he longed for a drink of
water from the well by the gate of
Bethlehem, the sentiment of Washing
ton for the stately trees of Mount
Vernon, the sentiment of Scott for the
heathered mountains of Scotland and
f,,I At tpfI wl
and of Wordsworth for the lakes of
Cumberland, like Wordsworth Mr..
Battell began in youth to yield himself
to nature, with a strong and holy
passion. We have had no man among
US the past forty years who appreciated
, more truly at their worth the beauty Of
the Vermont hills and forests than dill
Joseph Battell.
Gratitude, respect, veneratiOr,
honor should fill our hearts when We
think of him. He was the frieni
of the humblest, and his charity knew
no bounds of creed or social station.
He was a true American in devotion L
the principles of liberty and equality
He was tireless worker and knew not
how to rest, and all his work was fol
! the public good. He did good in hi
own way, but he did it, and for whar
, he did, and for the generous and loya
impulse which prompted all he did
town and State and college will bles,
his memory many days.
I'm the midst of these scenes h,
loved so loyalty looking out on the for
ests he labored forty years to protec
and to preserve, let US as a college dedi
cate ourselves to the work he so nobll
began. He has laid upon US grea
trust, believing that we would carry i
out honorably and with fidelity. T,
protect these majestic forests, Cod
gift He has been ages in preparing, t,