Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-28

Of nothing else Some Of US must ex-
press our patriotism on the farm; others
In laboratory and factory. or In home or
hospital, but all must do "our Bit" The
purpose Of this war Is something vastly
more important than the overthrow OF
rcigning house beyond the seas. We de-
clare we have engaged In contest to
establish universal democracy and we
have. but that alone would hardly con-
stitute sufficient excuse for the sacrifi-
cial Offering we propose to make OF time
and money and life. There Ia deeper
ultimate motive than that which seeks
dethronement Of monarchy and the en-
forcement OF our peculiar ideals Of gov
eminent upon. unwilling people in other
countries. The transcendent issue Of this
war is human brotherhood. That is its
inspiration to me. In America thus far
individualtsm with It's consequent self
sufficiency and seif-complacency has gone
to the limit Of It's possibilities. We are
longing to he socialized and II this SAN
culinary conflict answers that longing and,
through us, enables the establishment of
a genuine world wide neighborhood with
all artificial boundaries of national self
ishness blotted out 1t will be worth all
1t may cost In blood and treasure.
UNIFORM A BADGE OF HIGH HONOR.
There are those In this class who al
ready wear the soldier uniform Of our
country. 1t is a badge Of high honor and
yet, let me remind you, II you would
make 1t mean all II should mean II must
stand for the Arm strength of passive
character rather than for the bluster of
spectacular action. l would have you
catch inspiration from the deathless spir-
| - cold all xxr4s~
an alumnus Of this institution in the six
ties to fight for the preservation of the
Union and then modestly returned, with
consciousness Of patriotic duty perform
ed, to exert the influence of his fine
scholarship and Gibraltar-like character
during forty years as q faithful teacher
OF youth In the University of Vermont.
Tomorrow we shall unveil window in
honor Of the memory of this soldier pro-
| lessor. The passive goodness quietly
maintained by John Ellsworth Goodrich
was the handspring of action that al
ways awaited. You may not return as he
did. This baccalaureate service is differ
ent from any that seniors of other years
in the University Of Vermont have ever
experienced. would not ask you to face
the awful possibilities Of the era in which
you 60 forth from alma mater with it's
M A.. i,
.ans.s n.n "e nus. sv,on'
49, ~ .e u as ese. ~.
| last one you will ever attend. / say this
| not to harrow your feelings or to cause
you and your relatives unnecessary ap-
prehenson. The stern compulsion of Of
| fetal duty reinforced by a loving desire
that you steel yourselves for the grave
.e.nues conironIns you are my reasons
M ne Sou !" aSsu,e yourselves
a. .onS .,, ,ie vi INC ony possees'Cll
Via. wiz ioruly you ior .he CRUCIAL 'riais
'T'o y. ~ WI. 'oo" &C., eApo,.e"os.
sou e n"suoa anu :,
30. pa.o .N.,n " neSus l's, sus'a,neu
.ne Apostle 'onn on iohe'y Fatmos. fou
may eise up your lives LOT Ireeoom on
.ne nisn seas o, you may Ial on the
souuen he'us oi france UT Oh ran
ueis nut tne sacrince viii De nonoranle
Is maze out OF the rugged strength
cnalacteI vo'o Oh onense to"aro GOO
anu man. l nope WIN you ana all your
,Iiehus' mat tne ISSUES OF tnis war VIII
DC settieu soon ana that you Will each
90 permitte" 10 capieanze your trained
aolnNy ana 1orce OF character IN lives
cohsecrea'eo 10 inc serVice OF world
49, .u .,.u.. ., =. .,
~ hav 81, sv&1x,
ing. The death Of Alan Seeeer the young
Harvard graduate fighting for freedom in
France meant much more to him. to his
| friends and to mankind than an ordinary
life measured by the span Of three score
and ten years. His devoted biorra nher
does not presume to suggest '.any parity
| Of stature'' with the Rroup Of English
were cut Off in the flower of their age.
Keats. coughing out his soul by the
Spanish Steps; shelly's spirit Of flame
| snuffed out by a capful Of wind from the
hills Of Carrara; Byron, stung by a few
| er gnat on the threshold Of his great ad.
venture-none Of them, though, would
have disdained" Seeger's gift Of song"
Fundamentally Alan Seeger felt wal
to be one of the supreme experiences
could not shrink without disloyalty &c
his ideal" The glorious privilege of sur.
rendering life for that ideal az he did
when charging up to the German trench.
es on the field of Belloy-en-Santerre thu
evening of the fourth OF last July wa.
fully discounted by this brave coueg,
man as evidenced by his poem of antici
patton entitled
.r uAvE prNDrzvor,s x,,,r,,
DEATH"
IT have a rendezvous with Death
At some disputed barricade,
When Spring comes back with rustlinl
shade
And apple-blossoms I'LL the air
I have a rendezvous with Death
| Whon SnrinG hrin1a haCL hIuA Aova NJ