Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1918-06-28
1--WE HAVE WON,"
SAYS DIR. THOMAS
Shower of Responses Last
Few Days
Success Assured For Largest Undertake
ing in History Of Old Midd

Climbing alone to the belfry of Mead
Chapel at noon today, President Thorn.
as sent all eight bells of the chimes
ringing through the valley in vigor.
Gus rendition of the Doxology, 1t was,
though only few OF his associates were
aware of it, in celebration of his success
in raising the 100000 Liberty Endow.
ment Fund,
The febrile crisis in his year-long effort
to raise the fund passed this week when
literally showers Of pledges came in
from alumni and friends of the college
in response to his last appeal, The bal.
ance needed a week ago stood at Sl5,-
O0O, with DR., Thomas desperately per
picked as to where the sum was coming
from. The answer during the past week
is that 1t came from everywhere and
seemingly from almost everyone. Old
Midd has never seen such a rally to her
support. Drawer d at the postoffice
where the college draws its mail-has
been crowded to capacity with pledges
at every mail, and up to today they
were still coming in so fast that no one
had had time to compute them. The
indications were that the 100000 would
not only be realized, but that the fund
would go well "over the top"
DR.. Thomas, though unable to com.
pute the actual figures, gave the Regis
ter the following statement
I'VE have won, The Liberty Endow-
ment Fund will be over subscribed. The
final returns are not yet in from all our
committees and every mail is bringing
additional gifts and pledges, but already
the terms OF the conditional offers have
been met
ut has not been necessary to call
upon any one to underwrite the bal
ance. The fund has been raised by
straight subscriptions from alumni and
friends. We have not had time to
count the number of subscribers, but
think it will exceed 1900.
at is the largest fund ever raised for
Middlebury College, 1t is as much as
the total endowments accumulated by
the college during the first century of
its life. 1t will all be saieguarded as
a permanent trust fund, the income on
ly to be used, to work everlastngly for
81 wish to express my thanks through
The Register to all who have contribu-
ted to the success of our endeavor. Ev-
en- to name those who have assisted
in various ways would take many col
umns of space. | am especially pleased
to have had such loyal cooperation in
our home territory, which has indicat-
ed the most hearty good will to the col
Iege on the part of the people of Mid
dlebury and Addison County, and in
deed of the entire state.
"The work is not yet over. I'm /
ioubtedly many will wish to join in a
which has been so successful
and we shall not close the books for
several days. Besides the fund must be
as well as subscribed, and
since the General Education Board will
oay their subscription only in the pro-
portion in which other pledges are paid,
t is important that payments be made
IS promptly as possible.
at is a great relief that the dear old
College is safe-safe here while our boys
are fighting to make us all safe over
here They will fight the better for
t, Now for a good Freshman class
md a better Middlebury than ever
lext year"
Aside from the hardest sort of labor
W night and day which Dr. Thomas
las put into the raising of the fund for
he past year. there have been many
pleasant phases of his struggle. The
Register inquiring as to what some Of
he responses to his appeals had been,
vas allowed to gather some idea of
hem from a single mall
~ wish could make it more" "How
Continued on page five