Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-16


versty commenced this afternoon with
fair skies and scores of alumni from all
over the country present to renew old
friendships and to take part in the CEN
tennlal exercises.
Governor Perclval w. Clement Of Nor-
mont arrived in Northfield early in the
afternoon and was escorted TO the uni
versity grounds by cadet corps, headed
by the university band.
Exercises celebrating the formal OPEN
ing OF tho new cavalry stables. which
have recently been completed at cost
of S25,0OC, were then held in IA huge tent
at one end of the parade on the college
grounds. Colonel Frank Tompkins, COM
mander OF the 30lst Infantry overseas,
opened the program and told of the
building of the stables and the splendid
aid rendered him by Governor Clement
He also announced plans for the con-
struction of n riding school next spring.
Governor Clement Uaid high COM
pliment to the work which is being done
at the university in aiding to raise the
moral standard of the State. The remark
that the people of Vermont will never let
an institution die which is turning out
, the type of men as Norwich was greeted
ence At the conclusion of his address he
told of what had been accomplished in
improving the schools and roads in the
State during the present generation.
Following the exercises a cavalry drill
was held on the parade by the under
graduates at the institution, the troop
performing the most difficult movements
in the drill with apparent ease. This was
followed by formal guard mount, one
of the prettiest ceremonies in military
routine.
The alumni and guests then made an
inspection of the new cavalry stables.
which at present are quarters for Ga
horses and which were completed last
week, although work on them was only
begun in June. Those who examined the
stables expressed an opinion that the
new quarters at Norwich are the --latest
work" in cavalry stables in the United
state. The military squadron was later
reviewed by Governor Clement which
was followed by the evening parade a
ceremony which has been held at the
university every night. with very few
exceptions, since the college was found
ed by Capt. Alden Partridge in 1919.
In the evening the alumni meeting
and dinner were held in the mess hall.
with Professor Ethan A. Shaw, 81,
president of the General Alumni asso-
citation, presiding. He later called on
George ID. Thomas, '76 president of
the Boston Alumni Association. to act
as toastmaster during the speaking of
the evening. kilograms and letters of
commendation from many prominent
persons in the country including Gen.
Pershing. Gen. Wood, President Hadley
of Yale and the superintendent of West
Point were read.
The ladies and guests of the institu-
ton were entertained during the eve
ming at an informal gathering in Dewey
and Carnegie halls at which moving
pictures and an entertainment by the
local Ladies' club featured.
Rarely has the university and town
of Mortified harbored as many prom
inent men from nearly every State in
the Union. as it has tonight. The
merchants and residents of the town
ness and homes with banners and bunt-
ing and the whole town presents the
appearance OF a July fourth celebra-
ton.
The exercises will be continued un-
til next Tuesday.
GOVERNOR CLEMENT
Governor Clement in his speech this
afternoon said In part:
THE people Of this State and the
people of this country will never let
this institution die. l think your future
is we'll assured l am very glad that
the stable is built. that you will
( be able TO retain that unit of the mill
tary service. | have sort of a faint
idea that 1t is an old-fashioned part
Of the service. and won't be good in the
future. We have invented better and
quicker ways of killing men, but this
branch of the service is Just as essen
tial and as important now as it ever
was, and l am very glad you have
achieved success in this soliciting of funds
80 that you have the building and are
going to have the horses. 1t is a mighty
good part of the training. In the 100
years that have gone by since the institu-
| ton was started when Captain Partridge
used to marshal his boys in the sum
mer vacation, and marched them all over
the State from part to another in
order to get them hardened and in good
form, many notable men have been turned
out Of this institution.
You and ] and everybody make Yer
mont. the civic body; the body polite is
Vermont and not the geographical map.
Now that civic body is changing all the
time every day. Every man, woman and
child belongs to 1t. Just as 1t changes
and grows better or worse. the people OF
the State improve or retrograde. Any
poor, broken down member is a part of
the body polite. II you see little smiling
body, just beginning its life, that is Il
part of the body polite, part OF the
civic body, and so 1t goes. We all belong
to that impersonal Vermont of which l
have the honor to represent. Now | think
We ought to consider this matter because
| 1t Is a matter that interest every one of