The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-06-23

lfA A4l8M tNgoft4 anu haa bhN
great privilege Of the warm friendship
Of the Leading men Of the United
States Of his time. There must have
been a wonderful charm about him
when Roger Sherman, then a spirit in
Congress, (ealled by his contemporar-
les, the man Of supreme common
sense, and OF whom Thomas jefferson
declared that he had never said a
foolish thing in his life) gave Ira
Allen his friendship and for the love
he bore this young man. plead the
cause Of Vermont in Congress with
zeal he had never shown in any other.
"No greater man ever paid a great
er tribute TO another great man, un-
known TO him, than Bismarck paid TO
the founder Of this State and this
University, when he said TO three
Americans who were visiting him at
his home in 1878: You are from a re-
public. | would like 10 give you my
idea Of a republic | think that you
will allow that | am somewhat a
student Of political history. My idea
Of republic-the pattern Of republic
today-is little State in the north Of
your great country, the smallest Of the
New England States-Vermont. Yer
mont is my idea Of peoples govern
ment in its history and workings.
Then he gave many details showing
his knowledge regarding it. Filled
with pride in their States, one Of the
visitors then said: Your excellency,
two of US are graduates Of the Univer
sity Of Vermont and one Of US claims
that State as his birthplace
Bismarck rose and said, Gentle
men, you should be most proud Of
your inheritance; to be son Of Yer
mont is glory enough for the greatest
citizen
"Let us hope that Professor Good
rich was a prophet when he said in his
address, in 1892, speaking Of the por-
trait Of Ira Allen: No alumnus could
ever gaze upon him without a thrill
Of personal gratitude towards the man
who builded so generously and so
wisely for the commonwealth, after
helping to lay its corner stone, and
successive generations Of undergradu-
ates would receive inspiration and
courage as they lifted their eyes to
meet h,f look Of greeting and bene-
diction.' 1t is my hope that every
student will feel this, as he passes
This statue.
IL am not going to take up any
moro Of your time but cannot re-
train from speaking Of one more evil
dence Of the wonderful breadth of
mind and vision Of this great man, to
whose services to us and to future
we today pay tribute.
When in Pelagee prison in Paris
(where he was so unjustly confined, as
we're Lafayette and others at this
period) on February 29th, 1899, in a
letter to U. S. Consul General Skip
with at Paris, he wrote: In this sit
lation | have thought proper to make
a statement Of some Of my objects
hat are extremely deranged by my
detention, though it has been my Gus
.om to let the world know at proper
times what | had done and not what
was going to do
"And after telling what he had
planned to do for the University, he
wrote: 4 had also contemplated the
Of an academy on
most extensive and liberal plan for
female education as | have considered
young girls too much neglected This
noble thought was at least so years
ahead Of this country.
81 challenge any State to produce
nan Of broader vision or sounder
any tribute paid by us
o Ira Allen should always be consid-
,red a great privilege and an indica-
ion that we are able TO and do appre-
late those qualities Of character that
Ne possessed to so unusual degree
The Statue Unveiled
Up to this point in the ceremony,
he statue had been covered with
green and gold yelling. The unveil-
ng now took place. This ceremony
vas performed by Miss Sarah NJ.
Allen, granddaughter Of Ira Allen
assisted by the Misses Blanche Abbott
ind Nadine Boardman Of the gradu-
lting class. The young ladies were
ircssed all in white
The unveiling was very gracefully
.arried out and revealed the splendid
york Of the sculptor, Sherry Fay Of
New York City The bronze statue q
General Ira Allen is a stern and yet a
graceful figure. Standing seven feet
high, il Is well proportioned, with
ong slender lines. more slender than
hose a. LAFAYETTE. The head is