Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1922-12-15
FROM THE STUDY DESK


Probably in few communities
throughout the entire country does
Forefather's Day have so much signif-
canoe as in our own town. Certainly
it would be difficult to find many other
American villages where the Day has
been faithfully observed for more than
three quarters of a century. 1t would
be interesting to know the details as to
the origin Of the interest in this partic-
ular dav which has resulted in the
series of celebrations which have
helped to make Middlebury famous.
We know, of course, to whom we owe
the financial foundation which makes
the occasion one of the permanent in
stitutions of our village. We know,
too, the names of many of the men and
women who in the past half-century
more material effort to the success of
these annual gatherings. 1t would be
of especial interest if we might know
details as to just how and why the first
celebration was planned The official
seal of the Middlebury Historical
Society bears the date of 1873 The
preface of Swifts History of Middle
bury tells us that "Rev. Thomas A.
Merrill d. D., as early as 1907, when
nearly all the early settlers were living,
began to collect facts relating to the
settlement of the town, which he in
corporated in sermon delivered on
Thanksgiving Day in December, 1870"
MAY it not be that there was more or
less direct connection between that
December Thanksgiving Day sermon
and the organization of the Middle
bury Historical Society, which had
grown to the dignity of a corporate
seal three years later? In any event
those early celebrations must have
been interesting and popular in order
to develop into an established custom
while as yet there was no financial
foundation other than the personal
contributions of those Immediately in
terested
When we gather for the annual sup
per on the Dist of each December we
have especially in mind those hardy
Pilgrim Fathers who arrived in Ply
mouth in 1920 but no one may attend
the Middlebury celebration without
having his attention directed to the
Forefathers of Middlebury itself
Merrill, Painter, Chapman, Storrs, and
a score of others of the early Settlers
and later, Battell, BeCkwith Eaton,
Parker, Stewart, Wainwright-these
and many others of their times are
names that will permanently be asso-
ciated with the best traditions of town
and State Post-prandial eloquence at
Forefather's Dinner is most appre-
ciated when it pays tribute to these
worthy names, and the acme of local
pride is found on those particular an
niversary occasions when portraits OF
these ancestors of ours adorn the walls
of the banquet hall
The StudeCt has been asking him
self recently if the average citizen of
today is as philosophical as were the
men of the last century Do we dis
cover among our contemporaries men
of outstanding personality comparable
to the names suggested above? We are
too close to the present stage OF action
to attempt an unprejudiCed answer to
such a question nor could we consider
it ntelligently without taking into ac-
count the changes which have come i'll
the character of our community life.
The change has been for the better,
despite our tendency to become remin-
iScent concerning "the good old times. -
The honest fact is there never were
any good old times" We deplore,
for instance, modern disrespect for law
but only until recently has the public
conscience been awakened to the point
where il was possible to enact an
eighteenth amendment
OF one fact however let us remind
ourselves rather seriously as we reflect
upon the days that are past. The
thing which most of all recalls the JOY
of bvgone years is the memory of the
people who lived in those times and
made them what they were. Person
atty, character this after all is the
enduring value Let us reflect soberly
upon this actor one day We shall
he Forefathers ourselves! II c. n.