Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1928-06-21
sALuTAToRY ADDRESS

Schoolmates, friends and instruct
ers. we are very happy to welcome you
here today. We extend our sincerest
Greetings TO you who have helped and
encouraged US TO build the foundation
Of our education and to prepare for
life in the future. We can now but
half realize and appreciate how much
we owe 10 you
One day as | sat thinking over our
four years stay at Woodstock Acade-
my. | fell asleep, and this strange and
beautiful vision appeared before my
eyes.
a wide avenue stretched before me
and MS | watched. the walls of a great
building materialized The sight of a
continuous stream Of human beings
passing along the avenue and entering
he great doors Of the house, inspired
me with curiosity until | thought that
|, too. must see what was within.
As approached with the hurrying
crowd. | noticed above the entrance a
brilliant sign with these words, The
House Of Life" The doors opened ST.
lently and | found myself within
large hall. from which opened four
doors Advancing, ! read the follow
ing signs above these entrances: Pow
or, Wealth. Pleasure, and lastly, Love.
| went first into the room, Power,
where | passed huge bookcases filled
with wonderful books; heard some
beautiful music. and then an interest
ing lecture. Men were everywhere
preparing for hard labor by studying
and gaining knowledge. On moving
farther into the vast room. ! was I'M
pressed by an atmosphere Of haste.
Men were rushing feverishly from one
task to another. At the center Of the
room. group with hard, stern faces,
was deep in consultation and appeared
TO command the rest Of the workers.
Appalled, by the ruthlessness Of their
manner. | fled from the room and turn
ed toward the door, Wealth.
In this room, all seemed warmth
and luxury. People were dressed COR
geously. wore many wonderful jewels,
and everyone seemed gay; but the
longer | watched. the more | realized
that a spirit of discomfort and envy
was abroad, and what at first seemed
happiness was but shallow imitation.
| knew that / could not find that which
| sought there and so passed on TO the
next room. Pleasure.
Here met the same feeling OF dis
appointment and went on, Tor aiter
short stay. was still dissatisfied.
The last room. Love, was so beanti-
full that / gasped in establishment. Inc
walls seemed to fade away in the dis-
lance while over all shimmered a SOFT
violet light. High above were EN-
bIazoned in letters of gold, the Two
greatest commandments; those when
the Christ gave 10 His disciples. here
was neither haste nor discomfort. pue
over all seemed 10 be spirit oi peace
and happiness. Soft music delighted
the senses: beautiful pictures mater
ialized and faded before the eyes
great philosophers instructed earnest
seekers after knowledge. Always gen
tie hands reached out TO aid those ~
need Of help and sympathy. l was
feeIir~ very happy and contenteu 10
the nids' ~ my perfect surroundings
when slowly, as it had come the WIS
ION faded.
| awoke with this picture clearly IN
mind and thought Of how our ednea-
ton at Woodstock Academy had IN
stiiIed in us these same ideals OF ialtn
and love about which | had dreamed,
! realized that knowledge, power, ana
wealth are not enough to make COM
plete and happy life, but that our ann
should be 10 live up TO our class mot
10. ~Amare e. servire," 10 love and 70
serve.