466 STATE B)ARD OF AGRICULTURE 



be possessed of the very si)ii*it of Froebel. But with such a master 

 kiudergartner, what marvelous results are obtained. Instead of an in- 

 ferior kindergartner, one had better go back to the old and painful A 

 B C method. !:>o it is with the work of this school. Xo lowering of the 

 standard — great teachers Avill be needed. They have not been absent 

 in the past, they will not be in the future. The difference between the 

 kind of training which I would advocate, and w'hich hae attributed in 

 a large degree to the success of our graduates in the past, is illustrated 

 by an incident whicii came under my observation. A graduate of a uni- 

 versity, a good scholar in Latin and Greek, and an engineer besides, had 

 occasion to run a line of pipe filled with super-heated steam under and 

 through a wooden building. He wished to pack the pipe to conserve the 

 heat. Asbestos was too expensive, but he had plenty of wood shavings. 

 The question arose, at what temperature will the shavings ignite? He 

 pulled down every book in his library, he wrestled w'ith complicated for- 

 mi l:e. I ntil tinally a gradi^ate of this college fixed up an oven which 

 would keep the shavings for twenty-four hours at the ^temperature of 

 the steam pipe, and said, "Why don't jou trj- by actual experiment?" 

 It was worth a library filled with books, but the training of this univer- 

 sity man had not taught him to think of such a simple plan. 



With this great intermediate school I would have at the same time, 

 like a loft}' spire that points the way, a magnificently equipped and or- 

 ganized experiment station, let the Hatch fund be used in scientific re- 

 search, let an equal or greater amount be secured for experimenting 

 along the line of mechanics. If money can't be obtained to spread over 

 the whole field of scientific research, let it be confined to one point, but 

 let it be so managed that the results shall obtain the respect of the 

 scientific world. tSucli a center, doing splendid scientific work, would 

 give the school a world-wide reputation as the great intermediate scien- 

 tific school. Such a school would fill a vacancy in our educational sys- 

 tem, and would fulfill the great purpose of this splendid national extrav- 

 agance. We would again set the pace for the rest of the states to follow, 

 and we would do more for the young men and women of Michigan than 

 any school in the State. 



Brother Alumni, and friends of the college, I have spoken only my 

 views after some ex]ierience and some reflection. Not one word has 

 been spoken in unkindly criticism. I appreciate the fact, that, like man.y 

 others who have had its benefits, when I entered this school I could have 

 gained an entrance to few other colleges. I would enlarge, not restrict 

 its scope and power of usefulness. The teachers, from Dr. Abbot to the 

 present corps have been men of marked ability and tremendous enthusi- 

 asm. I only ask that we do not permit the spirit of rivalry to the 

 university idea to grow upon us. I ask you to call emphatic attention 

 to the fact that we are a ])eculiar people, and that we have a peculiar 

 mission to perform. I understand that many wiser and abler than I, 

 will differ widely from me in this ])lan of cheapening the ])rice, lowering 

 the course, and enlarging the scope of this school. I appreciate the 

 fact that n^anv of the best friends of this college fou'^lly dream, ns I 

 once did, of a time when this institution shall have gained a place among 

 the first colleges of the land. That dream for me is passed, and in its 

 place I substitute the ideal of a great institution of moderate ambitions, 

 but of marvelous activity, gathering in young men and young women, 



