THE STATE COLLEGE. 57 



student receives military training under a United States 

 officer, who is himself a graduate of the military school at 

 West Point. Durins^ the last few months I have met several 

 gfraduates of the colleo-e. As to the work of the college, I 

 have found, as might be expected, difference of opinion; 

 but respecting the military training which they had received 

 at the college, there was the most marked unanimity. They 

 all agreed that the physical results of the military training 

 were very satisfactory. When military companies appear 

 on parade, or lead processions on public occasions, there is 

 often an impression that the erect position and regular move- 

 ments of the soldier are for show. But one object of the 

 training of a soldier is to secure bodily vigor and endurance, 

 and while under drill the organs are put in that position 

 which is adapted to secure health and vigorous movement. 

 The military exercises are a corrective of the crooked and un- 

 graceful positions which so many students are disposed to 

 assume in their own rooms. The responsibilities of the 

 militar}^ duties are in a considerable degree distributed 

 among the young men in a way adapted to cultivate manli- 

 ness and a becoming courtesy towards each other. The 

 military training is also adapted to secure discipline. 

 This is secured by action of the will, controlling during the 

 drill the position and the movement of every part of the 

 body. Hence the military exercises are a direct preparation 

 for any manual employment in the prompt and efficient move- 

 ments they require. But the student who thus brings his 

 body under control of his will, does much towards bringing 

 his intellectual powers under control. The military exer- 

 cises, then, tend to secure physical and intellectual discipline. 

 It is also evident that the military exercises develop the 

 physique of the students, and secure promptness in action 

 and the acquisition of useful knowledge. If war should 

 occur, a graduate is ready to perform the duties of an officer 

 in defence of his country. 



The importance of the development of will-power, which 

 the military and other exercises are adapted to secure, is 

 evident when we consider that our intellectual as well as our 

 moral advancement depends largely upon the action of the 

 will. Some one bVings before you a new fruit or a new 



