HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 27 



we would, if time permitted, gladly recount, not only 

 to render just meed of praise to him in whose honor 

 we have assembled, but to reinforce our own wearied 

 virtue in our toils for the public good. With in- 

 creasing years. Colonel Wilder's zeal for the college 

 has never waned. He has ever been a leading mem- 

 ber of the Board of Trustees; he has transferred 

 from his own grounds to those of the college some 

 of his choicest plants; he has gracefully preserved 

 the early history of the college in his address, de- 

 livered on the occasion of the graduation of the first 

 class ; and in many other ways he has so cared for 

 the interests of the college, that he is justly regarded ^' 

 as its founder and peerless supporter. 



The line of buildings which to-day, at Amherst 

 graces one of the fairest landscapes in New England, 

 and the sound and practical education which they 

 were built to secure, are to be a lasting monu- 

 ment to his foresight, his patriotism, and his eloquent 

 persuasion. 



