156 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



speak upon it, because I have been through it myself and I 

 know what it is. I know what effect it has upon the stu- 

 dents themselves. You all know probably that it is compul- 

 sory, that we must have it whether we will or not. But even 

 if it were not compulsory, those who know the benefit of it 

 would have it. Of that I am thoroughly assured, for my in- 

 tercourse with the students of that college as a student, and 

 later as a teacher, thoroughly convinces me that it benefits them 

 in many ways. The physical training is of great importance. 

 I wish that some of you could be present with me in the col- 

 lege chapel on two occasions of the year. The first occasion 

 would be about the first of September. I would ask you to 

 go to morning prayer with me when the college year opens, 

 and I would direct your attention particularly to the fresh- 

 man class as they come in. The second occasion when I 

 would ask you to go with me to the college chapel would be 

 on the day of our commencement exercises, when a class 

 graduates, and I would direct your attention to the senior 

 class as they come in. If you were not thoroughly con- 

 vinced that the military training of the college was an 

 advantage to the young men, then I should be greatly mis- 

 taken. 



The points suggested by Mr. Brooks are certainly also of 

 great importance. Should it ever happen, which God for- 

 bid, that war were suddenly forced upon us, certainly the 

 graduates of the agricultural colleges — for they all go through 

 the same training — would constitute a most important 

 nucleus of an army. They would furnish officers who would 

 be able to enlist and drill and organize men, and would give 

 this country an enormous advantage at the start. The great 

 disadvantage in our last war was that we had not men who 

 were fitted to drill and train and organize their men, so that 

 from these two points of view the effect upon tlie men physi- 

 cally and the importance from the military standpoint, I 

 should say that the military training of the college is wholly 

 justified. I Avould not see it given up for anything. 



And as I speak these words another fact occurs to 

 me. The mental training, too, is of great importance, for 

 the young men as they advance in the course are made offi- 

 cers. They take command of the lower classes. If you 



