University of Vermont - Ariel Yearbook (Burlington, VT)

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wrote to a Meriden class-mate urging him to take his college course in the University of Vermont rather than at Dartmouth, on the ground of the superior attractions of Burlington as a place for residencle and study. It issthe universal testimony of his con- temporaries that young Billings' college career was a brilliant one. In a class which has furnished to the country several distinguished men, among them Judge Benedict ol the United States Court, and Bishop Howe of South Carolina, Billings was the leader in scholarship. In those days students were examined at the close of the college course in all the studies of the four years. The records of examination before us show that in this final examina- t-ion Billings outranlced all his class-mates in the mathematics and in the philosophical studies, and was excelled in the languages by only five-tenths, so that on a general average he stood at the head of his class. We note that in Algebra, Geometry, Conic Sections and Topography, his mark was 20, and in the Calculus 19. Let students take notice that college leaders do often become leaders of men in spite of all sayings to the contrary. Billings is said to have especially excelled in literary and oratorical efforts, giving promise of the ability he has since shown in this department, in which it is well understood he might easily have gained distinc- tion among the foremost. During a considerable part of his course he lived in the family of Prof. Joseph Torrey, and was employed by him as his amanuensis in the translation of Neander's Church History. He was an ardent admirer and favorite pupil of Presi- dent james Marsh, and had, as he himself has expressed it, the sad pleasure and blessed privilege of watching by his bedside in the three months of his final sickness. Billings was graduated August 7, 1344, having for his Commencement theme. Common Truths the Most Important. 6

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The l7Qor7. ll-ieederblclx Bllllngg. T is with a pride and pleasure which we are confident all our . readers will share that we are permitted to dedicate this num- ber of the LARIEL to FREDERICK BILLINGS, CLASS or 1844, and to affix to it his portrait as a frontispiece. At the dedication of the Billings Library in june, 1885, Presi- dent Buckham said of Mr. Billings: How came it to be the rare good fortune of this institution-one of the lesser lights of learning, in Mr. XVebster's phrase L-to have been made the recipient of so princely a gift? The lesson is one of profound signihcance, honorable to learning, honorable and full of encouragement to the ministers of learning. It so happened that forty-five years ago this institution had a corps of instructors such as few institutions, great or small, have ever had, gifted and devoted men, capable of inspiring with the love of learning minds susceptible to fine influences. There was here a youth-I do not say there was but one-on whom these influences wrought most happily, inspiring him with a love of all things high and noble. Wlealth afterward came to him, but it did not vul- garize himg honors, but they did not daze him: vast opportunities, but they did not tempt him. He remained amid all so constant to the high impulses of youth, so true- hearted and natural and simple, that he never ceased to believe wholly and heartily in the University which gave him nurture, in the unequaled greatness of the men to whom his boyhood looked up, and in the supreme ,excellence of the old-fashioned collegiate training. And this building is his expression of his estimate of learning, of his convic- tion that nothing within the compass of art is too fine or too costly to set forth the praises of good literature, and good philosophy, and good teaching. Happy the insti- tution which can inspire these high sentiments in its sons, thrice happy the devoted son to whom it is granted to express for himself and for all, the reverence and affection felt by all for such an institution ! Frederick Billings was fitted for college at Meriden, N. H., and entered the University in 1840. A letter is extant which he 5

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This record of an honorable and happy college career explains in part the warm interest which Mr. Billings has always taken in his Alma Mater. Some men who reach eminence seem to be willing to forget the college which in their youth laid for them the lowly steps on which they have ascended. Some carry away from college jealousies, grudges, a sense of disappointment and failure. But a true-hearted alumnus of a college is like a true- hearted boy, who remains always a boy toward his mother, and who after going around the world thinks his own mother the dearest and most beautiful of all mothers. In all that Mr. Billings has said and written of his Alma Mater, in all that he has done and is doing for her, we seem to see, not patronage, not largesse, not the munificence of a millionaire, so much as the gratitude, the admiration, the love of a faithful son. And we know it will gratify him to hear, as it is a pleasure to us to say, that we believe the spirit of the institution to be the same as that which from out the olden time keeps his affection ever warm and true, and we hope that the same wise and kindly mother which fitted him for his brilliant career will in the future produce other as appre- ciative and grateful and generous alumni as Frederick Billings. r- T'N 7