New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-05
COLUMBIA COLLEGE AND DIR, DoREMUs.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

COLUMBIA COLLEGE, And DR. DORENUS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIRE On the evening OF the 22d January a
public lecture delivered Mt steinway Hall, IN this
CITY, before very large audience by Prof r. Ogden Do
remus OF the College OF the City OF NowYOrk, In the
course OF which the lecturer out Of his way for the
purpose OF ndulgng dsparagng remarks in regard to
Columbia College Although was not present on the oc-
cason early apprised OF the language which had
used and having incidentally met the lecturer on
the following day. made It subject Of complaint was
assured by him had intended to say nothing nju
rous OF Columbia College of It's guardians; that, on
the contrary he had only designed TO sgmatze proper
the ilibcralty OF It's Alumni who though many of
IL possible for the college TO do for science what In the
position 1t occupies. with their help 10 might do TINS
IL occurred that IL DR.. DoIemus were disposed In
private conversations TO pni such an upon
his words To give such an explanation or his incnt he
enght to DO willing TO do the same In more formal and
ropSnsy sddpessed 10 HIM the letter Of which herewith
transmit 20 you copy for publication my design being
TO afford him opportunity 10 make u he pleased, such
an explanation OF his remarks IL published. might
serve neutralzo their njurions effect sufficient tune
swer 20 deliberately prepared but DR.. Doemus has
chosen 20 remain silent In TIE meantme hear tho
kind coming fUm gentleman OF resgesiaoity and ut,
10 pass unnoced to iure the college in the public con
cncc and i this account that ask FOR the publ
cation ~ my letter above mentioned IN your columhS
DR. DoreIus Who while aSsailing the College, spoke OF
II ns his ai,d mater although his name not The roll
~ the alumni declared thar the condition OF the institu
ton u that lie cannot Introduce stranger TO II
without shame II In this language he means TO be I'M
derstood that the College has magnificent build
ngs to boast aspcrsion unworthy OF notice Until
tho permanent site OF te.Collcge fixed IL must occupy,
OF course temporary accommodations. But IL he meant
rather ns he wasundersood IN mean that the internal
arrangements and nsrumcnaliues for teaching and
Illustrating science, and for pursuing scientific In.
ycstgauon not crcdtbe and are not In fact some
thing which the College may be Justly proud or then
ger TO the College than the strangers whom according TO
ny ha bs Snnv 10 bow 70 nny one Who whether from
friendly unfrendly feelings, desires Information the
is doing the advancement of scenceas well for tho
promotion OF the Of the higher education gener
reasonable mind that she is doing her duty.
1 am, Sir, respectfully. your obedient servant
Columbia college, Nsw- York, Feb. g. 1869.
COLUMBIA COLLEGE. jan Is. 1869
DEAR SIR; Accident having determined our meeting
on Saturday evening last and conversation having
which you had held mp Columbia College to tho public
notice the evening previous think II due to myself
the impression. which may have been the result OF the
conversation alluded to, that do not feel deeply
wounded and wronged by what you said Of the College
and its management IN your public lecture.
You assured that your design was to speak in terms
New-York have manifested toward the claims OF science
OF that have no disposition or right 70 complain In
deayored. as occasion presented TO do the same
You actually did was to hold up to public rdcnle and
contempt the only educational institution In the city, not
administered by the public authorities. which. far
know las dono ythng whatever, erccpt TO educate
for the advancement OF science. You conveyed 20 the
minds OF your hearers the impression that what Columbia
College does not do which you would have TO DO DONE
she fails do not for want OF MEANS but for of dis
position; and further that the little that sho does do
done in aud parsimonous that perhaps
would have been creditabe to her to have left
undone altogether You represented that after having
taken refuge In old abandoned hulk. deserted deaf
and dumb institution to which yoa yourself cannot ac
company gentleman without an overwhelming feeling
OF shame aud disgust she thrust tho School Of Mines
which certain spirited gentlemen had SCI foot and per-
without light or air. and next into a dap!dated
paper factory only better because was above ground
These spirited gentlemen you admitted deserve some
commentator; but what shall DO thought OF a set OF
se them S such NO II ans I. I
the case OF those official gentlemen, y0u expressed the
pTobabo Justice Of ills Opinion You Sed &smer N Of
hate eminent divine, who was no doubt very learned
ba College TO the effect that nothing liberal could DO
expected here I'LL those trustees should ego up" In
fact you managed even. whether you intended not
to lead your audience to believe that myself spoken
TO In regard TO this Board OF Trustees terms
Hawks.
have cited here the tho words for those
remarks Friday In regard to this College, not because
IS necessary To recall them 10 your recollection but 20
Of Injury, but from knowledge as to some mat,
ers at least precise OF the nature OF tho wrong which
myself for am an Individual aud my connection with
the institution Is translent but the College s porma
carried away by your audience Friday soar at least
your rdieule was beloved 10 DO deserved that to
say, 30 far us those persons concerned who know
nothing OF tho College but what you told the-bo made
the convictions Of this whole community, this institution
would suffer injury which would continue he felt
long after all who are now connected with IL shall hayo
passed away.
Two things have surprised me in this matter will
merely mention them, without enlargng. First.
your aim 49, as you declare, TO stimulate the public TO do
something in behalf Of science surprised that you
should attempt to parayze the efforts OF any who are
doing all that they 10 promote tho very objects In
which you interested. Secondly, that inasinuch as
the practical conclusion you aimed TO enforce upon your
audience that the COLLEGE OF THE CRY NEW
YORK Is valuable institution, and that the efforts OF
certain newspaper writers mr. bryant among ohersl 10
inure reprehensble II surprises you should
think nevertheless prudent Judcous wise TO force
Into position OF involuntary hostility by an aggression
wholly unprovoked, body OF citizens respectable and
30 personally influential tho Trustees OF Columbia
College. These gentlemen have not attacked the
College Of the CITY Of New-YSIk. They have writ,
Ten nothing ABOUT IN the newspapers and,
ing about it In the streets. What their |
opinions about IT, eveD do not In the least know
and cannot believe that you know them any better
But II you do and II know those gentlemen or any
OF them. hostile IL IA