The New York herald., 1876-12-23
COLUMBIA COLLEGE.

Mr.. JOHN JAYS CENTENNIAL ADDRESS BEFORE
THE ALuMNI-wHAT THE COLLEGE HAS
DoNE-ITs FUTURE AND HOW ITS INFLUENCE
NAY BE EXTENDED.
There was large and fashionable attendance at tho
meeting of the alumni OF Columbia College, which
was held in the Union League Theatre Thursday
evening Mr.. John Jay, cxUnited States Minister to
Austria, delivered the Centennial address. Mr.. Jay
was very warmly received aud his address was alton
lively listened TO throughout He said
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN, ALUMNI OF COLUMBIA
CoLLEGE:-
You have deemed it fitting that in this Center NAL
year should unite in commemorating the historic
epoch upon which our Alma Mater til rough tie niu-
cnce her teachings cxer,ed so marked an influence
Recognizing the just and honorable claims OF her elder
SISTERS, among whom were Harvard and Yale, William
and Mary ami Princeton and the lesser academies and
schools which were educated the o the Rcvolu-
ton, we cannot, as We thank Goa for the unity, the
freedom and the progress OF the Republic, forget tho
prominent part borne by the alumni oil Kings in secur
ing TOR us these blessings.
In view OF the prestige of Columbia especially In the
casscs and OF the high character OF her faculty the
present tme the fact that tho number OF her students
continues small and SO stationary amid marked ad-
on tho part of some other colleges, would
to confirm the soundness OF the v,Cy intmated by the
Committee OF the trustees, that the want OF and
commons prevent the extensive diffusion OF the advan-
kept pace with the progress OF the city
s,ncc 1868, when the population was 24oOO
men, should now show /, 900 students; and If their
number had increased in proportion the of
income since 1881, when 1t had thrty-nve students
and an income of 81, $50, the students would now DO
told in thousands Ii is suggestive tact that both
those earlier periods the college grounds, extending
to the Hudson and looking TO the Narrows had re.
tired and rural character that the students invited
from distant parts lodged ana boarded within the
grounds winch were closed at ten O'Clock, and that
II the trustees shall now resume that plan will be
simply the revival Of the usage Of kings before
the war Of the Revolution and of Columbia
after It's termination That usage seems TO imply that
the doctrine did not then obtain that tho college
TO be maintained simply as a city college; and glance
other institutions NAV show that II Columbia had
dwaricd her usefulness abroad TO secure New Workers
home she had not succeeded in that expectation.
While Columbia has 172 students a few OF them from
other States than New York, Harvard shows from our
State 90 and Yale l40 that these single nstiu
tions have 81 more New Workers than Columbia her.
self.
Whatever decision shall be to In regard tho
site OF the college, In city or IN country, the sound
principles lard down in the report to the trustees
which they resolved upon a complete system OF col.
lcgatc and university education, that the college Is
bound 10 iurnsh the pest possible education to the
row motto OF "iro urbe' In place OF the appropriate
legend, "Iro Dec d pro pdtria In considering, even
in the most general manner tho elevation OF Columbia
from home college to complete university, toward
which It has made certain progress in It's new schools
cannot connnc our view to it's probable influence
on this CITY in making New York-aready the com-
mcrcia ccntre-the central home OF learning science
literature and art, which arc fast tending TO the
tional metropolis
rus QUESTION or THE NEW sIrH.
The simple rule presented for the guidance OF Colum
largest number, gives TO tho Tar West and South
interest In her plans and brings the relation
not to be forgotten between the common school, the
high school or academy, the college the univcr-
SHY as they lead upward, each In turn acting as
feeder TO the next in succession. The common
schools furnishing q share OF their pupils to tho
academy; the academy preparing their choicest boys
ior college; The college raising high It's standard and
opening It's doors only to those who pass
thorough examination, conducting them partly by
prescribed course partly by one, where the student
freed he iranmels tho school boy exercises
q o
until there remains or him at the close OF the
dem,c course The schools or medicine law and mines
the post graduate In the classics and phil
osopby, where ouamoitious students may train them
selves, thoroughly as in Europe future profess.
sors with the aim OF scholarly renown and
lew years represent the advanced cul-
turc and science oi Columbia In tho chairs
of colleges throughout the Republic. The hrst
question that naturally arises, and on which seems
TO have hinged Tor some years, the apologies for
delay IN carrying out the plans OF the Trustces-thc
question OF financial ability would scem to be sats-
c'oriiy answered by the tables given the Historic
sketch" ana which afford basis OF comparison OF tho
at The disposal OF Columbia with that enjoyed
by the largest colleges OF tue New World and the
famed universities o the Old. IL Is stated the
edition OF .Appleon's Cycoppda," although the TACT
trustees 1872 purchased nearly ten acres near l60th
street, on Washington Heights, extending from the
Boulevard to the Hudson RIVER Tor 1915 oo0 and II has
been uggusted with what accuracy isunkDown, tnatt
Is proposed to remove the coegeto this spo, from what
President Barnard calls ts present inadequate and
happily located sitc.r II this be So purchase may
indicate the na resolve by The trustees not 10
II from the island, nor 10 establish an associate college
in The country for students from distance but 10
carry u ton point winn the city where u viii be Tor
time comparatively Tree from The distractions OF
metropolis, ana sufficiently near 10 the associate
schoos. The situation might also be convenient ior
boating, IN which the students have so honorably dis
tinguishcd themselves, swimming and all gymnastic
exercises and athletic sports which the in
corPpre sdno impcraiivciy demand IN Collegiate cdu-
Those who are familiar with the ancient colleges of
oxford, tncir chancls and dining halls, and and
gardens miIi not be disposed TO undervaue the Dig
nty which quiet permanencc confcrs upon institutions
OF learning nor tho elect OF such classic associations
upon the mind aud character Of the student and even
upon the casual visitor.
FINANCIAL CONDITION THE COLLEGE
The nnancai conduIon Of Columbia, set forth In
its annual statement to the Board OF Regents Is thus
given IN the "HistorIc Skctchr-
inc College buildings and grounds, In
Guiding the buildings erected Tor the
school OF Mines. are valued at...,.... S530.000 90