The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-20

president of the College of the City of New York
and also of the association. announces that ne ex-
Of New York toward endowment fund. When
such fund shall have been secured by the associa-
$500. and President Webb is confident that he will
soon raise handsome total. The association
originated with meeting held 81 Hartford Conn:
and Princeton colleges inviting each college
of the United States to send three dele
gates to an intercoilegiste literary con.
vention. Fourteen colleges responded. and
provisional constitution, under which the first
com petitions were held was drawn up. This. how
ever has since been supplanted by more permanent
Organization. 1t generally conceded that the
Intimate object OF the should be to create
some central tribunal to test the results OF the col
eges and universities OF the country and incte them
to study each others methods. To secure this
result comprehensive series OF examinations seemed
to be essential. As such programme could not be
carried out in day 1t determined to begin with
competitions that could be easily arranged. Oonse.
quently ut the first contest in 1874 prizes were
offered only for oratory and essay writing The fol-
added and Latin and mental science in 1876. Judges
were annually appointed in each department. Prizes
were awarded. PARTLY by means OF assessments on
the colleges and partly by contributions OF various
individuals, among whom may be mentioned Mrs.
John Jacob Aston. Mrs John Taylor Johnston. Dwight
l.. Omstead and Mr. Gregory. Of Marblehead, Mass.
The first competition called out candidates from
Princeton Williams. Cornell Rutgers. Lafayette and
the Of the CITY Sew osps coese Ss
Northwestern University Madison University. the
College of tho City OF Now York. Syracuse Uni.
these institutions withdrew from the association for
various reasons. but their return to the fold Is
expected now that endowment fund IL in pros.
pect. The control of the organization was formerly
vested entirely in the undergraduates OF the various
colleges and the management was necessarily fuc-
tuating. oil action being based on the counsels of
set of delegates each year. new constitution
was framed by which the control Of the association
was vested in the students of colleges and univcr-
stiles, the faculties of those institutions and the
honorary fellows OF tho association consisting OF
przemen, examiners and others who might be
elected. On March 80. 1877. this constitution went
into effect and act OF incorporation was also OBJ
tanned.
COLONEL HrGaINsoN ENTHUSIASTIC.
"There is hardly point in our whole educational
SYSTEM" said Colonel Higginson. some time ago. in
reference to the association. ''where u certain
amount of money, say $4,000. will 90 far as
here. We shall have no occasion to waste dollar
on expensive buildings. that tomb OF wealth in our
college endowments We shall need no salaries
cept the modest fees of examiners and the faith
fully won compensation of our secretaries. Even
the present prizes of money may be gradually
changed into scholarships or professorships, to be
held by those who desire to study ut home or
abroad. and who will gradually be required. 1T 10
probable. to vindicate their claims by their work..