New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-03-20
PRINCETON MEN AT DINNER
BRISK TALK ABOUT ELECTIVES.

PreSbyter1anlSm is Saiu W NO pi"0' ""N
Princeton College the great stronghold OF Presoyte-
,,onism From these premises it would to follow
that reunion OF Princeton graduates ana proies-
sors must be lugubrious affair enyened only by long
graces and selections from Wattss Psalms mat hothhs
could be further from the truth was amply proven py inc
olorious good time which the NewY DIRK Alumni Assoca-
ton of Princeton College enjoyed last evening. Inc
Presbyteransm of the Princeton type can be an enemy
neither good cheer good stories nor good music ior
all three abounded, and disappearing voice was
heard The good cdeer was furnished py Der
monco the good stories by the Princeton men ana 'ner
guests and the music by the College Gee CluD before
dinner business meeting Of the society was helu' a'
which the following officers were elected; freslueh''
James w. Alexander; vice presdents, Thomas N NC
Carter of Newark woolsey Johnson, NJ d.. ana D. Coe-
man Drayton secretary. Rudolph f. schrner; treas
urer NJ Taylor Pyne. The action of the college ID ap-
pointing A. Van Rensselaer, of Philadelphia David
and c. c. Cuyler an Advisory Committee on Athieucs
was also ratified by the society 49,
About7 o'clock DR.. McCosh led the way into inc
which was tastefully decorated with orange
and black the college colors About 80 graduates ooA
their rlaces at the tables On the platform sat James
W. Alexander the president OF the society VIII"
Dr. McCosh his right hand ana froIeSsor
Young on his left The others at this taple were
Charles c. Beaman the president OF the Harvard oiuo
Chauncey NJ. Dcpew, the president OF the haie Alumni
Association Thomas n. McCarter, the Rev. Dr. John T.
Paxton General Mcclellan. the Rev. Dr. william H.
Roberts of Elizabeth and John o. Sargent OF Harvard
Among those at the other tables were Henry NJ AioN
ander j. Coleman Drayton, w. II. Wlckham' Jr, rer'y
Pyne NJ Taylor Pyne &. c. Cuyler' H. wayne raIho''
ex-Controer Grant, DR. Henry Goldthwae, James hich
ards William Allen Butler, jr John A. Stewart william
Remsen, II. +. Remsen, A. Cass Calhelo, 1ehel"i
George T. Magee W. b. Horblower. Oliver Hartman
ir Judge Magic of Elizabeth DR.. David Magic SPeh-
Ger Trask George W. Forsyth c. W. Cass Morton r"V"n'
william Dulles. Professor H. +. Osborn George d.
French Logan c. Murray, Rudolph f. schirmer Deincy
Nico. Bolton Hall John L. NisbetLeonard W. Jerome ana
George Golde formerly director OF the princeton gym
nasium From time time during the dinner the Giee
Climb sang college songs in which all those present oheu
heartily. When coffee had beeh seiNcu
and cigars were lighted Mr. Alexander rose anu
opened the speech-making with fccitous address. ne
congratulated the association its hourlshing coh'ou
and its possession of 600 members linen lie etci'"
into goodhumored discussion OF the elective ana casS
a svstens Of study arguing course, for the superb
or Of the latter He told many good stories ana tod
many laughable jests at the expense OF harNaru Az,
those colleges which favor electives frhceloh' he si'
was not behind adopting modern methods "heh lucy
were sanctioned by sound Judgment but on the olher
hand il opposed vigorously those innovations "hlch re-
smiled from treating boys as men before they were OF
an nee TO make up their minds. The boys
at college were not, in his Judgment, the pest
u1ges Of what studies they should pursue lie referred
briefly to OF the achievements OF princeton gru
atcs lie found that Princeton graduates had pee PROM
inent ON the right side Of the War Of Independence;
that OF three men who drafted the Constitution "o were
from Princeton lie gave long lis of the colleges
which owed their existence to Princeton men, and stated
that nearly fifty Of her graduates we're presidents Of
colleges He next gave faCeous sketch OF how Prince
ton would be conducted under the elective system
.The freshman class" he said, "will not DO examined
II win he altogether optional whether students study at
ALL Diplomas will he distributed hereafter without
reference 10 scholarship The elective principle viii be
extended TO the professors also No professor
will lecture or attend the classroom unless he feels
like IT, Little confusion will result from this as the
student is pretty sure not Co feel Ike H. anyway
Diplomas will be given to whoever want them Aiier
n few moro shots AT the elective system. which the
Princeton graduates appauded and laughed at heartily
Mr. Alexander concluded his speech by briefly INTRO
ducipg Dr. McCosh. The venerable president was re-
oeived with cheers lie spoke in substance as follows
There IA an old proverb which speaks OF the feast and
NS% We hHys SSry 'G have y H Been %2
engaged in fray. lAughterl nave han 20. Wy 1p
gushed university But my relations win freslnsnl
Eot nHSe ih,' we sbond quarrel My always
ha ber and ali is The last fight and the last to
nee ., s,.tain the honor OF our Alma Mata was
obliged accept, but IN thdt hkhJ leiI - @
when will perhaps be accepted at some future DAY.
Now we have with Tonight a representative
OF another great Sersity whose presGen Ns
ed TO lake part in that famous battle lie uh appeal
and ajthoneh don't say anything about running away
NAV lie allowed TO express the hope tha III ro''er
There is one great misapprehenson about Princeton
People suppose that we are wealthy nony' Dut on
contrary haven't 500 ia our treasury w eimn
we debts. never had personal GeD, o. SV
in my life, and would never alioS ~ ~, , R"i
which connected TO be ia debt 10 Inat slohs;
the fact remains that We nced money; We na' i
who have given liberal donations but these dohaloa
have been for special objects anu they haEe E MI
ont letting their right hand know what lhclf leI manu-
W. tbeee donations Now to carry general sys
tenn OF instruction must look TO our young gIiuhfs
ven ms They've given us only $1,000 aud half this
sum been for athletics want ~ 10 De anaefs,ood
who do the most help the college, and that the WORK
must be done by the young men. Applause Eye seen
! representatiye OF the old system, and president
| Eliot of the new. Now wish It understood that our
mat these il no branch OF true learning which Is not
taught in Princeton. Yet we donI intend mat those
vino take a course in music and course IN painting
should receive the timehonored degree OF Master OF
Ar In conclusion have 4lly 70 tehlnd you sn1t ~
twelvemontn aud anybody doubts me trnth OF thi'
| statement. let him put II To ptacucu 'e7''
Tn Introducing the next speaker Mr. Alexander spoke
OF athletics and drew attention to the presence OF George
odis This was signal for outbnrst Of applause
| and loud demands for speech, which Mr. Goldie
modestIy declined. Mr. Alexander said that1t was en-
tirey due to PrncetOns poverty that Mr. Godie was no
FSs SofnE 1 Athletic her cu BY yae
| its pecuniary advantages. carried nun on.
adotng parson" 10 speak for princeton and Patriot
ISM" re said that II his misfortune and not ms
tsnit that he was not a graduate OF Princeton, but
idTough ancestors and friends he had rubbed often
| against Princeton. Then he launched into speech
sometimes hum rous sometimes mpassoned, occasion
ay athletic but always of character TO command tue
fullest attention. He paid high tribute to rresi'
| dent McCOsh: "When everybody" he sad,
\ dis surrenderlng TO Darwin and the DcYil,
am glad that there Is one college when stands
Inv fhe old faith which refuses 10 make prayers optional
and Sunday optional and God optional Immortality OPP
finn,l and Al says that Is something better than
mere dir-than beast All honor to the Scotch phOs'
| opher and evangelist who, IN MS Ola age,
| wall and fights forion battle against
The sntr OF sceptlcism and agnOstcism that has In
| vadcd The land" fIond applause.l Dr. Paxton next
addressed himself TO Princetsn's record for patriotism.
No college he said. contributed generously 10 the
cause of liberty IA the War OF independence as Prince