The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-18
HAKyAEp COLLEGE
Approaching Celebration Of President
Effofsk faug Term.


Eifors Long Term
The reunion of Harvard college men in
Seattle on Saturday is only one of similar
gatherings now taking place all over the
7 nited States, the special interest this
year being due TO the approaching eele-
orasi0n Of President Eiiot's twenty-five
years Of service. The value Of those ser
vices and the interest attaching 10 the
occasion was eloquently set out in the
speech of Mr. Joseph Shipper al the
annual banquet. The selection of Mr..
Shipper had special dtness, rs q fellow
student with the row distinguished presi-
dent Mr.. Shipper said:
In my Harvard days. more than =
third OF century ago, a freshman tutor
OF mathematics was assisting IN the prep
araiIon Of 8 book on chemical physics,
was training and rowing in the Harvard
crew and Was especially interested in
Boston lady Every recitation IN algabra
was heard. the book was duly published.
every boat race was won and the lady was
married. Do you wonder that Charles W.
Eliot, possessing such genius, should,
after & decade had rolled around, De made
the college PRESIDENT
Seattle remembers the ministry OF his
son, Rev. Samuel A Eliot, as pastor
y
this club eherishes IS q red letter day
President Eliot's visit made US two years
ago, when it was our privilege TO receive
him socially and to secure public ad-
dress OF profound interest OH education.
The t.enty-fifth year OF Mr.. Eiiot's
presidency 10 about 10 be celebrated al the
approaching Cambridge commencement
by the presentation to him OF gold
medal, and by concerted action to secure
further enlargement of the university.
This Eliot jubilee will be notable event
in the history of old Harvard, and We, her
distant sons, though absent in the body,
can share In the spirit and enthusiasm OF
the occasion.
1.-The appointment in 1853 OF Charles w.
Eliot, of the class of 1853, TO be president
OF Harvard college. was at critical time
IN the history of the institution, when
science Was demanding q larger attention
and the spirit of the age vas calling for
new methods. Upon him in larger meas
ure deyolved the devising of the wise and
far-rsaehing plans that have since so en-
larged and transformed Harvard from a
college with appendant schools into the
American institution, irst not only in
age. but in wealth and influence. aud now
well worthy the name Of university.
my class of 1850, in the days of FELTON,.
Pierce, Agassiz and Gray, was graduated
with loo mem bers, which was the largest
class up to that time, while all four classes
Mt that time fell short of 400 in number.
In 1869 the college classes aggregated 56S.
while the present number IS 1,i94. The
new president had said: Numbers do not
constitute university: no money GAN
make il before 10 time The present visi-
BILE results justify the methods adopted,
for with such wisdom were the new plans
laid and carried out that in the quarter of
a century the number of students has been
- fr.h 30 fin all Ian rt-
mentsl s.502; the force of teachers has been
quadrupied. and the wealth nearly quad
rup ed TO more than Si2, coo 600.
I'm the college proper one OF the most
radical changes effected under the new
regime was the expansion OF the elective
system so as 10 afford much wider range
of choice of studies TO be pursued. This
assumes an intellectual maturity and the
attainment of definite purposes in life by
the students not usually accredited 10 coll
lege youths. The maintenance OF this sys-
tenn required larger resources that had to
be secured, and moreover this system has
encountered some misgiving and opposi-
ton as TO results in substantial mental
training and scholarship.
''fhe professional schools, which there
tofore had little more than formal connec-
ton with any central power of inspiration
and government. received the special at
t-ntion and fostering care of the new
president.
''of course il is conceded that both in
organization and administration the presi
dent has had the cooperation and help OF
many wise counsellors and assistants, and
q generous constituency of friends aud
donors. The presidents incessant activity
has been possible only through possession
of great power of endurance, a genuine
love of labor and an equable temper. to
gether with rare adaptation for the oner-
Gus position, and. above all, to his ideals
of intellectual and moral character"