New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-19

LIVELY DISCUSSION AT THE NORMAL col
LEGE TRUSTEES MEETING.

MoNTAIGNE ALSO CONDEMNED -
PRESIDENT HUNTER CALLS
DOWN. THE TRUSTEE
Unusual excitement prevailed at the meeting Of
the trustees of the Normal College. held yesterday
afternoon at the Board of Education Building. No.
li6 Grand-st. President Knox. OF the board pre-
sided. After the usual prchminaries. one or two
resolutions were passed regarding the attendance
Of the at these meetings ana then Trustee
James Gerard took the floor. The gentleman seemed
to be laboring under various difficulties He evil
IDENTITY was Impressed with the belief that the
Normal College had fallen into evil ways and that
example had been set for the young women
which was too grievous be even mentioned ex-
cept in tones of condemnation deep ana strong. In
tones of deep feeling. which gave stronger evil
dence OF a pro,ractcd visit by the sad sea waves
than OF any mental agitation the disappearing trus
tee voiced his complaint. Owing to an unfortunate
impediment in his speech. or. possibly. 1t might
have been trouble with his throat, the force OF his
argument seemed to be lost sight of In general
curiosity to how many words would be prefaced
with 'ahem." and how long the discourse could pos
sbly continue
He first explained that a list of examination
questions put to the graduates Of the Normal Col
loge mad been published, and that one Of these
questions required the reading of the works OF
Rosscau, Montaigne. Rabelais. Comenus and
Froebel, to enable the pupils TO give a quotation
on education from the writings of each Of these
authors. This the burden of shame which had
fallen with crushing force upon the hitherto highly
respectable institution. Something must be done.
and that at apparently the earnest con
vlction of the speaker and that upon him devolvcd
the duty OF showing the faculty of the college the
of their ways. With much emphasis IL
was declared that "the French professor of the
| college had performed most sinful act In thus
outraging all sense Of right and decency by encour-
aging the reading of such foul literature and that
| to require a young woman to wade through the
dunghnls of immortality bearing the names Of these
writers, as a furtherance 10 education. was scan
dalous proceeding.
| THE AUTHORS SEVERELY CONDEMNED.
The writers referred to classei among the
most debauched villains in literature" Rousseau
and Rabelais being considered as too deeply dyed
| In villany 10 merit even criticism and Montagne
being styled mot much better" AS the trustees
remarks grew more highly favored and his vocal
accentuation more Fl 'quent a disposition on the
| part of his hearers to make some outbreak became
| momentariy more evident and at convenient
| pause In the peroration. President Knox inquired
| II Trustee Gerard had a motion TO make
He had hardly been answered in the affirmative
when President Hunter, of the college sprans to his
| feet. The honor of his institution had been ques-
toned. and with marked agitation he proceeded 10
rcfute the accusation which a, least mad the 'I'
pearance of having been made. lie declared 1 TO ~
an Infamous act on the part OF the trustee 50 20
ns on the j part OF the press and false judgment
the mind Of the public He explained that the
nof m ppd0fosC Miss Jennie p Mer
minded and cultivated woman who would cut OF on
| ing evil in the minds OF her pupils
a FEW HARMLESS SELECTIONS MADE.
She was said 10 have personally selected few Of
the best extracts from the works OF the writer's
mentioned. enable the pupils 10 CLEAN from them
| some leading thought on education. fresld"ht
| Hunter denied with emphasis having any writings
In the college by any one of these authors with me
| exception OF Comenius. and work on Kindergarten
by Froebei but he defended Rousseau. declaring ms
| Emile to b. a standard authority on education
serted that both the works Of Shakespeare ana IN
Would seemingly merit the most severe criticism.
and as mai arsl Is :. Win VII. masn 9s ts .r-
X the close OF President Hunters remarks Trustee
Executive COMMITTEE adding that he considered that
this should have ben d0n n as nTs any a Step
| by the faculty Of the college. and that the matter
This motion was received with general satisfaction
and was unanimously carried d., . .o.,.,t,,
spirited conysrsatlon took place between PreslJfmt
to persuade the reporters present hot 70 puuH5"
accoun, OF the discussion adding thfi IL Wou,I S Se
Board had decided that 1t should 10 before the
approached. nlled with desire sun further 10
routed With Slaughter ne being tod that no ex,
FOR his action could possibly be mad ,o ln
lust previous TO the meeting Of the Board" The
defeated trustee quietly made his escape
| AN OFFER ACCEPTED FOR THE CITY COLI
| I.EGE.
! Immediately following the adjournment OF the
trustees Of the Normal College the roll was called Of
the trustees Of the College OF the city Of New-fork
The only business transacted was the reading OF a
letter received by General a. 5. Webb president OF
the college. which as follows:
With a view TO arouslng deeper interest IN tle
E.f1l OF he q
National Society Of the Sons Of rle American Kevo,
luton al its recent annual congress in the city OF
| 10 the principal colleges OF the country T. ,h ~,
awarded TO the writers Of the best essays upon IN.
principles fought for in the War OF the Ame'c ,b
| Revolution. In accordance with the acton, M
secretary hereby offers TO your college Tor coptl
| ton in its annual commencement laTSe haIn
some silver medal, TO be awarded by the iacuIy ~
hebaIf Of the Society the best essay containing
not 1900 and not less Ihan LOU w0rus upon .'s
subject before mentioned The society leaves 10 y%t
lions as YOU may deem II wise 10 impose Dut Ir,
quests that In view Of the fact that ms medal WI
be Offered annusy the o,sgns WITH have parilc
pate1 in the competitions FOR the SILVER nleua ma
made their awards the medas WIZ pe 'i' II, r ',n
| distributed each bearing The name OF me WIN
80 and ~ the college IN which he Is student
| Each college will be requested t. SEMI 70 me iIe
dent-Cieneral OF the Society copy or me priz'
select committee OF the National society which VII
award 10 the writer OF the Medal SG The medals bob
| gold ana silver will be large handsome patrio'i'
| and artistic In design and the value or me eo !,
offer GENERAL HORACE , io 'f.lnnrs,
fh"Nh''' ~ ' Secretary General
T.. Sons Of the American Revolution
The offer was accepted by the board ana a motor