Evening star., 1894-04-12
The Past and Future of the Uni
versity Well Told.
THE BANQUET HELD LAST NIGHT
Speeches by Prominent Graduates
of the Local Institution.
D1FFE RENT DEPARTMENTS

sung loud and long last night, at the annual
banquet of the Alumni Association of that
Institution, at Willard's Hotel. For five
hours and a half the graduates of the diff
ferent departments of the university met
together in reminiscent peace and comfort,
despite the howling elements without. A
reception begun in the parlors of the
hotel at 1880, and from that hour until
nearly o'clock the graduates of last year
and for fifty years past met and chatted
over the jolly days of university life and
the prospects of the alma mater, which, to
these faithful sons. appear to grow brighter
with each successive reunion. When about
a hundred had gathered, word was given
that the banquet was in waiting, and line
was formed to the great dining hall, one
end Of which had been screened off to ac-
commodate the diners. The line was head
ed by DR.. William p. Carr the first vice
president of the Alumni Associa ton. With
him at the head of the table, which was IN
the form of fork with two very long tines,
sat Justices Harlan and Brewer of the Su-
preme Court, Rev. c. II. Ryland, secretary
OF Richmond College; Gen. A. w. Greely,
Maj. j. W. Powell, Mr.. Harry e. Davis and
Judge n. b. Evans of the circuit court of
Virginia The table was handsomely dec
Grated with large baskets of La France and
American beauty roses. and at the head
stood an immense candelabra of silver, from
Nncn tWlnkled the lights or a score or
more wax dips. An orchestra at the end of
the room furnished music throughout the
evening.
DIR. Ryland offered the blessing at the
table, and then, for upward of two hours,
the banquet was discussed with true col
legiate appetite. Shortly before IL o'clock
DIR. Carr secured the attention of the small
army of alumni sitting below him and be-
gan the more mental ceremonies of the
evening by reading a telegram of regret
from Mr.. NJ. NJ. Parker, president of the
association. who is ill at Atlantic City. He
also read letter from DR.. yelling presi-
dent of the university, who was confined to
his house by sickness. DIR. yelling wrote
of the excellent condition of the university
at present and of the good prospects that
Il would advance especially in the line OF
higher education, which, he said, should be
the aim of it's trustees and its faculty for
the future. He sent greeting to the alumni
and wished them pleasant reunion.
The College Growth.
DIR. Carr said that, having cut the enemy
to pieces and strewn the ground with his
bones. the members of the association were
now ready to open their souls and drink
in a feast of another kind. They had
worked wonders, he said, putting evolution
to the blush; they had turned oysters into
men. and drops of wine into human beings
Both the university and the association, he
added, had prospered during the past year.
The association had gained eighty new
university had gained forty, and there are
now enrolled few more than 800 students.
considerable number of the new students
are sons of alumni. You see,' said DR..
Carr. how you can all go to work and in
crease the matriculation list" He then
proposed that the alumni drink in silence
to the memory of DIR. James II. Cuthbert.
formerly vice president of the board of
trustees, who died during the past year.
DIR. Carr introduced. DR.. Welling's sub
stitute on the toast list, Mr.. Harry F..
Davis. who fell heir to the toast '"The
Columbian University"
President WeIling's Work.
Mr.. Davis said that an alumni banquet
without DIR. yelling was like the play of
Hamlet without the star character. 1t was
the first time that the students had had
the misfortune in late years to gather in
reunion without his genial presence. Ever
since he has rendered his resignation as
president of the university" continued Mr.
Davis, Il have wondered what was coming
next We all feel that DR.. yelling is
great man. and has done great work, but
great as he is he is not great as the
Columbian University. We shall grieve for
him and miss him, but the university will
go on without him as Its head, he well
knows and feels. In his absence we can
express ourselves as we would like You
are losing one of the best men in all the
world, than whom there is today no better
educated man in the United States. Every
those about him. He is a man of whom it
is impossible to say too much in praise
Our loss, however is to be the gain of
larger circle than cur own. / am violating
no confidence when l say that he is en-
gagged upon a work that will be a contri-
button TO the literature and history of our
country second TO none that has come from
an American of our generation"
Mr.. Davis then passed from the educator
TO his work, and spoke of the prospects of
columbian In the most hopeful vein. While
Washington. he said. is a great university
in itself. the Columbian University stands
as its chief factor in it's educational facili-
ties. The university today occupies
throughout the university world a position
OF which all it's graduates are proud 1t is
now known in corridors of Oxford and the
groves of Cambridge, where before il was
known only as a name. When the numer-
Gus attractions of other educational in
stitutlons of this country considered
the increasing matriculatiOn of Columbian
Is remarkable. With local pride drawing
students to various educational centers
throughout the country, it is a gratifying
showing that Columbian is able to fill its
halls from every part of the country. There
are here in Washington some of the most
distinguished men in science, law and
literature, who have been glad to give their
services to the university almost for moth
ing, and it will not be long before the
names of the most distinguished men i'm
their walks of life in this country will be
read upon the catalogues of Washington's S
1T is not brain only that makes uni
verSity." he said. brain and Drawn have
been rInniES mates ever since nv Ken
tuclIy frie1dS''-with twinkle of his eve
toward Judge Harlan, at his left-"have
been acquainted with the race track" This
gave Mr.. Davis q chance to. speak of the
athletic association of the university and
he predicted that it would not be long be-
fore people would wonder whether the foot
ball championship would go to his second
alma mater, Princeton, or to his first,
Columbian.
Future DeveIopment.
At this point. at the suggestion of Profs
Hodgkins and Montague, the greetings of
the association were sent to President We'll
ling and Mr.. Parker. with wishes for their
speedy recovery. Rev. DR.. c. A Stakely
Of the 10th street Baptist Church responded
to the toast, THE corporation of the uni
yetsity-' He was lOath to stand for the
mind of the university. which he said was
embodied in the corporation. Only in a
general sense would he do so. The interests
Of the univ erslty were in charge of capabIa
and distinguished men, who are now buiId
ing on foundations laid by Others This is
a most precious legacy" ne continued re
ceived from our fathers, who laborad faith
fully In their day ana generation. The cor
puTatiOn has determined TO establish what
IT has in hand. The unity, Independence
and dignity of the university will he main
tained. The college will be strengthena ed as
well as the other departments. 1t will be
50 CrEaniZe1 that its graduates will ba ~,