The Washington times., 1894-07-29
lyn he had more than a few offers to run for

lyn he had more than a few offers to run for
Congress, to hold himself in training for the
Governorship and all that might follow.
| He accepted the presidency OF Columbia
| College and since he has held that position
| he has proved himself to be an able and
what is more an aggressive advocate OF what
| are sometimes called modern methods IN edu-
| cation. His views have been outlined. He
believes boy or girl should be educated In
| practical way, and so far as any teacher
may know in accordance with the mental ana
| physical possibilities OF the pupil. The old
idea that certain amount OF certain sort
Of education should be crammed down tho
throat OF a young man, will ye, NIL ye, was
not an idea TO which he clung. HIS plan ls
to find the bent of young mans mind ana
SO train it. And 90 it comes about that Seth
Low is as popular, as an educator. as he was
as a politician in the days when he beat those
sapient leaders Of public opinion who know
everything except the people.
When Seth Low gave up his residence In
Brooklyn he bought a house in New York
only q few blocks from Columbia College.
He said then that 1t was his intention to de-
vote his whole mind and time to educational
matters, and no doubt he meant what he said.
But men change, and SO do conditions. Pol
itics in New York were never in SO mixed or
chaotic shape as at present. Political lead
ers stand at the parting OF the ways, as 1t
were, and some of them are being discredited
beyond rehabilitation. Men who ordinarily
would hold aloof from political action are be-
ing forced to the front, and at such time
man like Seth Low cannot remain in the
background. So it was that when the mayor
Of New York asked Mr.. Low to act as one OF
a commission to perfect rapid transit systems
for New York he accepted the appointment.
Having accepted one public position, he can
scarcely hold that he may not accept some
other position.
Mr.. Low has not figured much in public
since he has been in New York. He lives
quietly and in good style. Neither be nor his
charming wife appear very prominently in
society. Mr.. Low does not figure in sporting
matters at all. He owns no yacht. no fast
horse, and is never seen on race track. Now
and then he is seen at the opera or theater.
But for the most he devotes his whole time to
his work as president of Columbia College.
He is in no sense figurehead. None of the
professors under him work harder than he
does. He has genius even for detail. He
dominates the college of which he is the head
in every one of its departments. and yet he is
not In any sense a martinez. There were
few more popular educators than the late
Professor Barnard, who preceded Mr.. Low as
president of Columbia College. and when
Seth Low took his place there were those
who thought the young man would in the
end suffer by comparison. As matter of
fact, the fame of neither OF the men has in
that portion Of it interested in the old col
lege, remembered Professor Barnard as man
who was thoroughly fitted TO his work and
his time. and Seth Low just as appropriately
and fully fills the needs Of the Columbia Col
lege of to-day.
1t is not given to many men to succeed
equally well in many things, to lead in poll
ties, to excel as an educator, as an orator, and
as a theoretical as well as practical publi- |
cist. II is given to yet fewer men to win fame |
in all these different lines while they are Vet
young men. Then again, it is rarely that |
high Office seeks out the man, and that the |
man does not seek the office. But this is true |
of Mr.. Low. Success has come to him SO |
easily that the general disposition has been to |
put it all down TO luck. |
There may be something in luck, but Seth |
Lows success has come about through more |
than mere good fortune. His brains, his |
pluck his aptness in the art of grasping op- |
portunities, his inherent honesty. and that |
rare quality and ability to understand the peo- |
ple-all these things have gone to make Seth |
Low what he is to-day. the strongest man Of |
his years in some respects i'll this country.
Seth Low is seemingly not disturbing him |
self as to his future. Nor has he any need TO. |
But men interested in the trend Of public al |
fairs will do well to watch the career of the |
president of Columbia College. Its possibili- |
ties are immense.