The San Francisco call., 1895-10-18
HARVARD CLUB BANQUET,
ABOUT FORTY ALUMNI AT THE
ANNUAL DINNER AT THE
CALIFORNIA.
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT ELIOT
ON THE CONDITION OF THE
UNIVERSITY.

The Harvard Club celebrated the twenty
second year of its existence by dinner at
the California Hotel last night About
forty alumni discussed the elaborate
menu.
President George B. Merrill was master
of ceremonies, and there were a number of
good speeches. Rev. Horatio Stebbins
took occasion to eulogize Professor Lang
DELL the head of the law department of the
alma mater, and E. J. PringIe, who gradu-
times. DR.. r. Beverly Cole, Colonel J. c.
c. Lee and others spoke, and H. c. Bar
napee of the Bostonians sang The Days of
Old,' and was enthusiastically eucored.
Besides DR.. Cole, Colonel Lee and Mr..
Barnabee, T. l. Bergin and Professor
Setchell, the new botanist OF the State Uni
verslty, were guests of the club.
Aletter from Charles W. Eliot to Mr..
Merrill was read, showing the condition
and progress of Harvard. Mr.. Eliot has
been president of that institution for
twenty-sIX years. In the letter he wrote:
The amount OF instruction offered during the
year which has now begun will be larger than
ever before.
We find the number OF students in the
university this year to be decidedly larger than
it was last year, the gain being as satisfactory
in quality as II is In quantity. Public atten-
tion has been specially directed to the increase
in the freshman class OF Harvard College, be-
cause 1t is supposed to prove that non-success
in athletic sports does not hinder the growth
of college. / have long been convinced that
there only very 81 light connection be-
tween success in athletic sports and increase of
numbers. The comparative results this ar at
Harvard and at Yale afford al interesting
demonstration on this subject. Sports of all
kinds, athletic, musical and dramatic, should
be nothing but by-play at a university If
they are exaggerated, so as to consume much
time and attract a large share OF the public
attention, they become injurious instead OF
| bene fetal TO any university.
The growth of the schools of law and
| medicine is one of the most satisfactory fea-
lures in the present life of the university, for
| those two schools have been diligently raising
| the standard of professional instruction for
| more than twenty years past. Next year the
| Law School takes its true place as a universit V
school by demanding OF all candidates for its
degree preliminary degree in arts, letters or
science. The Medical School, having now got
its four years course OF instruction firmly
established, is proposing to do the same
! thing, with due notice
The recent establishment of an official con-
nection between the university and Radcliffe
| College opened the way TO q large increase in
the influence OF the university, and the gradu-
ates of Harvard may confidently anticipate
the firm and steady growth of the affiliated
| institution.
/ Among the alumni who participated in
the reunion were:
! A. Comte Jr., F. II. Wheelan DR.. George II.
Powers. Sidney Smith, Vanderlyn Stow, DR.. q.
! NJ. Richardson, Edward J. Pringle. Frank j.
| Symmes, j. 5. Severance. r. c. Harrison, p. J :.
| Harrison, A. T. VIM, Professor Haskell of
Berkeley, Fred B. Lake, Samuel C. Bigelow,
| Judge James NJ Sewell DR.. W T. McNutt J. NJ
Stebbins, George b. Merrill, Pelham W. Ames,
+. P. Howard, NJ. W. Sloss, Clarence Walter,
| DR.. q. b. SomerS, Colonel W. G. Little, DR..
Washington Aver, Professor and Irving String