The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-01-30
TALES SENIOR GRADUATE.
Benjamin D. siiliman, of Brooklyn, Heads the List.
[From tho New York Trlbunel

The death of Charles l.. Powell, of Alexandria, Va, a few days ago, con fers upon Benjamin D. Sllliman, of Brooklyn, the distinction of being the oldest living Yale graduate, in point of the number of years since his gradua- ton. MT. Powell was born on Septem- Der II, 1894, and was graduated from Yale in the class of 1928. For several years his name was always the first to appear in the list of living Yale gradu~ ates, Below his name, in the class or 1924, was that of Mr. Silliman, who was born precisely one year after MT. Pow ell.
 A week 0r more ago Mr. Silliman re- ceived from New Haven copy Of the last list of Yale graduates. It occurred to him that it would be a pleasant thlhg to do to write to MT. Powell and eX- change greetings with him. Conse- quently he sent him a short letter. con graduating him, and said that, al though he had never corresponded with him, he remembered him as Yale stu dent, and recalled several incidents Of their college days, nearly three-quar-
 
 able coincidence that on the very day MT. Silliman sent his letter, MT, PoWell died The news of his death was con- veyed to MT. Silliman by friends ot MT Powell. Mir. Silliman, who thus be- comes Yale's oldest graduate, has great reason to be proud of the dlstlnctlon' He is a Yale man, not only by gradua- ton, but also by ties of blood. All ot his uncles, both on his fathers and his mothers side, and both of his grand fathers, were graduates of Yale.
 His paternal great-grandfather was graduated from Yale in 1727, and his maternal great t-great-grandfathe re ceived his diploma from the same col lege in 1722. He says that he may not be the oldest Yale graduate in point or years, and as he was barely twenty wears old when he received his diploma, 1t seems probable that some member of succeeding class may be older than he is He has vivid recollections of his college days and can tell many interest," ing stories of his undergraduate expe- riences. Among his fellow students were number of men no less promi- nent than he has been in public affairs. He was fellow student at one time with Edward Hitchcock who later be- came the president of Amherst college,
 MT. Silliman has always, until Within few years, followed closely the course of affairs at Yale. At one time lie was for many years in succession the presl- dent of the Yale Alumni Association of Long Island. Until six or seven years ago he was an honored guest at all Yals dinners in New York and New Ha- ven, but his increasing years have pre- vented him from attending the annual dinners at commencement for seven or eight years. He is generally remem- bered, however by his fellow gradu- ates and frequently receives from them hearty letters of congrat tulation and we'll wishes. He is a close friend or President Dwight and is expecting visit from him when he comes to Brook lyn to attend the dinner of the Yale Alumni of Long Island,in few days. He may attend the dinner himself if he can be assured that he will not be called upon for a speech. He is in ex- ceIlent health, as is shown by the fact that he daily makes trip to his law of fee, at No. 31 Nassau street, New York city, and there attends to the demands Ol ct lIQlllpClN VI llio oiu %AiSiieh who always delight to listen to his counsels. But he feels that in the mat ter of public speaking he has already done his share He said yesterday to a Tribune reporter speaking of his in terest in Yale affairs:
 q am so far removed from college matters that I am unable to maintain as deep an interest in Yale as I should like to, but I feel so closely connected with the college by ties of relationship and personal loyalty that I am by no means indifferent to it's welfare I al ways read with great interest about whatever goes on at Yale, whether ath- letic or other college work is concerned am always glad to hear of Yale's suc- cesses, but must confess my inability to keep up with all the details of athletic negotiations and such things"
 The veteran lawyer is no less proud of his political party associations than of his college connections. He says: q have always been most ardent re- publican. Before the days of the re. publican party I was always a Whig and even before the Whig party took it's name voted with it's predecessor was a delegate to the Whig convention which nominated William Henry Har- rison for the presidency. have been a reader of the Tribune since the paper was started and was personal friend and great admirer of Horace Greeley It seems only yesterday that saw him and talked with him.
 '"It seems to me that it is early yet to talk much about the party's nominee for the presidency. There are still sev- eral months before us. The party will make no mistake, whichever man it se- Iects Every one of the presidential candidates is safe man to lead the party and each has personal charac- teristics which make him especially strong. There appears to be so little difference between the candidates in the matter of their positions on politi- cal subjects that the question of a se- lection comes down to a consideration of personalities. I believe that the in terference with the Mckinley bill by the last congress has done infinite mischief to the country I believe that success is assured toathe party in any case, and think that the choice of the aspirants to the honor is so pronounced, will not be easy"
 Mr. Silliman is strong antt-consoli- dationist He recently said in the Tri-