The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-17
FOR BARNARD'S NEW HALL.
THE CORNER STONE OF FISKE DOR
MITORY LAID.

The second Of the BuiidinEs which Mark tine
Change in tho Course OF barnard College
ana Establish II ne n Permanent 1nsiitu-
~tion-Chonte Puts In = Little Boom for Low
Several hundred persons gathered at the new
buildings OF Barnard College yesterday after
noon to take pnrt in the ceremonies of laying
tho corner stone of Fiske Hall, n dormitory
winch is to cover the greater part OF the western
'front.' OF the square beside tho college building
proper at 10th street and Claremont avenue
Tho preliminary exercises were held in tho the
atre OF the new college building, and many
pretty undergraduates in mortar boards and
black gowns acted as ushers. Except the i'd
dresses, these exercises were religious In their
character, and n large surpliced choir of men
and boys furnished the vocal music. Besides
tho choir there were gathered on the stage
Miss Emily J. Smith, tho dean OF the college;
Seth Low, President of olunbia University,
and n number of the trustees Of Columbia in
caps and gowns; the Hon. Joseph II. Choate, the
principal speaker of the day; Mrs. Josiah IL.
Fiskc, the donor of tho new building; the Rev.
William VI. Grosvcnor. and q number OF other
mon and women. In the gallery above the
main floor were gathered such OF the capped
and gowned undergraduates as were not en-
ployed in taking care OF the visitors.
The exercises began with an invocation of.
followed by a psalm, the Gloria patria, a scrip
turc lesson and a hymn. Dean Smith then ad.
The new college building, she said, everything
about Barnard College indicated that it was
In u merely tentative and experimental state.
Now IL is not only n permanently, but in addi-
ton 1t has all the advantages of close prox-
Unity to Columbia University, Of which It is u
"lf I CON judge by my knowledge of one wo:
mans mind" she said. the greatest fault Of
woman is that she is too apt to rely implicitly
which is set before her. The presence OF q
great university with its diversity of interests
and Its freedom Of thought is the best correc'
"Tbe building Of Fisko Hail." sho said,
marks a new era in the history of Barnard
College. 1t is to be used as a domitory for
young women resident in New York who find
that coming and going from their homes takes
who come from out OF town. We shall watch
with great interest, the effect OF the informing.
ling of these two classes
After a hymn had been sung Mr.. Choate
talked. He jokcd about the hot weather. de-
cluring that he had left down, town In hopes OF
getting out of the heat which the politicians had
But" he said, 81 believe the politicians have
even conspircd with the weather man to mako
the present temperature, and even President
Low himself is perhaps aiding to produce the
heat"
glorlfcation OF Mr.. Low. in the course of which
Mr.. Choate said:
confident that New York cannot do without
one of them. and l am also confident that Col.
umbia University and barnard College cannot
get along without one, but unfortunately na.
ture has never made twins Of such a character
When other hymns had been sung and
prayers said, the whole audience repaired to the
scene of the corner stone laying, where u high
platform. shaded by a tent top, had been erect.
cd for those who had been upon the stage in the
theatre. About this platform the undergrad
yates formed in a ha'f.circlc, and without their
lines were the visitors. President Low and the
trustees OF the university did not take part in
this portion of the ceremonies, nor did they hear
Mr.. Choate's address, as they were forced TO
leave to attend the unwilling of a tablet in
commemoration Of the battle OF Harlem Heights
at Columbia.
The corner stone was all in readiness for put
ting into place when the people arrived at its
site, hanging suspended from a derrick. The
space for it had been left in the walls about
eight feet above the ground. Within the recess
of the stone was placed this collection Of mo
MORALS Of the time and event:
A portrait and memorial Of Josiah NJ. F ske.
4 portrait and memorial OF the Rev. Arthur
Brooks. d. d.
A copy OF Mrs. Fishes letter rendering the gift of
= ske Hall. and OF the letter OF the Treasurer OF
Barnard College accepting the same.
An appeal for the maintenance OF Barnard College
Issued in 1892.
4 fle OF the Treasurer's reports.
land for the college.
The Deans annual report for 1898.
Acopy OF Hdrter's Ra.nIr for Nov. z. 1890. con.
tain!ng views and plans Of the buildings.
The JHorturbO ,rd for 1897.
Programme of the lays proceedings.
Newspapers of the day and coins.
Then Mrs. Fiske took a trowel from the hands
of the master mason, applied the last bit OF
mortar needed for scaling the stone in its
place, and the worknicn lowered it carefully
lain Grosvenor said a benediction, and the audi
ence dispersed.