New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-29
"SHEFw rs FIFTY YEARS ON
sEMI-CENTENNIAL OF YALE's SCIENTIFIC
DEPARTMENT

New-Haven. Conn. Oct. 2s.-This Is a banner d,v
for the Sheffield Scientific School. Yales scienta,
Department. 1t is just half century old and mi,
morning 1t began the celebration OF Its semi-cen,en
NAL Last night there about three hundred
graduates of the school in town. and TODAY tbev
by the score. in all about thousand On
every hand were heard expressions OF nleas,r.
the noble career of the school was recalled
1t for many years the only institution OF ,,s
kind in America. From it most OF the State aor,
cultural colleges took their professors and thar
methods Of study and It was here that the ar.,
agricultural experiment station was established
Professor George f. Barker OF the I-nive-s,,
Of Pennsylvania. presided the alumni meeting
which began in North Sheffield Hall al 1890 o'clocL
Announcement made of one new beouest
amounting to $1,000. by Mrs. d. G. Eaton. of tbi,
city. widow of the late professor Of botany in N.
school, to found prize for excellence in botany
President Dwight presided at the afternoon eyer.
cises at o'clock in College Street Hal Ar mi.
meeting Daniel c. Gilman. president of Johns Hon
kins made the address OF the day, in which he said
From beginning to end, this institution has been
a department of a University. of a University which
never suffered its love Of letters - blind its eyes to
the value of science In the days OF closely re.
stricted income. during the first half OF the cen
fury. chemistry mineralogy. geology botany
mathematics. physics. meteorology and astronomy
were taught in Yale. Nor will any one think th,;,
scientific research was undorvalued If he recalls the
preparation Of Dana's mneralogy, the light that
was thrown on meteOric showers the studies of the
and Of the zodiacal light, and the search for
and mtra-mercurial planet. Very different would
have been the Sheffield record ii II were not ass)-
ciated with the fame the fortune and the followers
of greater alma mater. Substantial advantages
were bestowed by the mother upon her child-ths
of the library and of the cabinets of mineralogy
and geology. The Peabody Museum. the Winches-
ter Observatory and the Street School OF the Fine
Arts sheds their light like the all the Uni
versity. but the gift of George Peabody especially
contributed the growth of school in which
mineraogy. geology and zoology were prominent
subjects of instruction
Still Sheffield has not been held by the leading
strings of its mother. 1t has had large amount
Of independence Its funds. buildings. appoint.
ments have been its own. The professors have
been its governing board. controlling its
and its funds subject 10 the oversight Of the pres
dent and fellows. on one occasion, at least the
faculty asked permission OF the asonished corpora
ton 10 reduce their own salaries. and the request
was granted,
Thus 1t has come 70 pass that no conflict Of
studies" has been heard OF. no hostility between
science and letters, no warfare" between science
and religion The Sheffield School has always stood
for idea of "A liberal education in which scien-
tlfc studies should predominant, but IN which a
moderate amount of Latin and OF modern Ian
guages IL required; history and economics are also
taught. II is memorable that for long period the
greatest OF American phioogists was the daily In
structor in French and German. and that the most
learned study ever made of Dan Chaucer and hn
well of English undefyed" proceeded from Shef.
field chair
A reception in honor OF Dr. Gilman was held o,
4:30 in Winchester Hall