The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-10-29
spoke as follows:
President Gilman.

This is the hour for congratulation
and "reminiscences. 1t is our privilege
to look backward over the path of half
a century and to trace the steps, often
slow but never devious, by which the
penniless, nameless and homeless off
spring of an ancient and vigorous stock
has attained commanding influence,
rich in possessions, beloved by thou
sands of followers, honored wherever
known, and still with the fresh enthu-
siasm of youth, aiming at lofty ideals,
. attractive as the face of nature, varied
and comprehensive as the laws by
which this world is governed.
1t would be easy, and it might be
profitable, to engage in an exclusive
commemoration of those who have
made this institution, and to bring for
ward "reminiscences of incidents and
events-some of them truly romantic
which illustrate the progress of it's re-
markable life; yet the dignity OF this
assembly, the presence Of so many per-
sons from n distance, and tine relation
of the Sheffield school to higher educa-
ton In the United States forbid such
limitations. You must therefore per-
nit me to give q subordinate place to
those sentiments which are uppermost
in our ELECTROMAGNETIC mingled
with affection and gratitude, and with
vivid memories OF those who have de-
parted-wrile I try to do justice to
their wise and assiduous labors by
showing their relation to the times and
to the progress of science in the latter
half of the nineteenth century.
ebo,
YOU would be sure to remember that
his task had already been well per
formed; and If I should assume the
garb and cfisel of Old Mortality, you
might remind me that the moss has
not yet gathered upon the inscriptions
in yonder cemetery. While Argus and
Briareus. the one for the university
and the other for the school of science,
are on the alert, it requires some as
surance to traverse the annals which
they have collated; and yet this dis
course must be historical. So in face
of difficulties, enhanced by the distance
which has separated the speaker from
these once familiar scenes, from NUM-
1nents and archives, I enter upon the
duty Of the hour, conscious of the honor
received from your courtesy and CRATE
full for an opportunity to stand once
more among former colleagues, pupils
and friends. 1t is a delight to see this
favored university, renewing it's youth,
at the approach OF its second centenni-
al annlversary-nlore comprehensive
more useful, more liberal and more
worthy than ever before of loyal affec-
ton and support.
Eighteen hundred and forty-sevcn Is
the year of our nativity. But there was
a prenatal existence worth remember
ing. and there was a reincarnation, if
not regeneration, when the school
was christened by the name of Shelf
field. Yale college has always stood
for science, and it therefore is no Won
der that those who initiated the de-
partment of philosophy and arts, just
after President Woolsey assumed the
chair. had faint notions of the import
ance of their proceedings. They We're
quite unconscious of developing new
forces. Mr.. Bryce, in his sketch of the
Holy Roman Empire, remarks that the
year A D. AS, which schoolboys are