The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-22
DARrMoUrns A1UMNr D1SxER.
Frsuident tucker speaks or souss Forees That
Are CoHhatins the CsiieEe uaca.

Arc COHnhnttng the GolteEe hncns
Three times the number OF alumni who hvo
years ago gathered at the Dartmouth dinner
got together In Delmonico's last night at the
annual banquet and made the place ring
with theii songs and cheers. so rapid
has been the growth Of interest in tho
Alumni Association. when President Charles
II. Beckett of tho association arose to
open the proceedings he faced 100 guests.
After reading letters of regret from
Gov. Frank =. Black, class OF '75, ana eHLGov.
Levi p. Morton. Mr.. Beckett introduced tho
President OF the college. DIR. William j. Tucker,
who spoke to the toast. Tho College," Ho
said:
THE college idea is coming into conflict with
one or two forces which arc naturally opposed
to 1t. have wondered that the college idea has
not long before this come into conflict with tho
American spirit Of impotence. We are told
TINT men enter into business and the
professions too old; that tho colleges
must curtail their courses so as to
turn out the product earlier in life. 1
take exception to that. Nowhere else arc men
delivered to the world. fitted for work earlier.
Another force with which the college idea finds
itself confronted Is premature specialization
The elective system has come In as one of tho
greatest and most timely features In our scheme
or education, but this Is not premature special.
%iZation. This system simply turns a man around
before the fire of learning, until his ambition Is
" 20 ooihV poiht- hhcu hO koeb WI WI
his life work.
college idea means. IL It means any
thing. that q man shall have breadth enough to
understand men OF various other kinds before
he takes up that specialization that shall mako
him understand best the men OF his own kind.
The danger now Is that men do not under
stand each other enough. Men of one local
iy think. along different lines on impor-
tant subjects from men. OF another. IL
we are to do. our full duty in tho col
leRes. 1t must DO by such training as shall
make us understand our fellow men. Tho man
who goes direct. from his high school into a
speciality, be 1t law, medicine. or theology, has
not that basis OF common understanding with
his fellow men that he should have. 1t is the
duty Of the old-established colleges and uni
yersities to cross the lines Of North and South,
East and West, and bring mon of various
localities and various beliefs together In a bond
lApplause.r'
Tho Hon. Charles A. Prouty Of tho Interstate
Commission spoke on Dartmouth
and Commerce." Charles G. Beaman respond
ed to the toast, "The University" Richard
Hovey read some observations In rhyme. which
he had made up for the occasion. The Hon.
William n. Cohen spoke on Our Judges" and
Charles +. Mathewson responded to tho final
toast. Trustees and Triumphs."
Among those present were Edwin t. Rioe,
Sanford H. Steele. A. W. Edison. DR.. Charles
l. Dana, Gilman II. Tucker, Charles r. Miller,
Bishop Leonard. DR.. Henry M. Wells. U. 8. NJ;
the Hon. Nathaniel H.. Clement, Philip Carpen-
ter, Horny B. Closson, 0smyr P. Conant, Samuel
9; Perry. George /. Aldrich, Luther 3. Little,
Charles Albert Perkins, Jordan J. Rollins.