The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-09
DIR. MURRAY OF PRINCETON
ANECDOTES OF THE LATE DEAN OF
THE UNIVERSITY.
Respect of the Students for Him-A Great
stickler for Honesty When Excuses We're
Made - Interest Manifested in tho
Black Eve OF n Backward Student.

Stickler for Honesty When Excuses We're
Made - Interest Manifested in the
Black Eve of n Backward Student.
PRINCETON. N. j.. April S.-The late DIR.
James o. Murray. whose death occurred last
Monday, had for thirteen years been Dean OF
Princeton University. and was the professor
best liked by the undergraduates. He Is re-
membered by graduates as q scholar and q
kindly adviser. rather than n strict disciple
marian. He was OF tall. slender build, slightly
stoop-shouldered. with deep-set gray eyes and
hair almost white. His clothes were always OF
loose 1T. and he had a peculiar manner Of
noddinR his head in time with his steps
as he walked. On his way across the
campus to recitations he would look care
fully to left and right so as not to
miss speaking to the students who might
pass. and it was the habit Of the undergrad
yates to step Off the walk as he approached.
bow respectfully. and stand with cap In hand
until he had passed. 1'he respect in which
DR.. Murray was held by the students can be
illustrated in no better WY. perhaps, than by
the fact that they gave him no nickname. With
few exceptions the professors in the academic
and scientific departments are known famil-
iarly to the students by names given for some
popularity or failing. some OF the most famous
being known as Twinkle" "Whiskers."
BABY" Granny" and Sister" but even
the most careless sophomore never thought Of
DR.. Murray other than as the Dean.
After a great athletic victory or any event
that called for a celebration DR.. Murray's homo
was one OF the first to be visited. He invariably
met the students with the cordial spirit in
which they came and was always ready to
make a speech. Before the cheer for him could
be finished he would appear on the front porch.
q happy smile lighting up his face. and ask his
stock question: We'll. boys. what have we
done now ?" And then. without waiting for an
answer. Just to show that he knew what had
happened as we'll as the most enthusiastic
freshman in the crowd. he would congratulate
them on their victory and end his speech with
some wholesome advice about keeping intoxi-
cants out OF the merrymaking.
1t was owing to DR.. Murray's efforts that the
McCosh Inlrmary was erected. His sympa
thetic nature was shown in the faithfulness
with which he attended the sick and it was in
this work that he made his best friends among
the student body. Every morning. rain or
shine, he trudged down to the infirmary. car
rying little dainties which he struggled in to
the sufferers. He would sit by the bedsides
for hours comforting and cheering the inmates
and telling the interesting college news. 1t
was the Deans duty also to inform parents OF
the serious illness or death OF a son. in the per-
Torrance OF which task the tears streaming
from his eyes and his tender words OF con-
dolence have given comfort to many n father
and mother.
Many anecdotes are related Ivy graduates
and students now in college relative to the
fashion the Dean had OF temperine justice with
kindness in exercising the functions OF his
office. He was lentent to the last degree with
unruiy students who came before him for sen .
tence after the Discipline Committee OF the
faculty had decided upon their cases. A college
saying handed down from class to class ia:
Any man expelled from Princeton by DR..
Murray has earned his expulsion twice over
He was n great stickler for honesty. and it was
well known about the campus that no made-up
excuse. however good. would go with the Dean.
for the chances were that he knew the story
about to be told better than the cul-
prit. so wide had been his experience with
college ways. On one occasion. when some
fifteen or twenty students were up before him.
after an excessive number Of absences from
morning chapel service. to show cause why
they should not be sent home. and the old.
well-worn excuses about sore Threats which
had to be attended to every morning. stiff
knees that had to be rubbed. insomnia. badly
regulated alarm clocks. late study the night
before. had all been offered and received by DR..
Murray with a dry. sarcastic smile. the turn OF
the last Of the delinquents came. but he was at
a loss what to say. for each and all the excuses
he had intended to give had already been
presented. A happy thought struck him. and
he said:
We'll. DIR. MURRAY. the only reason I didn't
go to chapel is that I am averse to arising So
early in the morning. I'm naturally lazy. sir. "
DIR. Murray looked at the trembling youth in
astonishment for a moment. and then he
reached over and shook him nv the hand
You are a truthful young man. sir he said.
| - 80 H. NhN- &I-. a. -
is the best policy. ! excuse you Then he
called the student aside and advised him to hire
some one to wake him up in the morning.
Last June. Just before the final m
tons. a certain member Of the Junior class was
in trouble with his studies. He had not the
slightest chance Of passing the examinations
and knew that il he failed he would he drorped
from his class. His only hope was to have
them postponed until September and prepare
for them during the summer His friends ad
vised him to have an attack Of bronchitis. and
to borrow a pair Of spectacles and an old suit
Of clothes. wrap his throat up in red flannel
and make a call on the Dean. Others thought
il would he moro effective to have n broken
arm. or a bad case If sore eyes. But these sug.
gestions were all too old and were scornfully
rejected. The case was a serious one
and a consultation 1T his friends In the
senior class was called. After due considera.
ton it was unanimously decided to give him
an eye really blackened. He consented to the
scheme. His friends propped his head ur
against sofa pillows and set to work punching
his left eye with a boxing glove. 1t was n pain
fnl operation and called forth many groans
from the junior. but It made his eye black. and
a little iudicious painting OF his cheek with
iodine made a hidcous effect. A green patch
completed the decoration and the junior weni
to present his case to the Dean. Or. Murray
laughed heartily when he saw the pitiful sight
As he ushered his visitor into his office he re,
marked:
We'll. my lad. you are the eighth student to.
day who has called to get an excuse from m
on account OF trouble with his eyes. suppose
you ran into a door in the dark. didn't you. oil
fell asleep over your hooks and bumped your
eye against a desk. or did some one hit you
accidentally with a baseball 2"
The last was Just the explanation which the
junior had intended to offer, and 1t seemed
that the Deans peculiar insight was about &c
mt To nauRht all the trouble. thought and snf