Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-28

Rev. DR.. Whitman.
regard for the doctor by presenting him a
magnifccnt silver loving cup. nine inches
high. suitably inscribed In order that the
doctor might conclude the work of the year
within the period Of his service the class
has been sitting under him two hours each
Tuesday night. the period being broken by
a slight inteimission. This course was fol-
lowed last night, ards.iust as DR.. Whitman
was about to resume his lecture after the
intermission he was interrupted by the
class president. Mr.. John Walker Hol-
combe. appointments clerk in the Interior
Department. who said:I
Mr.. HOIcombe's Speech.
We understand. doctor. that this is per-
maps your last lecture to the school. and
on behalf Of the students l wish TO say a
few words to you in the way of goodbye.
You have been occurring to us from this
platform the last year4to some of US for
nearly two years. We have occasionally
had opportunities to I'd k back. but we have
generally been limited Ito set subjects, like
the ''Papal Supremacy or the Augsburg
ject of our own selection. 1 hope you will
find it interesting: it is yourself.
We have a series of impressions of you,
Dr. WhitmaE-mental pictures. which l
first barefoot boy. small, but sturdy of
figure. rosy as to your bright and chubby
cheeks, that queen of apples, the Bishop
Pippin.' in hand standing on the. brow of
a Nova Scotian hill looking along the rocky
road over farms and barns and cottages,
down at the plowed field. at the waving
green of the trees. IN at the sunlight and
the sky, and in thought for the first time
aifferentiating the ego from the outer
world. experiencing the miracle of the dawn
of self-consciousness in the human soul.
Then we see you here, magnetic and IN
spring force. unfolding to us with vivid
pictures pregnant phrases and lively wit
the great panorama Of human history, the
movements of nations and states. the
achievements and characteristics of gen
erals. statesmen and kings.
Our third picture. sir. is in the future. We
see you seated in your study. the walls
lined with books: everywhere about you
documents. statistical. sociological omnios-
zeal. the oldest and the newest magazines
the latest newspapers, and under your hand
vast manuscript. in which robust if
not lonely and athletic student you have
compact"d the entire system of our theolo-
gy. perhaps the mighty cycle of all the
theoloSies.
And now We hope and believe sir, that
while here you have derived some iuspir,-
ton from the faces along the benches;
that our receptive and appreciative atti-
tnde toward your instruction has been en-
ccuraging to you, and We wish you to take
away with you a souvenir of us. 1t would
please us to see as a modest accessory of
the picture / have last drawn this cup at
your elbow as you burn the midnight Oil.
We have thought for some time. sir that
you ought to have a loving cup, some
thing like this: somewhat suited to vour
SIZE and capacity-your intellectual capac-
ity. But we have not been perfectly clear
In our minds how you were to get such
cup. IT you would only have entered for a
boxing match or a wrestling bout We feel
sure, sir. that you would carry off tro-
ph;es galore: but you have been debarred
from this exhilaratng exercise by the con-
venhonalities which prescribe that. like the
Quaker in the play, you may only cut re-
spectacle capers. Then We thought of golf
not unclercal sport. and good to keep
down the flesh. But you have neglected
these sports. and / observe that you only
pedal the bicycle in the early mornings
hesitatingly for so we'll balanced a man
and avoiding the paths of the scorcher
So We have taken the matter into our own
hands, and we ask you to accept this cup
as expressive OF our recognition of the
slight intellectual achievement of condens-
| ing the whole of human history into a
| syllabus Such a syllabus, venture to say
| has never been written before, remark
able and brilliant piece of work. applause }
| We are sorry, Dr. Whitman, that the
syllabus is complete. We shall miss your
| lectures: we snail miss the enthusiasm with
which you have labored nightly for u.s.
| We have heard with great regret, sir that
| you have resigned the presidency of Column
| bian University: at a tir,e. too. when, as a
1
| your earnest help ,anIaounsel. the dream
or the university has NJ last been realized
| In the establishment of,this school of COM
parative acknowledgement diplomacy.
We, the students of this school. the first
| two classes enrolled completing the organ
| ization OF nj! Its courses. are parting from
you with real strrvw .1oWe hope, sir, that
| you will remember with pleasure know
| ing that you carry with you our respectful
/ and affectfobate regards. DR.. Whitman, to
you and yours here Is health and happiness
| from the schott of comparative jurispru-
dence and diplomacy. prolonged applause
| DIR. W'hitman's Reply.
The doctor was:sresesy taken aback by
the incident. and, although one of the read
lest of speakers. found it impossible for a
| few moments TO nrocsfd. When he had
mastered himself, he asafd:
Gentlemen. Is ii really fair to break a
man up In this fashion? 1 wish 1 had
| words to respond to the eloquent address
| OF your representative 1t Is a good speech
TO listen to- I thank you for making 1t
possible for M. Holcombe to say those
| words; thank Mr.. Holcombe for speaking
| men. for this beautiful token. wish
deserved It. ] thank you most of all for the
love which curing thsse months Of inter-
course has been established and then deep
| ened both In yuu ana in me. 1 thank you
for the heartiness with which you have en-
tered upon the work In which have had
the honor OF rendering you some slight
service. I had intended at the close of the
hour to try and say how greatly / appre-
ciated your responsiveness and to thank
you for making that syllabus.
"Mr. HOlcombe has kindly given me credit
the largest share Of which belongs to Won
You have done this year the impossible. /
O va fws|