New-York tribune., 1901-10-13
\ CHAIR IN CHINESE.
rfIr MYSTERIOUS GIFT TO COLUMBIA TO
FOUND A DEAN LUNG PRO
FESSORSHIP." ."

near future In his annual report TO ihe IuStec9
If the institution President Seth Low said that
>II3Nw had already been placed at the disposal
Of The trustees for that purpose 10y anonymous
promoters Of the plan. Mr.. Low also made pub
lie an anonymous letter which he received on ,
June = 1891 in which the writer says:
For Gfty wears and more l have been saving
something from whiskey and tobacco bills WhcA
with fair interest would amount, perhaps TO
about the of the incosed check WhiCh
have, pleasure to send you toward the founding
OF a department of Chinese languages, htera-
tuio religion and law. to be known as the I'eth
Lung professorship of Chinese. Ihe slIt Is WIZ nt
out condition. EXCEPT that ii is anonymous pu'
| should like to reserve the right hereafter 10
increase the sum. and also the privilege OF con-
ferring with you to changes of plan IL any
should he desired Some delay in organization.
also, may he thought necessary or convenient
nm this Will best be determined by the authori-
ties of the university
In making choice Of the object to which the
money should be applied. l am guided mainly
by an appreciation of its Importance and partly, |
perhaps. by fancy that nobody else at this
time would be likely to give for that or like
purpose.
The check referred for 100000. and
this amount was Immediately transmitted to the
treasurer with a copy of the letter of gift.
on July Mr. Low received this letter. signed |
Dean Lung. Chinese person: Il send you
herewith a deposit check for $4,000 as a con-
ttibution to the fund for Chinese learning in |
MI Low direct but under cover of another let
ter from the founder of the professorshp which |
contained the information that the donor of the |
$4,000 was a man of modest means" The !
founder also hinted in his letter to Mr.. Low |
that any public statement to the gift should !
be limited to bare statement that an addi- |
tional sum of $4,000 had been received. 1t
might be of value generally" said the writer. |
AS suggestion to others who are able and
willing to give" He thought also that order
make the Chinese department what it should |
he there should b. a fixed endowment OF at
least SH0opt0 possibly S,oocp.
1t was not until after the second gift had been
received that even the name Dean Lung was
made known. and when the generous man con
sented TO the publication of this name he asked
that vot, Of thanks to him should be passed
hy the trustees. he found in the pleasure Of
making the gift sufficient reward. Notwith- !
standing this request, Mr. Low thought it would
he appropriate to thank Dean Lung for the |
exceptional gift, and in recommending such ac-
tion said that he doubted if there was another
instance in the history of education where u
Chinaman had made similar gift. without
conditions to university of Western learning
Such gift" he said, is certainly auspicious
indication of the spirit in which this de-
partment will be welcomed by the Chinese
themselves, and it ought TO be an inspiration 10
other Americans to make it the complete and
comprehensive department which its founder
wished it to be" In keeping with Mr.. Low
suggestion. resolutions thanking the anonymous
giyer of the 100000 and Dean Lung for the ad-
ditlonal $1,000 were adopted at a meeting of
the board of trustees and the subject of a
Chinese department referred to the com
mittee education.
The gver of the 100000 sent "a note to Mr.
Low with his gift in which he praised the
Chinese for their religious spirit and for their
devotion to their country and family He
speaks Of their devotion to family and almost
superstitious love of home holding to their pur-
the tenaoty of Israel" He refers to the Chi
heSe as scholarly people, with an abundant
literature no less valuable than those we call
classical The Chinese according to the donor
mad acquired governmental systems long before
The makers of our common law had come out
from tlelf SaNagery' Because of the trade
which has already sprung up between China and
the United States, he speaks of the Pacific as
the Chinese American sea" and predicts :,
Chinese trade amounting to billions of dollars
yearly. considering this he SAYS would il
not be a reproach to this university not to have
better understanding, larger comfy and more
hospitabie relations?"
Despite the efforts of Mr.. Low and his as
sociates i'll the management of Columbia Uni |
yerSity to keen the m Of tha