New-York tribune., 1902-07-09
SHEFFIELD DORMITORIES.

Mr.. Frederick W. Vanderbilt's gift to the
Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University
from which he was graduated in 1876 of a
large tract of land for dOrmitories the first of
which will be built in the near future at his
expense. is doubtless as acceptable to the Yale
corporation as it is to the actual and prospec-
tive students of that department OF the univer-
sity.
Whether or not this generous benefaction is
an entire surprise to the Yale authorities we
have no means Of knowing, but the reports of
it contain curious error for which it would
seem impossible to hold them responsible Con-
trary to somebody's hasty assumption it is not
Mr.. Frederick VanderbiIt's first gift to Yale
Years ago he subscribed $4,000 toward the
cost of the fine gymnasium which replaced an
ancient rattletrap; last year he contributed
100000 to the bicentennial fund, and he has
frequently given pecuniary support TO other in
terests of the university. He is singularIy
averse to notorety, and presumably in this in
stance will take no pains to correct an error,
but he cannot reasonably object to having it
corrected by those who happen to know the
facts. The property already acquired to which
1t is thought important additions will be made
hereafter, is perfectly adapted to the purpose to
which it will he put, being separated only by
one street from the square on which stand the
present buildings of the Sheffield School and
by another street from the new university build
lngs. 1t is large enough TO provide sites for
all the dormitories which the school is likely
TO require for many years to come and to leave
central quadrangle of considerable size 1t is
n tract on which the corporation has looked
with longing eyes and perhaps feared it would
never possess. We heartily congratulate the
university on the acquisition of such a prize
through the liberality Of loyal son.
For the general public concerned in educa-
tional affairs Mr. Vanderbilt's gift to the Shelf
field School is particularly interesting in that
ii enables that famous and deserving insttu-
tlon TO adopt the policy of social adminstra-
tiOn which has always been an essential feature
of the academic department There was a time
when some observers thought that the dormi-
tory system was likely to fall into disuse at
American universities, as an incident, if not a
necessary consequence, of rapid and varied
growth. But the fact appears indisputable
that in recent years that tendency. if it ever
really existed, has disappeared. and been sue
ceeded by wide extension Of the old college
scheme. Notable instances of this conversion
or reconverSion, to the original belief are seen
here IN Columbia University and New-York
University, and similar examples abound else
where. In the annual Yale report recently
published. the dean of the academic depart
ment spoke of the healthy public sentiment,
the respect for the rights and wishes of Others
the good fellowship, the democratic spirit and
the independence which dormitory fosters, and
expressed his earnest regret that all the stu
dents of that department could not be accom-
modated under college roofs. The director of
the Shefield Scientific School, seemingly with
out any premonition of what was coming re-
ferred TO few sleeping rooms arranged for in
the plan of new Sheffield building now going
up as the nearest approach to general dorml-
tory system that the school has ever enjoyed
1t is easy to conceive of the satisfaction with