New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-04
MACDONALD RESIGNS.
THIRD OUT 1T COLUMBI4.
Head of Music Department Not IN
Sam pathy scith President Butler.

Professor Edward Alexander Mcdowell. head OF
the department OF music at Ce,umb 8. yesterday an
nounced that he had handed his written resignation
10 President Butler January IS. giving as rea-
son the fact that. IN ais opinion his department
had not received proper treatment or recognition
froa the university authorities.
The department Of which Professor AacDoweIl Is
the head il IN the Division Of Pine Arts which also
includes the departments OF comparative literature
snd architecture. Professor Woodbury.. head OF
the comparative literature department resigned
only last Monday. and Professor W. r. Ware head
OF the architectural department. also resigned last
June. thus making all three branches OF the ciVis-
ion OF fine arts Lose their head professors. Pro-
fessor NacDowell felt keerly the resignation or
Professor Woodbury.. and said that as he was
gone. he himself could no longer stay at any
event. as Professor Woodbury. was the only one
LEFT who had any rparh OF idesism.
The main cause Tor his dissatisfaction has been
the fact that the university authorities. and Pres
dent Butler particular. have been unwilling to
accord TO his department what he deems necessary
for its progress ana efficiency. Professor MAC
Doweu expressed himself yesterday as being en-
tirely at variance with the policy which has been
pursued In relation TO the department OF music
and the school OF fine arts He said that he had
been al Columbia for eight years. and that the
sum total q his work great disappointment
20 mir, In TIE time Of MS service. he said he had
only had three pupils win whom lie Was entirely
sat.shed Improper methods. which the university
prescribed for the other departments. as well as
pGlclAN o. uleltAiaAs 10 So % - -
POOR shoEf1r.
he said he had been led 20 believe that In time
the university would pass TIRE legislation neces-
sarv 70 make the department more useful but
that when this Ga not come. he crew Up scheue
for bettoring the conditions and submitted IT to
President Butler. He. however did not sympathizs
with Professor MacDowers plan; declared IL revo-
lutonary. and refused 20 allow the scheme TO be
put into effect
Then said Professor Mscpowell. this only al
tentative left for me to resign. ] was vast
ms my time unGeT the old system. and my sug-
yestiors for making the work practiosSle were DIS
regarded. The department OF fire arts" said Pro-
fessor MacDoweH as at present organized. Is IN
efncient and practically useless. We organized
fnte separate division including the department
Of architecture. the department OF comparative
literature and the department OF music but we
have no representation In the faculty. Columbia
turns out thousands OF students. but as Tar as
general culture is concerned. college graduates
the unerest bsrtarians. When they build house
they have 10 ideas OF their own :or Its decoration.
but hire architect When they buy
picture they have 10 consult an expert and when
they 80 10 concert they do not know what the
music means and as a general rule. insult
fcrably bored. II needs such a school de-
partment CT fine arts and the instruction given by
Il to impart 70 them the al cultural ideas
that make civilized The Grtat body OF coll
lege men 90 not even know what ine arts are"
ton that his resignation had Teen caused by mat
MED ii emphaUcaly. ! resigned before Profess o.
MoOcoury. saia ne. I die n0t know he VA. co-i-
tte-rplatng sqch action ~nen ! RS sned an tact,
have Rel nm ony twice IN my ale GO not
though 7 might II I chose / have too much re-
nation vas not acted at the last meeting Of the
trustees II was passed over tor -oIns ro;,son IN
ceved attention. II viii make 10 difference how
the trust receive my suggestions now have
Professor Mcdowell said that President Butler
SessoTshp but t that be had defined It