Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-26
TRINITY ALUMNI MEET
PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY SPE-
CIAL GUEST AT RECEPTION.


city gathered at the University Club last
evening to greet President F1avel 8. Luther.
It was DR.. Luther's first visit to this city
In his official capacity since his advance
ment from professorship to the presI-
dency last October and the sons OF the
Hartford institution paid tribute last even
Ing to the work he has done in his short
period OF his official service at the head OF
the Institution. The president Is making
visits to many cities where Trinity alumni
are numerous during the Easter vacation
period, in order that he may keep in touch
with the former graduates and that he may
report to them on the work that is being
done there. He came to Washington from
Philadelphia.
When called upon to make a speech last
night. DR.. Luther reviewed the progress Of
the past year at the college told of the
plans that were maturing for the coming
year, and spoke OF the needs Of the college
In the line OF finances. .First he said, the
alumni will be glad to know of the Increase
in numbers of students. Seventy-three new
men entered college last fall. which is
decided step upwards. This brings the total
attendance at the institution to over one
hundred and fifty. The year has gone with
success, as was shown Monday when, in the
presence of thousands, the greatest aca-
demic triumph was attained over the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania and that institu-
ton was vanquished the base ball field
by q score of two to nothing.
DR.. Luther stated that he is often asked
by the older alumni as to the possibilities
for a young man at Trinity College and If
he would advise the sending of young men
there for scientific courses. He answered
emphatically in the affirmative. The col
lege is keeping up with the times. he said.
in providing scientific courses. The course
in surveying has been extended to a good
course in civil engineering, covering three
or four years of specialized work, fitting
tIA l,,ot fn,-t n,,I i,
course will be further developed by the APP
pointment of a professor of civil engineer
ing to have entire charge of the work.
Asks for Guarantee Fund.
DR.. Luther wants all the alumni to get
rich and be in position to help along the
college. The fall in the rates of interest
in the last few years and the increase in
running expenses due to high prices, is
making the question of funds for the col
lege serious one. Trinity College alumni
have been asked to provide a guarantee
fund for five years of $40. 000 but so far
only half of that sum has been raised. 1t
Is a wel-known fact that evecy student
costs the college more than he pays. Last
year the average cost of every student In
Trinity $4I2 per man; and the average
payment to the college of each student was
about half that amount. Therefore, when
the graduates from the college he
has obtained about 81, 900 worth of educa-
ton more than he paid for. Does 1t not
seem, therefore, he asked, that when the
alumni Is called on for funds to extend
these advantages to the next generation he
has moral obligation to give what he can?
The richest universities are the state uni
verSitieS of the middle west, which are sup
ported by state taxation. The solution of
the financial problem for the eastern col
leges will come along the same line. in the
voluntary and slight taxation Of all the
alumni to support the institution they love.
The college of TODAY he nODnlar muSt
be in accord with the will of the people.
In the past Trinity has been too conserva-
tive. But there is something in the air
now, the speaker said, which Trinity should
meet. The people are complaining that the
college men have to learn how to do their
work after they have graduated from col
lege and the people demand a more prac-
teal education. There has got to be more
work, more hard study. Dr. Luther thinks.
The principle can be applied to all branches
of study; 1t need not only apply to the
scientific courses. The people are demand
ing that the four years spent In college
will count for more-will be marked with
less Of the rest-cure idea and more hard
work. A most significant fact Is that Har-
ward, which has stood for the old ideas
most eminently Is now considering the an
nexation of that most practical of institu-
tons, the Massa chusetts Institute of Tech
nology. To satisfy this popular demand Is
what Trinity is trying to do, declared Pres
ldent Luther. They are at work honestly
and faithfully to carry out the idea of
fitting its graduates to do well what they
are fitting themselves to do. and in this
the president asked the support Of all
alumni.
Advantages of Small Colleges.
AT the close of the presidents remarks,
several of the alumni expressed themselves
on the Idea advanced by the president and
signiied their support. George Wilkinson
Smith, whom DR.. Luther succeeded as pres
ident was present and made few remarks
conferred chiefly on the advantage of the
small college over the larger. In the
smaller institutions the boy received per-
sOnal attention. took part in all college
activities and had in either the large or
small college more advantages than he
could improve upon.
Besides ex-President Smith and President
Luther, there were present last evening:
George A. Woodward, president of the
Washington Alumni Association; s. Herbert
Giesy, secretary; p. d. Phair, treasurer;
William J. Boardman, H. Evan Cotton E.
NJ. Gallaudet, Alfred Harding. George H.
Howard John K. Stout and Karl Fenning.
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