New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-19
DEVOTED YALE MEN.
Ibey Giue Much Time and attention
to alma Mater's Interests.

at an alumni gathering was not consioereu I'M
usual by the members Of Yale's Western ALUMNI
Association. whnre meeting at Cincinnati was
engineered b. William Il Taft as a coupe o.
weeks ago The time, money ana dI'eil'i"'
which this occasion called Tor 90 llo' IePlS-
sent ore-twentieth par Of that WHICH INC "eC-
rotary of War deyotes each year 10 the inter
ests Of lis alma mater. Every meeting oI the
vale CORPORATION this year, except the one when
he was absent from the country. has taken the
busv Cabinet official from Washington to New
Haven. and he has dropped affairs of state a
dozen occasions to travel TO New York City for
e gathering at the Yale Club or TO other towns
where an important meeting OF alumni was be-
ing held.
Mr. Taft is wont to call this large proportion
ate outlay of his time and energy we'll worth
while and 10 scout the remark that il is at all
unusual To prove his first assertion he always
tells story; to prove his second he cites the
large part which Yale plays in the life of its
graduates generally. The story is laid in the
Philippines years ago. at q moment when the
big reorganizer says he came as near to being
discouraged as he ever could be A cable mes
sage from his class. in reunion at New Haven
was laid on the stack of papers that Uttered his
desk. Good boy. Bill; We're with YOU" was the
tenor Of the message. and Mr.. Taft says its
effect was worth all the time that any man can
give in a lifetime to his alumni interests
What the Secretary OF War says OF the part
which Yale plays in the life OF its graduates
generally is largely borne out by recent state
Hen5s by Arson Phelps Stokes jr. secretary of
the university While il has been of course i'm
possible TO determine exactly just what amount
Of energy and effort each one of Yale's thirteen
thousand alumni deyotes to Yale's interests it is
possible roughly to classify a large number Of
sraonate types, the unusually high percentage
OF whose activities along these lines raises the
average FAR above the minimum man. whose
active interest is confined to a few graduate din
neIs a year. periodical response to appeals for
alumni funds and a trip TO a class reunion at
New Haven every three or five years.
Class secretaries rank high the list Of the
graduates who give goodly part of their time
and activities 10 the interests of Yale and its
alumni Many a class secretary has been found
VINO Il Qehotlng every hour Of his leisure to the
burden Of constant compilation and correspond
ence which the keeping and chroncling Of the
history Of some two hundred men scattered 10
The ends OF the earth involve Every one Of
these men is called upon at regular intervals to
compile and publish book containing the his
tory and status Of each man in the class up to
oatF- EaCn Is always subject to a call by any
member Of his class for the latest and most de-
tailed information regarding another member or
group OF members. II Is not unusual for class
secretary to receive a demand for a complete
list o. the class. with latest addresses and a
married or single annexation. for purposes Of
sending out wedding announcements. In this
Work the secretary is not unaided. A large pro-
portion 81 his classmates willingly assume a
snare NJ the burden Of writing 10 their particu-
4ai AL-nates ana thus keeping the secretary &C
ourately informed. Thus. weeks of time and at
tenLon are devoted ly many Yale alumni to the
work Of class records.
The class agents Of the alumni fund have an
Almost equal amount of constant and pressing
iaooIS 10 take up their leisure time though their
work lacks many Of the pleasant and fascinating
-edlGL-S OF mat OF the class secretaries These
men see 10 il that each member of the class is
Ie2l " Ipcch with the work Of raising funds by
me general podE OF the alumni for the support
q the university. and that each is solicited in
timely and tactful way - make his individual
contribution. To this work many of the class
agents devote weeks Of the time Of their Office
clerical force, and much more of their own AS
officers and committeeman ~ The crcarizatior
q the alumni fund score of men whose time
IS unusually valuable serve regularly and will
ingly. Last year these voluntary agents col
lecte1 over SlHa000 from about $500 graduates
Of the university.
In the hundred or more alumni associations
throughout the country, men Of this type are
also serving in a similar capacity. There is
much routine labor in getting up alumni gath
erlngs lectures and banguets- These aSSocia-
tions often maintain scholarships for students
from their territory Yale. and the raising and
handling of funds for this purpose usually the
work of the otherwise financially overburdened
men OF the community Every group of hun
ored or more graduates Of these alumni associa-
tons Is represented in the Alumni Advisory
Board an institution which has just been es-
tahlished for the purpose of bringing graduate
sentiment 10 bear the problems that arise in
the conduct Of the university. This means. Of
course. the services Of many busy men and
great deal Of time. travel and attention.
As a sample Of graduate activity along spe-
cialized lines The Vale Mission College in China
is often cited. In the building of a Yale in
the heart Of China an Incorporated society under
council Of forty prominent Yale alumni has
been formed. with working membership that
includes scores Of the alumni and has 6 officers
the leading men Of the university and the gradu-
ate hOdv. The conduct and financing of prof.
ect Of such magnitude are calling each year for
large part Of the attention Of many Of the
most prominent Yale men.
In addition 10 a number Of special lines of
which the foregoing only few, inquiry into
the subject has brought 10 light a great many
ways that are little known in which every
graduate Is making Yale q part Of his life For
instance. engineers are constantly making
nI7r"erdat'ons 70 the authorities of the Shelf
field Scientific School in regard to courses which
their experience leads them TO believe il might
be desirable 70 install at Yale. Similar recon-
meSdations, suggestions and inquiries are sent
from graduates in other professions.
graduate advisory committee is constantly
rendering valuable service in advising Yale STU
dents interested in the work Of Dwight Hall and
Byers Hall-the centres Of religious activity in
the university-in the matter Of choice OF general
secretaries. planning OF work and changes Of
building. such as the recent Introduction of n
grill room in Dwight Hall At the hicentennial
celebration of the university the graduates took
hold Of the arrangements for the affair and
proved Of great assistance to the authorities
For each commencement reunion scores OF
graduates devote weeks Of time and effort 10
Complete and carry out similar activities at the
university.
The sum total Of the graduate activities is n
thing which II has been more easy 10 determine
than the exact proportion Of them with which
The average siumnus should be credited When
this total is divided by the number of graduates
however, a rough estimate Is obtained which
supports the assertion Of Secretary Taft that
fale claims no greater part Of his life than she
Toes OF that of her other sons.
STUDIO NOTES.