The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-08
Grocer Cleveland, at Princeton, Seen
BY an Academic Associate and Friend

composed the scenic setting for the
pageant. On the e day, October
%, the 150th anniversary day of the
first charter, President Cleveland de-
livered his memorable address in Alex
ander Hall, Just after the impressive
but simple ceremonies hat marked the
assumption Of the title of Princeton
University. 1t Is doubtful whether on
any academic occasion in America any
man ever encountered uch an over
whelming demonstration of welcome as
greeted the close of this address. The
spectacle itself, the favoring presence
of delegates from venerable Old-World
universities of America, the birthday
of the new Princeton, the national
crisis in the storm-centre of which
President Cleveland then stood, and
the Presidents own sturdy, mistaken
personality combined to make the scene
n that stands alone in our academic
annals. That afternoon he returned to
Washington, and Princeton, somewhat
quietly for Princeton, resumed its usual
ways. In d few weeks, however, the
President made inquiries looking to-
ward the purchase of a home here. His
desire was to find. If possible, some
"old- fashioned square house" with foul
or five acres of land and trees. And
so 1t happened. BY Thanksgiving Day
an agreement to sell was drawn, on
Christmas Eve ne received in WASH
ington the deed to the property, and
ex-President Cleveland came to live
in his Princeton home.
At the commencement of 1897 he re-
ceived the honorary degree of doctor Of
laws. His official relations to the uni
versity began In 1899, when the Hon.
Henry Stafford Little. IA, founded a lee
tureship OF public affairs, expressing
the hope that Mr.. Cleveland would oc-
cupy 1t. Each year but one thereafter.
until 1904, he lectured In Alexander
Independence of the Executive" 1.-THE
Government In the Chicago Strike" and
the Venezuelan Controversy" The
lectures were gathered In a volume
with other papers and published in 1904
under the title Presidential Problems"
{ October 10, 1901, Mr.. Cleveland was
chosen q trustee of the university. A
year later, at the Inauguration of Pres
ident Wilson, he deli cred the address
In behalf of the board of trustees. 1t
was q compact, summarized and I'M
mistakable exposition of the attitude
of Princeton toward the prevailing con-
fusion in college and university stand
ards. 1t ought to be e a again and
again for its seriously weighed Judg-
ments, it's sweep Of the field, and above
al for it's extraordinary common
sense. It's centre of moral stability
may be found in his phrase: If false
educational notions should prevail,
Princeton will bide her time till they
are spent" If that is not Princeton,
there is no Princeton.
His judgment on all academic mat
ters was always modestly held and was
always his own. His chief concern was
for the inner life of the university, not
for the outer and snowy. He cast his
whole influence in favor of the revised
course of study, the maintenance of the
four-year course, the betterment of our
discipline, the introduction of the pre-
%ceptorial teaching, the increase OF pro-
f~essors' salaries, the establishment oil
a freshman and of a sophomore COM
mons. and the proposed graduate col
lege.
1t was in this last problem his spe-
cial interest gradually conferred. Or
October Is, 1904, he became chairman OF
the recently created standing commit
tee on the graduate school, ana sc
continued as long as he lived. The
elaborate report on this subject, pre-
pared in 1903 and adopted as an essen
tial part of President Wilson's policy
was thoroughly studied by Mr.. Cleve-