The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-11


A. W. Foster, railroadman and re-
gent of the University of California,
acting in the latter capacity, was the
champion yesterday of the "poetess"
at the regular monthly meeting of the
board of regents held in the San Fran
cisco institute of art. Consequently the
gallant regent received a valued les
son in grammar from President Benja-
min Ide Wheeler of the university.
Henceforth and always Regent Foster
will know that the pronoun he" is a
comprehensive word.
1t was announced at the meeting by
President Wheeler that Prof Albert S.
Cook of the department of English at
Yale. In the memory of his wife, Emily
Chamberlain Cook, had given 81 1000,
the income from which should be
awarded annually, under certain re-
strictions, to the University of Califor-
MIA student who should present the
most meritorious poem. The deed of
gift which contained the terms of the
competition, stated as a condition that
he" (the author) should deliver to the
university librarian so copies of the
poem printed at his own expense"
CHAMPION FOR WOMEN
= AT that sentence Foster took up the
gauntlet in the cause of the woman
poet. There is a word in the deed OF
gift" he said, the word he; does that
mean he and she; does it include the
women students. too?"
why. yes replied the head peda-
gogue of the university. In the Eng
lish language. you know, there is no
common gender in the singular pro-
nouns. Under the best usage he is
understood to include the feminine as
well as the masculine. The terms of
the gift are that the competition shall
be open TO students Of the university"
Foster was convinced. Without a
word he accepted the argument of
President Wheeler.
4 wanted to be sure" he concluded,
that no technical advantage was
taken"
GIFT CAUSES ENTHUSIASM
The gift Of Professor Cook was en-
Enthusiastically received by the regents
and heartily welcomed by the faculty,
who compare it to the Newdigate prize
at one of the famous English UNIVERSE
ties which Inspired Alfred Tennyson to
his most notable youthful efforts.
Prof. Albert s. Cook was head of the
English department at the University
Of California prior to the coming of
Professor Gayley. Professor Cook left
Berkeley to occupy a chair at Yale.
The prize he has instituted is to be
known as the Emily Chamberlain
Cook prize in poetry" Mrs. Cook was
Emily Chamberlain of Berkeley and
was born May s, 1852, and died De-
cember 81. 1908.
The income from the $1,000 fund is
to be awarded annually to the student
in any department of the university
writing the best poem. The judges
must be reputable authors, or students
Of literature, Of whom one shall be
a member of the faculty of the Uni
versity Of California, and at least one
a resident of some other state or OF
some foreign country"
POEM MUST HAVE MERIT
The contestants, it is provided, shall
be free to write at any length, in any
meter and upon any subject" The
poem must have merit and so copies
must be presented to the university
library, bound and inscribed with the
name Of the prize. The annual prize
will amount TO about $50 or $50. If
in any year no poem merits the award,
the interest shall be added to the prin-
cipal
The board of regents. Regent Earl
presiding, transacted a mass of routine
business.
STANDING COMMITTEES NAMED
The following standing committees
were appointed:
Finsnce-Regents Croker, Earl. Britton, He'll
man and johnson.
Grounds and bHildings-Regents Britton, Mrs.
Hearst, Dohrmaan. Reinstein and Tsussig.
Agriculture-Regents Jastro Johnson, Earl,
Porter and Black
Medical Observation-Disclosures Reinstein,. Brit
ton. Bard. DohTmann and Rowell
Lick Observation-Disclosures Black, Croker, Nc
Enerney and Yorke-