The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-11-14
2 Q . . . . . . . . . 60 o . . . Q &c . .
. in LITTLE OLD NEW YORK :

RY Norman,

by Norman.
NEW YORK, Nov. 13.-For the
last 10 years there has been sung
at every gathering of Columbia
college students a song that runs
as follows:
Dye ken Van Am with his snow
white hair,
Dye ken Van Am with his whis-
kers rare,
Dye ken Van Am with his mar
tial air,
AS he crosses the Quad in the
morning?
After the close of the present
college year the song will be sung
no more. Van Am has resigned
and great is the sorrow among
the faculty, the alumni and the
undergraduates of Columbia. ,
ivan Am" is John Howard Van
Amridge, dean of Columbia col
lege, and the most popular in
structor Columbia ever had. He
got his own degree at Columbia
in 1860, but before that he had
begun work as an instructor
After he had received his B. A
he was appointed a tutor in math-
ematics, and after five years he
became a member of the faculty
of the university's school of mines
Many other universities con-
ferred honorary degrees on him
When Seth Low was president OF
Columbia, and went away to at
tend The Hague peace confer
ence, Van Amridge took up his
work as acting president of Co.
lumbia.
So much for Van ANS life
work, so far as mere duties are
concerned. 1t Is worthy rec
ord-50 years of faithful, patient
labor in a field that any man
might covet. But that is only one
side of the good deans career
1t is the personal element in his
long service that marks him emf.
nently as one man in a thousand
He was always, in all his half
century of college, more concern
ed in student than in faculty af-
fairs. In disputes between under.
graduates and the university au-
thorities, the students had to be
very much in the wrong not tc
have Van Am on their side.
The dean was vitality interest
ed in the athletics of the college
Before the decision was reached
to abolish foot ball at Colum bia
Van Amringe fought valiantly to
have 1t retained, because he knew
the students and the alumni
wanted it.
In the days when Columbia
played foot ball, Van Amringe at
tended as many games as his time
ALLOWED, and his appearance wa.
always the signal for cheering
accompanied often by the sons
written in his honor.
Each year. just before the biz
intercollegiate regatta, the dear
has visited the crews quarters OF
the Hudson, eaten with the oars
men at the training table, ane
accompanied the coach durin,
practice. The night after tn,
race the crew always received
three cases of champagne, "witi
Van AIMS compliments" ant
breaks training by drinking
toast to the dean. One of Co
lumbia's racing shells Is named
after him.
Since the early sos Van Am
ringe has been elected an honor
airy member of every class thai
has graduated from Columbis
college. 1t is said of him tha'
he can call by name any man who
has ever obtained degree from
Columbia's academic department
He has standing invitation to al
meetings of students, and tries t,
attend all he can. When the boy,
know he will be present, the hal
IFS never large enough to hold tn,
crowd.
Until Prof. Amringe resigned 1
was one of the traditions of Co
lumbia that no one knew his age
On last April birthday dime
was given for him by the classes
from 1880 to 1885, but nobod,
except Van Am knew what ami
FREE-To advertise the Taco
ma Art Emp. Of 929 Tacoma ave.
are giving as premium 16x2t
portrait with every $3.50 pur
II. =.