The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-24
GRADUATION DAY AT C.GMY.
rae MlTOR TALkS TO the
HUNDRED NEW GRADUATES.


/ F.gty-one bachelor Of art and ifty-iouI
bachelor Of scienco degrees were con
ferred. The big graduating class wa
/ addressed by President Finley Mayor
Gaynor and Edward ~. shepard, and m
small addition 20 the intellectual warmth
thus Induced was created by thefervor with
which the senior speakers attacked these
problems: The Citizen" -Isiio versus
Existence and Historical Perspective.
Il was the greatest commencement
day in the history 81 the college every one
aaid. and % many visitors were attracted
that the vast and cathedrallike spaco
Of the really splendid Great Hall held
many perspirinE hundreds who could
not be seated.
Only Tor a few minutes was there a
mental chill. That was when, an hour
after the exercises had started, the rumor
spread that Mayor 0aynor would not Be
present hut even a. the rumor was
creeping up the steps 70 the stage and
Just a. Prof Baldwin had seated himself
AZ the keyboard Of the great organ the
appearance az the main entrance OF
proud senior hearing the nag OF the city
. ulHNflAtu Nllt NNAllNN ahA WV VIZ aNNA
the Mayor was there.
Hearing the Applause in the rear Of the
hall the organist ceased. every one ROSE
the scattering applause solidified and
the Mayor marched up through the mass
OF visitors. The applause continued even
after President Finley had met. greeted
and conducted the Mayor 20 his seat on
the platform.
Then Prof. Baldwin switched on the
electric air pump. pulled out a few extra
stops Tor good measure and played Mag-
npr's Entrance u the Gods into Wal
halln- from -Das RheingOld.
In introducing the Mayor Preaident
Finley told him that Il was his. the Mayor
college,. You have the appointment Of
those who conduct tho AFFAIRS Of the col
lego, No We arr particularly eager 20 have
a clear sighted, CONSCIENTIOUS and high
minded man a. Mayor Of New York. ana
now We are happy IN the constant belief
that We have IN YOU such Mayor.
The Mayor had 10 wait until che ool-
lepians had applauded him for two min
ute- The Mayor first reminded the
graduating class that they particularly
owed "A duty Of civic service Ia New 1OrE
city becauss the college which gave them
their educatiUns was supported by the
city. In plain language. the taxpayers.
he said. have paid Tor your educa-
ton. Therefore there rests upon you
a serious obligation 90 enter into public
Affairs. do not encourage you 20 be-
come politicians or seek 10 become Office
holders On. dear me. no! But ~
due from YOU to give certain amount
OF your time and eiort 10 the public veal.
Ia do that Won must rise above the com
mon level Of citizenship, u may 40 speak.
Take nothing for granted. follow no.
body. shout for nobody. II IL degrading
10 educated gentlemen to say III help
this man 70 ofiCe beoause he h Demo
cgat or this man because he h hepub-
liCan Dear me. never sink 10 that level.
Don't be- NJ little 80 infinitely httR! a.
ever to say, IN vote for this man Tor
Mayor because he's Democrat Or THIS
man because he's a Republican IL you
DO that YOU have been educated 10 no
purpu=s,
-Do not have pride. immodsrate pride
The man who has immOderats pride has
no character. he does not treat people
right livery morning pray. % Lord.
save me this day from being proud. Ihe
proud man. the man with the sounding
voica and the rhetoric may split the ears
of the ranpla IN the back Of the court room.
hut Ia the Judges what he saws seems 20
have nothing 10 do with the case. Try TO
cultivate simplicity and sincerity and
avoid pride and ahalloWnees.
Don't go out u here with the thought
that YOU are learned men. ANY one With
that thought ! adv iSe 10 remain here Two
or thrse wears more lapplause from the
dirnitariss ON the platform You are
,,dlcatad men: not learned-yet Oh,
dear me. no, You must struggle aud
study and work all your lives 10 acquire
laarning and achieve anything Read
much Read the philosophy OF history
Read Ieckv. Finley. Shakespeare, Mil
ton. Cervantes. They will supply you
with a moral rtidder
I'M his address TO the seniors President
Finley said In part.
u Is pleasure 10 remind ourselves to-
dav that during the year We have received
from graduates. aud friends who are not
graduates Of the college. gifts for the equip
ment Of the departments Of physics. mathe-
matic-. chemistry and history with libraries
for their particular uses. and | am happy
10 announce that one Of the classes has
70 furnish the department u
French with like equipment. BY next
French day I hope 10 see Prof DOWner's
seminar room vailed with hooks. and
put Wlth that the n@ighboring hope that
Prof Werner may h. similarly envirOned
v hen tho ambassador from his native
country comes 10 visit NJ again Ny hopes
and my wishes IN this matter ara not IN
yidiou-. however They not only include
every department but look forward 20 a
general library, which shall give residence
not only 10 the loyal gifts Of ell classes but
10 the books VI all WISDOM
We remember other gifts that have come
during the year from oar graduate. and ~
Of the faculty. especially the beautiful
windows presented by the Cla~a u - IA
the council chamber
But We have 10 recount our good fortune
In the growing vift. Of our growing great
city have spoken 80 often u what the
college j. ia IL -ignincanor And many
have thought that have spoken with too
much idealism aud optimism. | am not
Influenced hy these criticisms This place
- nothing Il n II not the place n the citys
Ideals and hopes. But II any would have Il
defined Ia economic terms VI wealth would
remind them that this college Is TO he put
among the fret In IT, practical sndONment
and equipment We read Of the great gifts
20 private institutions aud u h. gratifying
TO realize that tho city keeps pace With
these. u our present appropriation IL
maintained a. a minimum We may say that
In the last ten years the endowment Of the
coIleg. ha- been ncreased by q. OoO. On OF
g. .0Dl 90 even while We have been receiving
o. .DnDOO more fOr building. We are nov
working ~ our full capacity by day. and
any additional sndO Fmcnt- should go 20
increaring the salaries Of oar teachers. 10
providing more tsarhers per capita and
extending oar work that ~ may reach
further out into the city
I must take one moment 10 speak % the
work which has been carried forward 20
successfully I n the evening courses. where
tWice your number are studying Not oniy