New-York tribune., 1911-11-10
PACKER INSTITUTES Day
Graduates Celebrate 57th Ami
versary of Brooklyn School.
PRAISE FOR THE FOUNDER
Judge Holt Tells of First Gift for
Building-Girls March in
Old Costumes.


Mrs. Harriet l.. Packer established the
school, in 1854. so the loyal aiumne came
back and tried TO express in three short
hours the accumulated devotion of half
century.
Every ono OF the hfty-six graduating
classes was represented in the alumne pro-
cession which filed triumphantly into the
chapel at 2;S0. At the head were two
members of the first class, 50, proudly
sharing the burden of their red class ban
ner. and at the end Of the long line came
the girls of the present senior class ~
relics of all the fashions which have been
in vogue since Packer was founded. start
ing with very up-to-datc maidens-one WIN
81 votes-for- women bapner-down the dec
ades they went-girls with the huge sleeves
of the 90s, the crinolnes and tight basques
and funny little bonnets Of the 7Cs and %
and wonderful gay colOred hoopskirt al
fairs ike those I'm the prints of New York
I'm 1850 which adorn the pages OF history
There was one girl in bulging skirt ana
snug little basque which was actually worn
hv a student al Packer I'm 1862. She was a
picturesque little figure. hut she whispered
10 her nearest neghbor in the line that she
was clad she didn't have TO run for cars IN
that kind of ris.
The procession OF all these ancient cos
tunes. brought from fragrant cedar chests
in BROOKLYN attics TO adorn Founders Day
had as its climax four tall and stately gir!s
in silk gowns really worn by Mrs Packer
herself. and Miss Mary Packer, her only
granddaughter. came last of all IN a lace
robe. with a train several yards Ions, ana
her erandmother's diamonds glistening IA
the lace Of the waist.
Sing to "OId lvied Wells"
An aIur,ne chorus I'm White gowns, gar
landed with ivy, sang odes to Packer
"Old Gray Ivied Walls TO Whlch hei
daughters memories cling. and then Di.
ellsworth r. Butler, of the board Oh truS-
ices. opened the exercises in honor OF tne
gracious woman whose generosity mao
Packer Institute fact There was joy iUi
epplause when he told that the old chehilcdi
laboratory would be reconstructed during
the Christmas vacation and that three o.
the alumne. who were not TO be haihcu'
had given money for new organ III 'ne
chapel. "the old one having SHOWN sIhP-
IONS of acute nervous ple@h"O""'
He then introduced Judge George -
Holt. Of the United States District Court,
OF Manhattan. who was personal lIie""
of Mrs Packer. Judge Holt saiu'
remember her well. She was a woman
of noble nature. intellectual force ana So
cisl charm. She was leader IN the c&uSo
OF female education. 80. 49, tn.
Born in 1870 near Billerica Mass, IN
daughter of Benjamin Putnam, a Bapustt
minister she was brought up In the sliioi
Puritan customs Of the time. enc eh'erou s,ol
the Albany Female Academy, when va va
founded In 1890 the first academy lot siiIs
tn New York State DR.. Alonzo Crttendoh
was the principal who afterward came TO
rule over Packer Institute IN Ie4- sHs
married William s. Packer fuIrler, Wiio
sieo was a strong advocate Of the higher
education OF women. ,,. iii,
IN those days there was no puDilC Hisn His
school in BROOKLYN. and William 5. Packer
was largely instrumental IN the estaDhsn-
ment of the Brooklyn Female AcdoenS III
1915 This was burned to the gtQunub .I,,,l bod oi,
died. leaving his widow eager 10 90 some
Thing which would carry out his wlshes
in regard to the education Of women ON
January 8. therefore. while the ashes OF
the female institute We're stih smou,.dIer-
ing It's trustees received letter from Mrs.
Packer Offering to restore the buudine as
a memorial To her husband. she gave
s65.O00 the largest donation made up 10
that time for women's education In New
York. The site Of the old school was
same architect who built Trinity ChurCh,
and a new charter was obtained FOR the
Packer Collegiate Institute.
Under Or. Alonzo Crittendon. whom Mrs.
Packer called from Albany to rule over
her institute. the school grew in wisdom
and In those graceful things called school
customs which linger in the memory Of
graduates after sciences have long been
lost There were two of the old graduates
on the platform yesterday to describe
some Of these OLD things FOR the instruc-
ton of the younger generation. looking
down from the galleries of the chapel.
Tells Customs, Old and New.
Mrs Charles n. Judson. now president
of the Brooklyn Young Women's Christian
Association and an intimate friend Of Mrs.
Packers. told about Packer Customs, Old
and New" such delightful things as that
the girls were not allowed 10 walk I'm the
early dsys on the garden walk near the
street lest the irreverent public should
gaze upon them. and that they were for
hidden to have masculine help in carrying
their books to school.
Miss c. T Davis. who was formerly
teacher OF Latin in the school received
an ovation when she rose 10 tell abort
Those Early Packer Days" which must
have shaken even the poetic ivy leaves on
the outside of the beloved Packer towers.
She was favorite teacher When she
started 10 tell how meagre the curriculum
vi as in those days. especially that there
were no examinations then" a chorus Of
"Ohsi" and Abs" descended from the
galleries which made understanding grad
yates laugh in sympathy with the school
sirle of to-day Miss Davis herself WAS n
member OF the first graduating class in
1855 She remembered the speeches and
compositions read on that great occasion,
married the same night with her class-
mates as bridesmaids" "
Miss Laura J. Wyl;- professor Of Eng
lish at Vassar College, who was formerly
Packer student and teacher. delivered an
address on Educational Ideals" and Miss
Jelyia Zabriskie. who was graduated at the
school in 1910. delivered the salute to the
Flag" This is one of the old customs. and
the tattered flag used is the one presented
10 the school twenty-five years ago by
Lafayette Post of the Grand Army of the
Republic On this occasion General Sher-
man made the address-one of his last pub
lie actresses.
The exercises closed with the singing OF
Alma Mater" the words of which were
composed by Miss Bessie Andrews Dana.
niece Of Dr. Chtteudon. The Rev William
satterIee Packer. grandson Of the founder.
pronounced the bonediction.
on the platform or in the seats in the
front pcws were all the members of the
Packer family now nving-Mrs. William S.
Packer. daughter-in-law of the founder;