The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-12
KEMP OFCOLU|.|M|I.B|:|I|A.
GETS new Degree.
Perpetual Student Adds B. S. to
His Growing String Of
Scholastic Honors.

New York, June 11.-William Cullen
Bryant Kemp, tho champion degree
hunter of any American college or
university, was receiving congratula-
lions yesterday upon the lawns Of CO.
lumbia for completing his arduous
II efforts to capture the modest little
degree Of B. S. A
y The congratulations were not SO
much because Student Kemp had this
little degree to add to his string, as
they were because they Indicated that
the versatile student OF sixty odd
years and thrty-odd commencement
seasons, was proving himself as thor
oushiy at home with the sciences rs
ne has been with the arts.
The degree of B. s., ordinarily won
ny mere beginners in their early TWEEN.
ties has for Kemp infinite possibilities
ahead OF it. Beyond lies the degree
OF Phi. D.. and for that he is now
striving as slowly as the regulations
OF his alma mater will permit 1t is
stili two years ahead OF him as lis
hgurcs. and that assures him two
more years In his comfortable quar-
tors In Livingstone Hall as genuine
native OF the campus. 5{
Before he dropped down to this
science degree Student Kemp had ex-
haustcd the string In the other lines
or culture. One of the early fruits
or his scholarly ambition was a de-
gree OF LII. b.. which contents most
\ mon who make living by the law.
But Student Kemp tried for a LII NJ,
and got 1t in 1s96-just fifteen years
ago He decided not to go away and
put his theories into practice. LItera-
,ture seemed to hold Infinite possi.4.-
ties. and SO as q freshman In the 1T
erary COURSES he began his career
h again. A degree OF e. A. was woven
into his laurel wreath In 1900. After
mat 1t was an easy step to get an
81. A. In 1909
The next succeeding years were
very lean. with nothing for the scholar
10 do but geek the light OF kpowl-
edge in various byways where no de-
grees were lurking. In 1908 he an
(. nounccd himself as candidate for
Pm. D.. but whether he chose this
lowed TO prepare for IT than for any
other degree on the university
Echcdule. or because he was thrilled
with new ambitions for achievement.
Z he would not say
He became patient student, and
his lamp burned long IN Livingstone
Hall when lamps OF other and less
serious scholars had been dimmed. He
reached his first way station OFF the
route for his Pm. D.. at this com
mcnceHlent, and the graduating class
4 that went away wished him success
through the remaining two years, and
a long period of success in years of
degree getting after that, Just az they
wished the tennis courts and the dor.
mitory and the library and the other
fixtures an affectionate farewell
Kemp decidedly Is Columbia AK
ture Even the youngest OF the sopho
morcs know all about the story, and
IT is so fixed a lenEend that nobody.
not even Kemp. would dare think of
disturbing II by turning on the light
OF accurate historical research
The story has an income OF $4,000 a
year as the centre. After that comes
mention OF well. and OF the fact that
the relative of Kemp-s who made the
VIII had very keen consideration for
tho young mans future and a keen
appreciation OF the fact that he had
never bothered much with schooling
In the Will it was provided that the
$500 should be paid to Kemp for
every year he remained a student. and
should cease whenever he left his col
lege work. kcmps studies, In the
light of this legendary explanation
TOOK on new color to his associates
and nobody walked on tiptoe past his
study for fear of disturbing him
In his thirty odd years in college
Kemp had changed somewhat with tho
campus around him. He has taken on
averdupofs and grown bit of beard
and has put aside siddy college raj
ment for trappings OF more sober hue.
But his student ways he has not put
aside IN the least. He fellow sleepers
In the dormitory hear the pate. of his
slippered feet each morning sltppinf,
down the hall TO the shower baths and
hear the gurgle OF the water as he
souses 1t on In the regulation sophie
moric manner mr.
Then as they yawn and look out the
windows to see II day has fully
dawne they see Student Kemp cavort
Ing around the cinder path.
It is q thing the sophomores and
members OF the track team always
have done-these and Kemp Then
when the sun Is higher up and others