The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-01-15
why DIR. Van DYKE GOT OUT
TIRED or TEACHING THE BOY \
Ar PRINCETON TO READ.
says the University Can We'll spare "a
Mere Writer Of Books and Teacher OF
Reading" From Her Notable Faculty
--lnderg radiistcs Take II to Heart

PRINCEroN. n. j.. Jan 1.-THE reason
for the resignation of the Rev DR.. Henry
van Dyke as Murray professor OF Enghsh
literature at Princeton University was
made plain in a statement issued by him
tonight
Il have been sit ting on the back porch
with my boys 1.-THE studentsl long enough
he said in giving out his statement, and
If | pick up my knapsack and get out
I guess it will not make very much diner
enCe.
DR.. van Dyke went TO the length oi
issuing n statement only after he had
waited twenty -four hours for the trustees
to take what he considered to be proper
action on his resignation. He has not
been getting on well with the lesser lights
of the Princeton English faculty Tor
some years. according to information
coming from man high up in the faculty
who does no, want his name used. The
undergraduates keenly feel his resgna-
ton As one of them put II. You can
get a physicist for "A physics prof, hut
il isn't often that you can get poet TO
teach poetry"
Or van Dykes resignation is dated
November -. 1910. and il addressed
10 the secretary of the university, Charles
W McAlpin. II says:
After eleven years Of service IA a teacher
OF reading in Princeton University have th"
honor to resign my chair for the same rea
sons which led to my resignation three years
ago.
VIII Won be so kind as to present this
resignation NJ tho earliest meeting o' the
trustees whcnit will he convenient for them
to receive it, Yours sincerely.
HrSHY N.N DYKE.
Dr. van Dyke supplements the resigna-
tion with the following
This letter which was sent to the
trustees on November -. was delivered
at their meeting on January II and laid
on the table A. this is the first time
that a letter of mine has had this par
ticular experience it is a little surprising
and puzzling. When man does not
understand thing his remarks about II
may he fit to print, but they are not
likely to be worth it. So | shall wait for
clearer knowledge before saying any
thing on this point.
But there is nothing about the reasons
for resgnng alluded to in my letter
WnlCn II not IeIletlly 'N'hi anu SiiiPr'.
Here they are as nhey were given in my
letter of 1907 While this action will not
take from Princeton anything that she
needs or wants it will add to the available
resources of the university the endow-
ment which was contributed by the
generosity OF my friends when ! came
and will leave me free to pursue my work
in other directions
THAT letter of 1907 was withdrawn in
reference TO certain requests and opinions.
but nothing has happened to change the
reasons which seem to be sufficient for
the purpose. ! am deeply attached to
! Princeton as my alma mater. But. you
see. she can easily spare mere writer
of books and teacher Of reading from her
notable faculty.
! Future plans? have none. except "a
go on writing for my living and preaching g
for love in an atmosphere friendly and
favorable to that kind Of work"
| DR.. van Dyke left to-day for Wilkes
barre. Pa. to install the Rev. James NJ.
Farr. an old friend and for years his
assistant as pastor of the Brick Presby-
terian Church. New York. as pastor of
the First Presbyterian Church in Wilkes
barre.
There il an unauthenticated anecdote
about DR.. van Dykes committee appoint
ments which says that his most prominent
: post in recent years was on a COMMITTEES
| to prevent fishing in Lake Carnegie
/ Dr. van Dyke il an ardent fisherman.