New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-14
Henry Noble MacCracken
Takes Office as Climax
of Jubilee.
GREAT THRONG
AT CEREMONIES
Many Sister Colleges Represent
ed and 800 Educators Join
in the Exercises.
Nv EMMA BUGBEE.

pOuChkccpSlc. oct Is. IN lne pres
ence Of three hundred Of the most
prominent educators in the country and
all the loyal Vassar graduates who
could find standing room IN the big
chapel. Henry Noble MacCracken was
installed to-day as president Of Nassar
College. The ceremonies were the eli
max Of the four days celebration Of
the fftieth anniversary OF the founding
OF the college.
As President Mary E. WOolley Of
Mount Holyoke College put il: "Most
colleges would be content to have
either a fftieth anniversary or new
president. but Vassar never does any
thing by halves, so she must needs re-
joice over both at once"
The Indian summer sun which has
smiled on the memories OF Nassar's
past had an equally warm welcome for
her future. The campus trees cele-
bratcd. too, by putting on their richest
crimson and gold, and this, il devel-
opcd. was a lucky thing, else they would
have been put TO shame by the Gor-
ccous colors in the academic robes Of
Vassars guests The academic process
sion was a glittering thing as 1t wound
across the campus, splotched with the
purple and crimson Of the gowns of
learned doctors the more learned the
more crimson.
Family of Presidents.
At the right hand Of the son during
the exercises sat the white-haired chan
cellor emeritus Of New York Univer-
sity. Henry Mitchell NacCracken. and
near by was the third member Of this
family Of college presidents John
Henry MacCracken. president of La
fayette College. Chancellor Mac
Cracker offered the opening prayer.
The ceremony Of investing DR.. Mac
Cracker. with his new title was per-
formed by William Caldwell Plunkett
Rhoades. chairman Of the trustees Ot
the college.
81 accept the charge with all the
humility and all the hope in the world
said the new president.
I'm his inaugural address Dr. Mac
Cracker defined the purposes and
ideals of the true college as devoted
90 the cause of scholarship itself.
This was interpreted by the aluumna
as a promise that Nassar would not
stray into the fields Of vocational
training or other modern inventions Of
the educational world, but would con
tinue 10 follow the quiet path Of the
arts
THE business Of college president.
J am beginning 20 find, is TO stand be
tween two parties with either of whom
he could be perfectly happy were
'tother dear party away the presi-
dent remaSked, in reference 10 the
speakers o. the celebration. "On the
one side is the true blue conservative
anl on the other the ultraviolet rad
.c.. Between these two pillars Of
cules lies all the kingdom of
D.. ming"
Nursery of New Causes.
Fassar. DR.. MacCracken declared.
Guild never be the home q lost
causes. the dead languages alone. but
the nursery, too, Of new causes, and, he
continued:
"The question Of what the real bust
ness of the college is may be answered.
perhaps, If We accurately study the
characteristics of those who have not
come in any way under college infu-
ence or the influence OF its disciples.
The great characteristic, il seems to
me, Of the self-made man is his posi-
tiveness, his absolute self-conhdence
bred of Inconsistencies Of a wider ex-
No -. HfNN
the consciousness Of a world expert
ence, the larger balance in the reali-
zation Of the life Of the race"
The first speaker on the inaugural
programme was DR.. John Huston Fin
ley, president Of the University Of the
State Of New York, and Commissioner
Of Education. His subject was "The
Mystery of the Minds Desire" He
won the hearts Of the Vassar girls by
describing the college colors as taken
from "the rose of the coming sun
against the gray of the dawn"
George Lyman Kittredge, professor
Of English az Harvard College, light
sned the occasion with a performance
In polysyllabic humor His reference
20 literary criticules" and "pedantic
plumbers" kept the learned doctors
chuckling.
Sometimes fear we mortals all are
donkeys," said Professor Kittredge,
"braying dissonantly at one another.
taking our own hee-haws as the oracles
Of Apollo. and the shadows Of our
shifting ears as glimpses Of the in
finite"
Greetings from Sister Colleges.
Greetings from women's colleges
were brought TO Vassar by President
Wooiley Of Mount Holyoke and Dean
Virginia Crocheron Gildersleeye. Of
Barnard. President Hadley brought
congratulations from Yale.
After the exercises the new presi
dent walked out into the sunshine
through lane OF jubilant alumne,
waving rose colored flags and applaud
ing so Enthusiastically that he was
kept busy bowling his thanks TO right
and left Behind him walked the re-
tring president. James Monroe TAYLOR.
who received just as much applause
from the loyal graduates. The parade
was marshalled by Professor John Lev
orctt Moore
The afternoon saw repetition OF
The Pageant of Athena for the pleas
ure Of the college guests. and in the
evening there were many official din.
rers. Thomas Mott Osborne and Corr.
missioner Katharine b. Davis wer,
among the speakers at the administra
ton dinner In the Students Building.
s--
French Cables Reopened.
a