Columbia University - Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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those that you might have done but failed to do. You have been slowly, unconsciously, perhaps, but surely, acquiring a philoso- phy of lifeg your disappointment, or discontent, is the crucible in which the elements of that philosophy are being tried out, and the re-agents used are those which your college course has given you. You have witnessed, and have done much to promote, the growth of a better community life than you found when you came here. The students as a body look more to each other, the under- classmen to the older students, for guidance in their serious and lighter interests than was the case when you became students of the College. Disputes, which are sure to arise in any community, have been more largely settled out of court, that is, have been disposed of Without intervention of other than student authority. The Board of Student Representatives-which you have loyally supported-with the sense of power and responsibility that at- taches to it, has been a potent factor in this matter. You have done your full share in improving undergraduate publications, in diversifying the interests of College life, in fostering a wholesome academic spirit, and in making Columbia brighter and better for your presence here as students. Hold fast to your idealsg cher- ish your enthusiasmsg avoid indifferentism, as you would a pesti- lenceg profit by your mistakes feverybody makes themj and spurn useless regrets, be good citizens and, above all, good meng let each heed the precept-'c Do the duty that lies nearest thee which thou knowest to be a duty! The second duty will already become clearer? With my best wishes to all and every one of you, I am, with affectionate regard, Sincerely yours, J. I-I. VAN AMMNGE.

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I DEAN'S LETTER To the Members of the Class of 1909: I have no doubt that the present time is with you a season of rejoicing mingled with regret and, possibly, also with disappoint- ment. The rejoicing is easily accounted forg you are released from many restrictions, you are largely free to go and come as you please, to do that which you like best to do, and are, in a fuller sense than ever before, your own men. The grounds of the regret are not far to seek g-the leaving of accustomed surround- ings, the breaking .up of associations of which you have grown fond, and the loss of companionship which you have learned to prize. Your disappointment, if you have any, and doubtless many of you feel disappointed, arises from the reflection that you have gotten less from college life than you anticipated from it in the beginning, and that you have not made the best use of your op- portunities: you feel, and perhaps think, that, if you had the time to go over again, you would put the emphasis on other things than those upon which you now fancy you put too much stress. The disappointment is natural and is such as affects very many men in every Walk of life. Indulgence in it is utterly futile, ex- cept for one consideration. Your disappointment, discontent with yourself, is one of the benefits of your collegiate course. You are dissatisfied, because you now see clearly, what before you saw through a glass darkly, the value of timeg you have a better sense of co-ordination, a clearer perspective, a better instructed judgment as to the relative worth of things which you did and

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BIOGRAPHIES