Barnard College - Mortarboard Yearbook (New York, NY)

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3n ilmnnam Jacob H. Schiff was a member of the original Board of Trustees of Barnard College, and its Treasurer during the first four years of its existence. He always retained an interest in the College, and in 1915, wishing to do something for the city in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of his landing in this country as a young man, he decided to present to Barnard College the building which was completed in 1917 and which is known as Students Hall. Mr Schiff was particularly interested in the idea of a college community where young women of different classes and creeds could meet and learn to know one another, so that they could work together in future for the good of the city and nation. In his deed of gift he stipulated that there should be no discrimination made in favor of any particular religious group or class in the use of the building, and also that it should serve as far as possible as a center for meetings of women students of Teachers College and Columbia University, as well as of Barnard. His broadmindedness and vision were shown in his realization of the ethical and social results which may be obtained from the intercourse of students in College. Together with the almost countless other organizations and institutions which benefited by his generosity and wisdom, Barnard College grieves for his loss. Frederic B. Jennings, a distinguished lawyer of this city, was a member of the Board of Trustees of Barnard College from November, 1900, and Clerk of the Board from December, 1910, until his death in May, 1920. He was one of the best friends of the College, giving much time and thought to the legal and financial problems with which the Board of Trustees and its various com- mittees have to deal. His judgment, his careful and conscientious attention, and his knowledge, were deeply appreciated by his colleagues on the Board, and by the Administration. Shortly before his death, he worked long and patiently on the revision of the By-Laws and Statutes of the College. Barnard is most grateful for his friendly interest and help, and feels that in his death it has lost one of its most valued officers.

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REAL PORTRAITS Intellectual progress is dangerous when it is entirely an inner process, lacking contact with the world of reality. In Pater ' s portrait of Sebastian Van Storck, imaginary though it be, there is a poig- nant realistic glimpse of an inner life of intellectual strivings. We have sensed his melancholy, his longing to break away from the abstract facts of hard, dry reasoning, the call of humanity urging him to bring his inner life into a closer contact with the outer world, and his utter loneliness when the pillars of the outer world faded, and left only transitory gleams of light, beautiful, but then felt to be dim and unreal. But we have only sensed these moods — sensed them just enough to realize that we have escaped them. We do not feel, like Sebastian, that to be of service to the world, we must give up our lives. We have faith that we are constructing a world of greater life, of greater beauty, and of greater under- standing. This faith comes from an external guidance, which provides a real and stabilizing link with the outer world. It comes from the older spirits of those about us, who reflect and magnify our striv- ings, and who give reality and beauty to the goal we are seeking. They are not what might be attained, or shadowy visions of an unreal life. They are what has been attained. They are real portraits. 1 15]