City College of New York - Microcosm Yearbook (New York, NY)

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President Fini.ey

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N June 7th, 1847, a popular referendum approved the establishment of a Free Academy and four days later an inspired editorial writer, under the impression that the new school would emphasize studies in technology wrote: A Mechanic will be President of the United States!” But Mike Walsh, an individual familiar in Tammany annals, writing in The Sub- terranean called it a vile scheme of robbery on the poor.” An anonymous property holder tremulously cried out in the columns of The Journal of Commerce, A calm ob- server of the signs of the times must distinctly perceive unerring indications of the spread of that agrarianism which preceded the decline and fall of the Roman Republic.” The term, socialism, had not as yet its modern spurious connotations. On January 15th, 1S49, one hundred and forty-three fidgety and awkward boys, wearing starched, winged collars and high black shoes, assembled in a chapel that was still fragrant with the raw odor of fresh paint and varnish. On the platform stiffly sat ten men, who, with their bushy side-whiskers and steady disci- plined gaze, seemed to be the very devil's disciples. A sudden hush and Dr. Horace Webster, graduate of West Point, in character a composite of Cato and Andrew Jackson, stepped to the front and intoned a passage from the Scriptures, a custom that would persist down to the days of Dr. Finley. Thus did the College of the City of New President Webster York begin. President Webb Eleven

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The Library Dedication suspended. The Free Press was published anonymously outside of the College and poked merciless fun at the great ones. Mercury prospered. The red turreted and Gothic- arched building at Twenty-Third Street and Lexington Avenue strained beneath the weight of increasing numbers. Alumni became active and soon only $200,000 was necessary to start building on the new site. General Webb travelled up to Albany. It was an exciting moment when at the last session, Mr. Ellsworth led the distinguished President of the College out on the floor of the Senate, and introducing him as the hero of Gettysburg, ob- tained unanimous consent for the appropriation. With the accession of Dr. John Huston Finley in 1903, the College impatiently began to mark time until it should occupy the new buildings on the Terrace. Bands of undergraduates would organize picnics and travel up to watch the carpenters and masons and to steal a marvelling glance at the architect’s plans. At length, in May, 1907 sur- rounded by Mark Twain, Ambassador Bryce, Rufus Choate and other dignitaries. Presi- dent Finley, under the eyes of mocking gargoyles, inaugurated this Brightest Gem in Democracy’s Crown.” In 1908 The Cain pits appeared. Four years later the Evening Session was organized. Modest in its beginnings it soon developed into one of the most prosperous arms of the College. A dean was created in the person of Professor Brownson. In 1914, Sidney Edward Mezes, President of the University of Texas, became President of the College. Under him the curriculum was broadened, creating precedent for the widely variegated courses we have today. Student activities plodded along; The Campus deplored the lack of spirit when no pro- testing hand was raised against the sophomore who violated the exclusiveness of the Senior Pedestal. But the Juniors still met every Wednesday evening in the shadow of the same pedestal Absentem ut cantant amicam.” Once more a war shattered the cloistered industriousness of the College. Several hurried off to volunteer. The drafts President Mezes