Report of the trigintennial meeting with a biographical and statistical record online

goes through our town. Now, I do not want any man to go through Buffalo without hunting
me up, and I will do all I can to entertain him. A classmate, Eddy, called to see me; he is
not here to-night. He is a very prosperous man, and later his son visited me. I enjoyed
both their visits very much. Eddy is a professor in the University of Minnesota, and is a
man whom I am proud to know. I hope to see you all thirty years from now. I have
enjoyed this visit very much, and am glad to meet you.

Mr. Fl.anders: — No one would accord higher praise to the clergy than my-
self, of which profession we have so many distinguished members here, and cer-
tainly in that profession which I follow I have great pride ; but I would say with-

37



out fear of contradiction that no profession comes so near to the hearts of the peo-
ple as the medical profession. Mine concerns the rights of Hfe, hberty or prop-
erty ; the mission of the clerical profession is to instruct and to console, but when
the wife, or the daughter, or the mother is afflicted in such manner that the peril
of death hangs over her, then the heart of the man who is the husband, father, or
son is wrung with grief, then he appeals to that other profession to save the life of
her who is dearest to him. Of that profession, as has been said to-night, one of the
most distinguished members is a classmate of ours. If I were speaking in the
presence of strangers I should speak of him as Dr. Mann, but in the presence of
his classmates I address him as Darby Mann, and ask him to speak to us.

Dr. Mann : — Mr. Chairman and Classmates, I was never very strong at an after-dinner
speech — that was part of my makeup that was rather left out ; to get up and talk on an occasion
like this was never very easy for me. I think what has been said this evening about the old
friendships that we make in Yale is very true. I know that I have not quite the same
feelings for other friends as I have for the friends that I made in 1867. There is something
which makes them dearer and nearer than any other friends which we make m after life.
T think that sentiment has been spoken of several times this evening, and it is that which
makes these reunions .so exceedingly pleasant. When I met some of the men this morning
I could not quite recognize them, but as I look upon them now their faces seem perfectly famil-
iar. I do not know whether it is memory or seeing you for a little longer time, but I think every
man here is as familiar as thirty years ago, only a little older. I am very grateful for the
kind words that have been said by some of the speakers about what has been done by me
in the world. I have managed to get along pretty well in my profession, and I have
attributed my success almost entirely to what I learned here in Yale. Success can only be
achieved by hard work, and I think I worked harder than most of you. I came to College
pretty badly prepared, and I had to work very hard. It was only by hard work that I man-
aged to keep up, and I was kept on the ragged edge for some time, and I think it is from
that lesson that I learned that success can only come from hard work, and when I got into the
medical profession I found it was very true there, and I have followed out that line ever
since, for I do not know of anything that demands harder work than the practice of medicine.
You must read in order to keep up with this profession, and also do a lot of writing, so that
hard work has been the key to the success which has come to me so far as it has. Now, I am
not going to say very much, but there is one thought that I have had in my mind for a long
time, and that is. that we as alumni should use our influence with the authorities of Yale
to preserve some of the old landmarks, which I hear are about to be destroyed. It seems
to me that one of the old brick row, old South College, should be left (applause), and
should be left for very strong reasons. I believe that in this country we are altogether in
too much of a hurry. We want to accomplish results immediately. We are not willing to

38



see a thing grow and become something great in time. Now, we have here in the old brick
row something to remind us of the fact that great things spring from small beginnings.
Yale College thirty years ago was a very small affair. I was very much struck by the old
buildings at Cambridge and Oxford in England, and how long it took them to build it all
up. It has not all been built up in a few years, and we, who have accomplished wonders in a
short time, should have more patience. I believe that if we were not in quite such a hurry
to do it all at once that we would accomplish more in the end. I believe that the old brick
row would be a lesson to the fellows in this College of what great things come from small
beginnings, and they should be kept as a memento of old Yale. I hope most sincerely that
the Class will use their influence that some at least of the old brick row should be left as an
object lesson for future generations. I do not know that I have anything more to say, I
was not present at the last meeting five years ago, because I was abroad for my health at the
time. I worked rather harder than my strength would bear, and so I had not the pleasure
of being with you. I assure you that it has been a great pleasure to be with you this evening.
We miss some who are not here, we miss them very sadly, but perhaps it is best to bring out
nothing but pleasant thoughts, and so I will not refer to them.

Mr. Flanders: — There is a game which I do not understand, but which I
am informed Tom Hedge knows somethng about, in which two of a kind are said
to be an advantage. We have to-night two of a kind — three of a kind — one has
just spoken, and we will now hear from Dr. Robert Alison, Bob Alison we used
to call him.

Dr. Alison : — Mr. Chairman, I was hoping that you would be kind enough to excuse
me to-night. I do not feel that I can do justice to myself. I recently met with an accident
that hurt me a good deal. You have been very kind to ask me to speak. I do not feel that
I am one of those who have carved a large niche in which to put my bust, or any part of me,
so far as fame is concerned. It has only been a little scratch in the wall, if it is even that;
but what I have done I have worked very hard to do. The fact is that it is only some ten or
twi'lve years ago. or a little more, that I looked upon life as a serious matter. Before that it
was somewhat of a holiday; I had more fun than anything else. I had a great deal of it,
arid all the time, and finally one day it occurred to me that it would possibly be better if I
.set to work, and I set to work, and since then I have been working pretty steadily in a very
plain and in a very quiet sort of a way. I have made no con-oicuous success, and cannot be
said to be known outside of the little district in which I settled, but I think there they know
me pretty well. When I was in College I did my work in a haphazard sort of a way; oc-
casionally I just got a lesson, quite often I did not; but since this leaf was turned over, some
ten years ago, I have had to work pretty hard, but I was in earnest, and I dare say that my
training in college, or my acceptance of the training that I ought to have had, did very much

39



to help me to make up my mind to do this thing — to get to work at last — and for len years I
have worked very hard ; the measure of my success has not been very great, but still I am con-
tent. I used to hesitate about coming on here to meet the class, and to meet you men, be-
cause I thought that my career in College had been rather erratic. After all, it took rather
a long while to stop those childish things. It is very hard to turn over a leaf of that sort
and keep it turned over ; sometimes a little breath of air will turn that leaf back again, and
then one does foolish things that we regret. It is impossible that we should all get to the
lop of the ladder. The ladder is a long one, and there may be many fellows climbing the
same ladder who will keep you down if they can. I have not anything particular to say
to-night. I do not like to say anything that would disagree with my classmate who has just
preceded me, who has become a very distinguished man in my profession, but I would like
to say something in regard to the old buildings which are now occupying the campus here.
In a little while we shall have gone off the stage, and other men will occupy the place which
we now occupy, and their associations will be around the buildings which are now on the
campus. T think it would be very much better for us to accept our fate. Let the old build-
ings go, and when the new classes come in they will have these new buildings, and in a
little while their associations will be with the new buildings. The old South
College never was a sanitary building in any aspect. How in the world men lived in
that building and retained their health I cannot see now. It would be very much better to
clean the campus off of all those things and let us have new buildings. I think that a question
of health is far better than a question of sentiment. You have been very kind in calling on
me, Mr. Chairman. I shall be delighted to come again, and the more men I meet the happier it
is for me. It is delightful for me to recall old names, old faces, old sports, and I look back on
everything with plea'^ure. Some of you men might think that if you were to go over
your college course again you would study harder, but I think I would like to go over those
years again very much if it were not for those bea.stly studies. Well, I do not know that I
want to add anything. (Applause.)

Mr. Adee sang "Lauriger."

Mr. Fl.\xders : — Frank Hathorn is one of the men who, like myself, comes
back to-night for the first time since graduation. His welcome is none the less
warm, and we would like to hear from him.

F. H. H.\TH0RN : — I did not expect to be called upon to make a speech. I am very happy
lo be here, but I am very sorry that I have been away every five years since we left here. I
remember one remark that Flanders made when he introducd Tom Hedge : He said that
whoever is not acquainted with Tom Hedge is himself unknown, and I have been apologiz-
ing to Tom this evening that yesterday I did not recognize him when I first rnet him. He

40



came up to me and shook hands and said, "Do you know me?" but I failed to recognize him.
"Well," he said, "I did not have the highest standing in my class, and that is Tom Hedge."
Well, all I can say to you all, and I truly can say it, is that I am glad to be here, and I am
cnjdying myself so much that I am sorry I have not been here before, and it occurred to me,
when you said we were not going to meet here until five 3'ears from now, whether it was such
a wise plan, as we are all getting older, and whether it would not be better to make it a little
shorter. I will be here at the next meeting if I can come, and renew the old spirit, see the
old faces, and feel, as it has been said several times this evening, that there are no inend-
ships quite so dear as those that were made at Yale.



Mr. Flanders : — We all remember that Roscoe Conkling was not particu-
larly friendly to President Hayes, and he said, with reference to him, that "some
men achieve greatness, some are born great, and some are born in the State of
Ohio." T am not sure whether Frank Baldwin was born in the State of Ohio, but
he represents it here to-night, and he represents it well. We will hear from him
now.

Mr. Baldwin : — Mr. Chairman and Brothers, I am very greatly obliged for what the
chairman has said, all of which is wholly undeserved, except the fact that I was born in the
State of Ohio. I am proud of having been born there, and proud to have always lived there,
except for the short time that I was here at Yale. Much that has been said here to-night
might be crystallized into a subject, and called "The Invisible Force at Yale College." It
always seems strange — that influence which Yale has upon her sons. Every man who comes
to Yale is of the family of Yale, and nothing can give a Yale man more pleasure than to come
to these reunions; and the strange thing is that persons can have had connections or associa-
tions with other colleges, and then come to Yale, and, forsaking those associations, cleave
so strongly to Yale and its associations. An uncle of mine is a graduate of Harvard, but his
son is one of the liveliest members of Yale's Fre hman Class to-day. I have a friend born and
brought up under the shadow of Harvard, but to-day in everything that concerns the two
colleges he is a shouter for Yale. I entered college at the beginning of the junior year and
graduated. It took me some time to recover from the labor of carrying myself through here
and never going away. I missed the triennial and sexennial reunions, but since then I have
attended every class gathering. I am so impressed with the force — this hidden, silent force of
Yale College — that I cannot understand, though I do not intend to throw stones at those
whom misfortune or accident or disability of some kind has kept from this and other meet-
ings — I can't understand why persons who live near do not find one of the pleasures of their
lives in attending these meetings. Some of us come thousands of miles, and it seems to me
incomprehensible that some who are so shoTt a distance away are not here. It is a duty, be-
sides being a pleasure, for me to come here ; and it would be so pleasant to see everybody here,

41



to shake them by the hand, and my only regret is that we are not all present. I personally
regret very much the absence of Brooks and Harper, and of Wilson and Porter, of Wetmore,
too, whom public duties keep in his place at Washington. All these I regret very much at not
meeting, and I hope very much that when the next reunions come all the absentees will be
here together.



Mr. Flanders : — One of the members of our profession representing the im-
portant State of New "York, not a resident of the City of New York, but of a
smaller city within that State, is here to-night. I have in mind Fred Small, whom
we all want to hear.

Mr. F. I. Small: — Mr. Chairman and Classmates, it is with great pleasure that I meet
you, whose faces, though somewhat changed by time, bring back to me memories of the days
when we were all boys together and our careers were of the future; and assembled here, as we
are, after thirty years' contact with the world, and after those careers have been perhaps
shaped. I know of no better greeting that I can extend to you than the words that whatever
may have been the hardships and the vicissitudes through which we have passed, we can all
to-night look back upon the past with feelings of satisfaction. We have all built our castles.
We have all formed plans which did not materialize. We have all had hopes which we did
not realize, but we have lived long enough to know that many of the things which at one
time were so unpleasant and so annoying, and which caused our castles to fall and our plans
to fail, were blessings in disguise. We have lived long enough to know that many of the
things that came to us as disasters, in after years seem not so bad after all. In a word, we
have lived long enough to learn that, being creatures of circumstances, he who receives the
lot which the fates give to him is apt to find greater happiness in life than the man who is by
the outside world counted more successful, and hence my greeting to you. In coming back
to New Haven and meeting you all I miss many faces that were once familiar to us all. I
remember that there were four men at one time very closely associated with our class, and
who were not members of us, for they were scientifics. They were such splendid fellows that
their class did not hold them, and, knowing a good thing when they saw it, they gathered
to the Class of '67. In the first place, there was Jim Wadsworth, one of the j oiliest and best
of fellows, of whose career as a politician in the State of New York you have perhaps all
heard. He has been several times mentioned in the conventions of his party as Governor of
the State, and if he reaches that excellent position, and I think he will, his friends in the
Class of 1867 will rejoice with him. Then there was Alexander Palmer, wTio, I am in-
formed, died several years ago, a great, big, strong man of splendid physique, always quiet,
reserved and unassuming. He talked little with his tongue, and yet he had a pair of dark
brown eyes that were always talking, and that were always saying such nice winsome things
that those that came within their influence stayed there, for they felt that they had one good

42



steadfast friend in Allie Palmer. Then there was Jack Strothers and Doc Fleming, of
whom I have not heard since I parted with them so many years ago; and I think it was
"Doc" Fleming who gave Bissell here the opportunity for making the first pun that was ever
perpetrated by the Class of 1867. The Class was at dinner, and. as usual, witty questions
were being asked, and some one inquired how to concoct a Yale punch, and Bissell volunteered
an answer. He was quite correct in every respect except that he forgot to mention ice, and
"Doc" Fleming inquired, "How do you cool it, Bissell?" Well, Bissell thought a minute and
then said, "Well, after you have got it mixed you put it on the table, and I come along and
drink it up, and you think it very cool." In the words of our classmate in those days it was
considered a good joke. There are a great many others who are not here to-night, some of
whom have gone to the world beyond, and there is no one whom I remember with more regret
than Sheldon Reynolds. When I came to New Haven he was one of the first acquaintances
fhat I made when I came to the Class, and from the first I considered him one of the best, if
not the best friend that I had in the Class, and from that time until I heard of his death there
were few things that I looked forward to with anticipations of more pleasure than the occasion
which should bring him and me together again. He was always sincerely generous and sympa-
thetic to everybody, high and low, and he was always in good temper. He was one who inspired
in everyone whom he met feelings of respect and love, and I did respect and love him as I do
now his memory. My friends, while those who are absentees to-night we miss and would
gladly have with us, I sincerely hope that we may all be spared to come again together to ex-
change friendships under the old elms, not merely for five years more, but for many quiri-
tennials yet to come. (Applause.)



Mr. Davenport: — Mr. Chairman, the pleasurable relations which have in the
past existed between 'yj and '67, which they have renewed to-night, lead me to-
express, I am sure, the wish of every member of this class, that we may show
to them, as they have shown to us, that the tie that binds us to the University is
as strong with us as it is with them, and I move that you select a gentleman of the
Class to express our feelings to them, and that we go with him to emphasize our
friendship for 'yj.

Seconded by Mr. Morse.

Mr. Flanders : — Gentlemen, you heard the motion ; those in favor say
"Aye" ; those opposed, contrary sound. Carried unanimously.

Mr. Flanders appointed Rev. Mr. Burrell to speak to 'jj.

Mr. Burrell refused and nominated Davenport.

Mr. Morse: — At the last meeting Davenport replied. I think Dave ought
to do it this time.

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Mr. Flanders : — Mr. Burrell's appointment stands.

Air. Burrell is handed a bottle of champagne, and the Class follow him up-
stairs to '77's room, where he addresses them as follows:

Mr. Burrell : — I have brought with me the greeting of '67 to the Class of '"j"]. With
this greeting I have brought this mysterious thing (holds up a bottle of champagne), which
1 call you to witness I do not recognize in any way. As a clergyman and as a member of
the National Temperance Association, I feel obliged to say that I do not know what this
thing is. I had an assistant once who felt very ill, so I laid him on the sofa and left him with
the sexton. He was unconscious at the time. He was President of a Prohibition Society.
A physician administered some brandy with a spoon, and after awhile he regained conscious-
ness. He looked at me and said: "Doctor, I call you to witness that I do not know (hic^
what this man is giving me (hie)." I beg leave, sir, to present this bottle of castor oil to you
with the compliments of '67. We have not as big a bottle or as fine a ribbon, but we bring
with us just as much heart as you brought us, and the Yale spirit is still thumping hard
against our ribs. We have had some difficulty in recognizing each other as one by one we
have come to town, but to-night the old boy faces of thirty years ago have come back to us.
An artist of New York, a great many years ago, called on Rosa Bonheur, and they traveled
and painted together. They came to a beautiful landscape in Scotland where cattle were
crossing a brook. Years passed by and the two artists separated. A year or two ago they
met again in Paris, and the New York artist saw in Rosa Bonheur"s study a picture of a
Scotch landscape, and he thought he recognized it. She told him it was a picture of the
cattle and brook in Scotland which they had seen so many years ago. She told him she had
not sketched it, but had carried it with her in her head ever since that day. To-night it
seems to me that the blessed landscape of Yale has been kept in our heads ever since, and
as one after another has said to-night, it is nothing but the old boys that we see in our
reunion. God bless you. gentlemen of 'tj. I present this bottle with our best compliments.

'yj sing "Here's to '67, drink her down."
Davenport proposes nine cheers for 'jy, which are given.
The President of 'yj called upon his classmate, Mr. Barnum, to express the
feeling of his Class.

Mr. Barnum :— Well, gentlemen of '67, the Class of 'tj was never prolific in orators;
we haven't any. Every man here has spoken except myself; they postponed calling upon
me until the last, hoping that they might not have to listen to me. We accept this "drug,"
which Dr. Burrell has so solicitously presented, with some doubt in our minds whether or
not he has not this evening departed from his custom of limiting himself strictly to castor
oil and soothing syrup, as it does not seem possible to us that anyone under such laxative

44



inspiration can so delightfully bring us in union with you. If he has not been absorbing
some spirit which goes into a bottle, I am sure that he has imbibed enough of the old Yale
spirit to thoroughly release his tongue, if that were necessary, for those of us who know him
know that it is always ready, spirit or no spirit. We are always close in our hearts to the
Class of 1867. We remember five years ago that we said as long as our reunions lasted we
would as far as possible unite in celebrating old Yale. You spoke a little while ago of the
place that we hold in your hearts, and presented us with the keys to your hearts. Some of
you have been in our hearts for many years, one in particular, who stands for all that is best,
not only in Yale sports, but best, we know, in Yale men. Those of the Class of ''J^ who have
been brought in contact with him, and who have learned to know him, appreciate and love
him, and if you had no other claim upon us than the one claim of having developed in Yale
George Adee— (cheers) — we would love you all for what you have done. Our hearts go out
to you, and we pledge you that five years hence those of us who are here and are alive will
meet you again.

Three cheers are given for '67 and three cheers for George Adee.

Mr. Adee : — Gentlemen, I wish only to say that I am very grateful for the sentiments
which you have expressed, although I am entirely unworthy of any such exalted opinion
on your part, and if I have been of any service to you or to Yale you are freely welcome to it.

The Class of 'jy then gave "Three times three for '67."
The Class of '67 then march to the room below.

Mr. Flanders : — Gentlemen, the refined and cultured nature of William H.
Goodyear while we were in College has characterized him in the life which he has
led since he left Yale, and he has made as distinct a place for himself in art as any
man in the Class has made in any profession or in any business. The great Uni-
versity of Chicago, with the disposition to absorb all that is best in the United
States, has called him to its service, and he is connected with the Art Institute in