my memories of eighty years-第82章
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jack。 One of them while in town had his jug filled； and on the way home saw a friend leaning over the gate and looking so thirsty that he stopped and handed over his jug with an offer of its hospitality。 After sampling it the neighbor continued the gurgling as the jug rose higher and higher； until there was not a drop left in it。 The indignant owner said： 'You infernal hog； why did you drink up all my apple…jack？' His friend answered： 'I beg your pardon； Job； but I could not bite off the tap； because I have lost all my teeth。'〃 The aptness of the story was the success of the evening。
Some years afterwards there was a meeting of the alumni to form a live association。 Among those who participated in the organization were William Walter Phelps； afterwards member of Congress and minister to Austria； Judge Henry E。 Howland； John Proctor Clarke； now chief justice of the Appellate Division； James R。 Sheffield （several years later） now president of the Union League Club； and Isaac Bromley； one of the editors of the New York Tribune； one of the wittiest writers of his time； and many others who have since won distinction。 They elected me president； and I continued such by successive elections for ten years。
The association met once a month and had a serious paper read； speeches； a simple supper； and a social evening。 These monthly gatherings became a feature and were widely reported in the press。 We could rely upon one or more of the faculty； and there was always to be had an alumnus of national reputation from abroad。 We had a formal annual dinner； which was more largely attended than almost any function of the kind in the city； and； because of the variety and excellence of the speaking； always very enjoyable。
The Harvard and Princeton alumni also had an association at that time； with annual dinners； and it was customary for the officers of each of these organizations to be guests of the one which gave the dinner。 The presidents of the colleges represented always came。 Yale could rely upon President Dwight； Harvard upon President Eliot； and Princeton upon President McCosh。
Of course； the interchanges between the representatives of the different colleges were as exciting and aggressive as their football and baseball contests are to…day。 I recall one occasion of more than usual interest。 It was the Princeton dinner； and the outstanding figure of the occasion was that most successful and impressive of college executives； President McCosh。 He spoke with a broad Scotch accent and was in every sense a literalist。 Late in the evening Mr。 Beaman； a very brilliant lawyer and partner of Evarts and Choate； who was president of the Harvard Alumni Association； said to me： 〃These proceedings are fearfully prosaic and highbrow。 When you are called； you attack President McCosh； and I will defend him。〃 So in the course of my remarks； which were highly complimentary to Princeton and its rapid growth under President McCosh； I spoke of its remarkable success in receiving gifts and legacies； which were then pouring into its treasury every few months； and were far beyond anything which came either to Yale or Harvard； though both were in great need。 Then I hinted that possibly this flow of riches was due to the fact that President McCosh had such an hypnotic influence over the graduates of Princeton and their fathers； mothers； and wives that none of them felt there was a chance of a heavenly future unless Princeton was among the heirs。
Mr。 Beaman was very indignant and with the continuing approval and applause of the venerable doctor made a furious attack upon me。 His defense of the president was infinitely worse than my attack。 He alleged that I had intimated that the doctor kept tab on sick alumni of wealth and their families； and at the critical moment there would be a sympathetic call from the doctor； and； while at the bedside he administered comfort and consolation； yet he made it plain to the patient that he could not hope for the opening of the pearly gates or the welcome of St。 Peter unless Princeton was remembered。 Then Beaman； in a fine burst of oratory； ascribed this wonderful prosperity not to any personaI effort or appeal； but because the sons of Princeton felt such reverence and gratitude for their president that they were only too glad of an opportunity to contribute to the welfare of the institution。
The moment Beaman sat down the doctor arose； and with great intensity expressed his thanks and gratitude to the eloquent president of the Harvard alumni； and then shouted： 〃I never； never； never solicited a gift for Princeton from a dying man。 I never； never； never sat by the bedside of a dying woman and held up the terrors of hell and the promises of heaven； according to the disposition she made of her estate。 I never； never looked with unsympathetic and eager anticipation whenever any of our wealthy alumni appeared in ill health。〃
The doctor； however； retaliated subsequently。 He invited me to deliver a lecture before the college； and entertained me most delightfully at his house。 It was a paid admission； and when I left in the morning he said： 〃I want to express to you on behalf of our college our thanks。 We raised last evening through your lecture enough to fit our ball team for its coming contest with Yale。〃 In that contest Princeton was triumphant。
The Yale Alumni Association subsequently evoluted into the Yale Club of New York； which has in every way been phenomenally prosperous。 It is a factor of national importance in supporting Yale and keeping alive everywhere appreciation and enthusiasm for and practice of Yale spirit。
My class of 1856 at Yale numbered ninety…seven on graduation。 Only six of us survive。 In these pages I have had a continuous class meeting。 Very few； if any； of my associates in the New York Legislature of 1862 and 1863 are alive； and none of the State officers who served with me in the succeeding years。 There is no one left in the service who was there when I became connected with the New York Central Railroad； and no executive officer in any railroad in the United States who held that position when I was elected and is still active。
It is the habit of age to dwell on the degeneracy of the times and lament the good old days and their superiority； but Yale is infinitely greater and broader than when I graduated sixty…five years ago。 The New York Legislature and State executives are governing an empire compared with the problems which we had to solve fifty…nine years ago。
I believe in the necessity of leadership； and while recognizing a higher general average in public life； regret that the world crisis through which we have passed and which is not yet completed； has produced no Washington； Lincoln； or Roosevelt。 I rejoice that President Harding； under the pressure of his unequalled responsibilities； is developing the highest qualities of leadership。 It is an exquisite delight to visualize each administration from 1856 and to have had considerable intimacy with the leaders in government and the moulders of public opinion during sixty…five unusually laborious years。
Many who have given their reminiscences have kept close continuing diaries。 From these voluminous records they have selected according to their judgment。 As I have before said； I have no data and must rely on my memory。 This faculty is not logical； its operations are not by years or periods； but its films unroll as they are moved by association of ideas and events。
It has been a most pleasurable task to bring back into my life these worthies of the past and to live over again events of greater or lesser importance。 Sometimes an anecdote illumines a character more than a biography； and a personal incident helps an understanding of a period more than its formal history。
Life has had for me immeasurable charms。 I recognize at all times there has been granted to me the loving care and guidance of God。 My sorrows have been alleviated and lost their acuteness from a firm belief in closer reunion in eternity。 My misfortunes； disappointments； and losses have been met and overcome by abundant proof of my mother's faith and teaching that they were the discipline of Providence for my own good； and
