Vou. -VAl.. eNews
NEW HAVEN, CONN., THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1898.
Prick Tren Cents.
STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY AT YALE.
A SkKetch of the Department—Its His-
tory, Men and Methods.
It is fitting that an American Uni-
versity with which the names of Jona-
than Edwards, Bishop Berkeley, and
Noah Porter are so closely connected,
should stand in the front rank in the
work of philosophical investigation,
and in the opportunities it offers for
the study of Philosophy. It will always
be an inspiration to the philosophical
student at Yale to remember that no
men have had wider or deeper influence
upon American thought in the field of
philosophy than the two sons of Yale,
Jonathan Edwards and Noah Porter;
and also to recall the personal interest
of the famous English Bishop in the
welfare and progress of Yale as exhib-
ited in his gifts to the University both
in money and books.
And yet the great strides taken by
Yale in this field of work during and
since the time of President Porter is
little realized even by our most recent
graduates. It is the purpose of this arti-
cle to indicate these changes by a
brief recital of facts, perhaps not gener-
ally known to the friends and gradu-
ates of the University.
The results of investigations in many
special fields have led to an increased
interest in Psychology and Philosophy.
Biology through the theory of evolu-
tion has become interested in Psychol-
ogy because of the relation of mental
to organic development. The study of
Comparative Religions has necessarily
led to an interest in man’s mental
processes when he interprets the world
of nature and of morals. Sociology is
‘taking more and more interest in the
ideas and motives which have led men’
to form or to disintegrate social wholes.
Recent years have consequently seen
developed a Physiological Psychology,
a Comparative Psychology, and a
Folk-Psychology.. Indeed, it is safe
to say that no branch of human knowl-
edge has within a few years increased
to the same extent as has Psychology,
either as to number and quality of
workers, or as to general interest and
promise of valuable results. It need
hardly be added that all these develop-
ments affect the solutions of philosoph-
ical problems profoundly.
With all this general advance Yale
has not only kept well in line, but in
many cases has been a pioneer.
Fifteen years ago there was practi-
cally no organized graduate work in
Philosophy. A few students, generally
theological students, would meet Pres.
Porter occasionally and he would help
them over difficult places in their own
reading. The catalogue for the current
year specifies no less than twenty-three
graduate courses in the Department of
Philosophy; presented by a corps of
eight instructors. Concerning the op-
portunities which these courses offer to
the student we shall speak presently.
Turning to the present status and
achievements of the Department, there
is found all that could be desired. The
continuous stream of students coming
from Sweden and Japan, . especially,
indicates the reputation of the Depart-
ment in those countries. Much evi-
dence might be adduced, of a more or
less private nature, however, to indi-
cate its high reputation in Germany,
France and England. Many of. the
theses from this Department presented
to the University for the Doctorate
have been recognized as valuable con-
tributions to the knowledge of the
subject with which they dealt. The
thesis written by Prof. Nikashima of
~ though’ “graduates of
the Imperial University in Tokio,
Japan, was the occasion of leading
articles in the most prominent German
-magazines; while the investigations of
Dr. Gilbert on the Mental and Physical
Development of School-Children, and
Dr. Seashore’s Measurements of Illu-
sions and Hallucinations in Normal
Life have been quoted and referred to
in many of the most recent psychologi-
cal works. Other examples might be
added, but these are sufficient to indicate
the value of the work prosecuted by the
students.
If the success of a department is to
be measured by the number of teachers
it furnishes, the Department of Phil-
osophy certainly has an enviable record.
According to statistics kindly furnished
by Dr. Buchner of the University of
the City of New York; there are from
thirty-five to forty instructors in Psy-
chology, Philosophy and cognate sub-
jects, having had one or more year’s
training at Yale, who are now teaching
in the universities, colleges, and high
schools in the United States, Japan and
India. In the brief period since 1880,
at least twenty Doctors of Philosophy
have gone out to special positions.
About two-thirds of the total number
teaching are graduates of other colleges
than Yale. Only four have taken their
Ph.D. degree after leaving Yale and
only ten have continued their studies
elsewhere. These men have gone not
only to very various sections of our
own country, but to Japan, India and
Sweden. In this country, professors of
Philosophy now at Amherst, Union,
Williams and Univ. of Pennsylvania,
Ht the Divinity
School, also received some instruction
in Philosophy at Yale. Among other
institutions which either have or have
had instructors especially trained at
Yale are the following: New York
University, Univ. of Iowa, Univ. of
Illinois, Chicago, Wesleyan, Adelbert,
Trinity, N. C., Michigan, Smith, Butler,
Univ. of Ohio, Penn. State College
and so on.
In Japan, Yale is represented by the
President of Doshisha College, and the
only professor of Ethics under the
Japanese government is also a Yale
man; in India she is represented at
' Pastumalai, and in Sweden at Upsala.
In this record many have not been
included who are now specialists in
other fields of work, but who first had
their interest aroused in these branches
by their study of Philosophy.
One of the latest developments of
Psychology has been the introduction
of laboratory methods for purposes of
experiment and measurement. The
Yale laboratory, founded only six
years ago, was among the first to be
established in this country. During
that brief period it has accomplished
a remarkable amount. It has published
four volumes of “Studies from The
Yale Psychological Laboratory,’ and
_ the fifth is almost ready for publication.
It is the only American laboratory
which publishes its results. The value
of these publications has been already
indicated, and the increased success of
the “Studies” is a mark of general
appreciation. As to present equipment,
there is every reason to believe that for
general teaching purposes it is the best
equipped in the world; and for original
research undoubtedly the best in this
country.
This leads us to speak of the present
opportunities for philosophical study
at Yale. The Department is fortunate
in having at its head a scholar, teacher
and author of the highest ability and
reputation.. Professor Ladd is recog-
nized as an authority of the highest
rank in his field of work, both by his
colleagues in this country and -abroad.
Especially marked and flattering is the
attention and commendation bestowed
upon Professor Ladd’s works in Ger-
many, France and England, some of
[Continued on 4th page.]
YALF'S GIFTS PRESENTED.
Captain Wise Formally Accepts the
Guns and Colors—The Three-
Pounders Christened., |
[Special Dispatch to YALE ALUMNI WEEKLY. ]
Newport News,. Va., June 7.—Yale’s
gifts to the Yale-were formally. pre-
sented to-day and formally’ accepted.
The simple ceremonies took place on
board the Cruiser, which is now an-
chored here, coaling, - provisioning,
painting and arming for further ser-
vice in Southern waters. :
Mr. Yandell Henderson, Yale, ’gs,
arrived here this morning from New
Haven as a representative of the Uni-
versity. Captain W. C. Wise of the
Yale had been advised of his coming
and was ready to receive him most
hospitably. The crews of the Yale’s
guns were mustered and then the pre-
sentation of the University’s gifts was
made. Mr. Henderson had stopped at
Washington on his way and Mr. John
A. Porter, the Secretary to the Presi-
dent, had asked him to take with him
_a bottle of champagne for the presenta-
tion ceremonies. This was opened and
Mr. Henderson made the presentation
in these words: ,
“Captain Wise—#Y ale University pre-
sents these guns and colors to the
Cruiser Yale, as an expression of ap-
preciation for the honor done us by
the Government in the naming of your
ship. These guns testify the deep in-
terest with which Yale men follow your
ship and the enthusiasm with which we
rejoice in your success.
6é DB
ELI’ AND “HANDSOME DAN.”
“We have named one gun ‘Eli’ after
the founder of our University, the other
‘Handsome Dan’ for the bull dog
mascot which has seen victory come to
Yale in many contests in the friendly
rivalry of athletics. We are proud
that ‘Handsome Dan’ should have fired
the shot which stopped the ‘Rita,’ the
first prize of an auxiliary cruiser. May
Yale luck always go with the Yale.
“T have the honor to present to you
these guns and colors as a gift from
Yale to her country.” .
Mr. Henderson then christened the
guns and affixed brass plates bearing
the inscription and name of the gun.
Captain Wise accepted the gifts in
these words: “I appreciate the interest
which Yale has shown in my ship, and I
admire the spirit of patriotism and the
pride in your great University which
has actuated this gift. I will guarantee
that these guns shall do no discredit to
the name of Yale. Please convey my
thanks to the men of your University.”
The party then inspected the battery
of eight five-inch rapid fire guns of the
latest type with which the Yale is be-
ing armed. Two are forward, two are
aft, and four amidships. All are
mounted on the promenade deck.
The ship is coaling. After her last
cruise of five weeks she reached here
with only ten tons of coal in her bun-
kers. She is to be given a coat of battle
paint.
The stand of fifty-one flags will be
here this week. The Yale goes South
Saturday.
Mr. Henderson was entertained at
lunch to-day by Captain Wise.
On Sunday at noon the Yale Cruiser
Fund Committee received advices from
Captain Crowninshield, Chief of the
Bureau of Navigation, that the Yale
was at Newport News and would re-
main there for three or four days.
After conference with Mr. Porter, who
is the Washington member of the Com-
mittee, it was decided to send at once
to Newport News Mr. Yandell Hen-
derson, ’95, one of the most active
members of the Committee. Mr. Hen-
derson was to formally present the
guns and to attend to the matter of
affixing the plates. He was also in-
structed to arrange with Captain Wise
of the Yale in regard to placing the
colors on the cruiser as soon as the
set is completed. |
© ath
Gift From Honolulu.
The following letter from Honolulu,
under date of May 2sth, has been re-
ceived by a member of the Yale Cruiser
Fund Committee:
“A few of us Yale men clear out here
in the Pacific want to join our ‘mite’
to the Cruiser Fund, showing our ap-
preciation of the honor conferred on
dear old Yale. For days our little
community has been on the lookout for
Uncle Sam’s boys in blue, expected here
on their way to Manila, and the whole
town floats the flags and streamers,
besides raising a $5000 entertaining
fund. We want to be with you, sink
or swim.” -
This letter is from Geo. R. Carter,
88 Sheff., very well known by Yale
men here and elsewhere as one of the
best athletes of his day, and in other
respects a man who is sure to be well
remembered. It is not necessary to
say that no suggestion was made to the
little band of Yale men in the Hawaiian
Islands for this contribution. If any-
thing else was necessary to make the
fund seem a universal Yale contribu-
tion, this would do it. :
— Since the last Cruiser Fund report,
the alumni at St. Louis have forwarded
a check of $37.00. Additional contri-
butions have been received from Chi-
cago, California and Cleveland, making
their figures read as follows:
Chie a $297.00
California 251.00
ClevelaG oe... 150.00
Sa ee
‘Seats for the Boat Race for
Weekly Subscribers.
The WeeExty has obtained through
the Navy management a limited num-
ber of seats on the Observation train,
for the University boat race at New
London, June 22. These may be ob-
tained by Yale graduates, subscribers
to the WEEKLY, by direct application
to this office. Only two seats will be
allowed to each applicant. The price
is $2.50 for each seat. Checks should
be drawn to YALE AtumMNrI WEEKLY,
Treasurer, and must include twelve
cents for registered mail.
No applications. will be considered
after noon of June 15. If the seats are
exhausted or the application too late
the WEEKLY will wire the applicant at
his expense. Applications will be filled
in the order of their post marks. Ap-
plicants must state their Class.
The Observation train will consist of
forty cars, each seating 84 persons, of
which Yale’s share is 10 cars.
+>
Glee Club Elections.
At a meeting of the University Glee
and Banjo Clubs, held on last Mon-
day evening, Thomas Skinker Maffitt,
99, of St. Louis, Mo., was elected
Manager, and Frank Dexter Cheney,
1900, of South Manchester, Conn., was
elected Assistant Manager for the en-
suing year.
