Page 16 - 1907 February - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA. S3

C. C. Langdell, and now generally conceded to be the best way of
teaching law. When the consolidation with the University took
place, this method was gradually adopted throughout the Law
Department, and now no other method of teaching is used there.

In the meantime, the law library had been generously added
to by gifts from various sources; among these was one from the
widow of the late Elliott F. Shepard of 1390 volumes which made
up M r . Shepard's private law library, one from M r . J . W . C.
Leveridge of 554 volumes and one from M r . David Banks of 148
volumes. In 1895 Judge Thomas and M r . Ashley gave the library
of the Metropolis Law School to the University, thus adding over
500 more volumes, and in 1900 Chief Justice Daly added by
bequest 954 volumes more. The library at present contains over
18,000 volumes, and is in daily use by the large law classes. The
library is a large, bright room, with windows overlooking Wash-
ington Square. The books are arranged in alcoves, and the system
is so good that any student can find just what he wants without
assistance.

One feature of the New York University Law School is of
especial interest to us. I t is the only law school in New York
City open to women. In this respect New York women students
of law are more fortunate than students of medicine, for they have
the best possible legal education open to them. The women students
have done some excellent work in the school and have received much
courtesy from the faculty and men students. A sign that the
offered advantages are appreciated by the women is found in the
increasing number of women in attendance at the school. The
women graduates should and do feel a warm regard for the Univer-
sity which has been liberal minded enough to admit them so gener-
ously to its privileges, and for the most part they try to do the Law
School and the University honor, not only while numbered as stu-
dents, but afterward in the world, either as practicing lawyers or in
other walks of life.

Among the distinguished men graduated from the New York
University Law School may be named Secretary of State Elihu Root.
Justices Willard Bartlett, David Levintrett, Edward McCall,
James A. O'Gorman, all judges of the Supreme Court, and many
other men well known to the world.

JESSIE ASHLEY.