Barnard's Hero

Every private college has some person to do the dirty work of raising money. The man who has done Barnard's dirty work for the past 41 years is a tall, shy, Manhattan publisher (Ginn & Co.) named George Arthur Plimpton.

Not even Mr Plimpton knows how much money he has collected. But when he became treasurer of 4-year-old Barnard in 1093 the college books showed liabilities of $30,000, assets of two bonds valued at $1,000 each. Now Treasurer Plimpton is 79 and Barnard, at 45, has property and endowment totalling $9,000,000 spends one-tenth that amount every year. Once while he was traveling on the Yukon River with the late great Jacob Schiff, that immigrant financier mentioned proudly that he would soon celebrate the 50th anniversary of his arrival in the U. S with only $500. On the anniversary, shrewd Mr Plimpton sent him a note, received $550,000 in return. On another occasion John Davison Rockefeller Sr. took Mr Plimpton aside, told him how he had once stood outside a Baptist Church begging for money, advised solemnly: "Begging will do you good too." Mr. Plimpton took the advice, begged $250,000 from the elder Rockefeller.

Last week Barnard turned a celebration of its 45th anniversary into a tribute to Treasurer Plimpton. Gathered at Sherry's Restaurant in Manhattan was many a friend of Barnard who had gladly furnished Mr Plimpton with money to help run the college.

Said Dean Virginia Crocheron Gilder-It has been a varied adventure from ringing doorbells at strange houses search of a few dollars, and being almost turned out as an impostor to securing two millions from one generous donor.

Said Columbia's President Nicholas Murray Butler: "The inward and spiritual and immortal aspect of Barnard College has been contributed to by this rich personality--God bless him--and those who have worked with him and by him so long."

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