The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-08-24
For the Register.
Letter from Illinois.
KNOX AND BELoIT COLLEGES.

| KNOX AND BEL0IT COLLEGEe.
Knox College is at Galesburg l6s miles
from Chicago, where the r. h, Tor Bur-
lington and Quincy separate; it is 100
miles from Quincy, and AZ from Bur-
lingtop. Beloit is 90 miles N. W, Of
Chicago, Just half mile north of the liae
Of Illinois and ~ miles west Of Racine on
Lake Michigan. 1t is accessible from
Chicago by two Railroads,and by one each
from Racine and Milwaukee.
Both stand in beautiful healthy regions.
Galesburg in an immense prairie and Be.
lott not far from good prairie on beautiful
bluffs in the drift formation" Of Wis.
consin. Both have good buildings Of
nearly equal value ard four libraries of
nearly equal size. Both are well oficered
and have good Presidents. Prest. Curtis
of Knox, graduated at Middlebury in
1881 and was Tutor In 1834-5. Prest.
Chapn of Beloit is younger man. hav-
ing graduated at Yale in 1887. Dea. L,
D Gregory, formerly of Weybridge, is
Treasurer of Beloit College.
The parallel between tho Colleges is but
partial. Beloit is in an almost New
England region; perhaps the best com.
munity in al the West occupies Northern
Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Gales.
burg is on the borders Of Egypt" better
situated for doins good than for flourish.
ing Methodists, Hard Shell Baptists,
Wild Congregationalists OF an Independ.
ent stripe, Democratic Presbyteriaus,
Campbellites-men Of various origin, hostile
attendants and discrepant views mingled
with som Of the best men that ever lived
are spread from Galescurg to Cairo. Be.
lott graduated seven Bachelors and one
Scientific" this year. Knox two; or
perhaps one and half-for one was a
junior advanced to the senior class SO that
the President could say admitto uoS."
But this is not fair indication Of the
condition of the College, for its classes
have been pirated upon by an ex.Presi-
dent who counts it his duty to remain at
Galesburg to watch the College" as one
of his friends expressed it.
Previous to the advent of Pres. Chaplin
this must have gone badly enough. The
Pr sdent was sometimes appla1ded by
his admirers, and to his satisfaction du-
ring the devotional exercises of the Chapel.
The students become fast and sophomore.
They attended the meetings of the Trus.
tees (stormy ones they were, sometime-)
and applauded t e Presidents friends and
issed the Presidents enemies. But these
scenes are passed though the bitterness of
their effects will live long after them,
Knox College ia rich. It was singu.
lar and successful land operation of Prof.
Gale and other Presbyterian Clergvmen,
Elders nd laymen of Oneida Co. N, Y,
A large amount was invested in land
which was laid out in streets, squares lots
and farms. The individual operators
Thought" as much of this as their sub.
scriptions amounted to. and the rest be.
came the College fund. l think it is now
valued at $500 900, but Of course much
Of it unproductive. Rather than sell
when land was low. the faculty suffered
every thing. Generous sums we're given
them by Williston, the East Hampton
Button Maker, or they would have been
compelled to sacrifice more than half the
estate Of the College to keep along. Now
they have erected two fine buildings (one
for the female Department. and will be
able to add more as fast as needed. Most
of the students still room in barracks, com.
Portable, but uusightly.
Beloit College has three good buildings
standing among Indian mounds on the
bluff above the junction Of Rock River
and Turtle Creek. One is just done and
here too they have all the room they need.
A good moral tone prevades the school
and their air in devotions seemed quite
gratifying to me after what l had seen OF
Knox under the old regime, The library
at Beloit is as large as they can afford
and well deserves contributions Of such as
have good books to spare. Iwsh could
say the same of the library Of Knox. But
till lately they have had on their library
| committee trustee, said 10 be unable tc