Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-06-29
FOR lie Engnifsr.
University Of tirnin!:a,

ktlc '!rt Wv: 'l!S
TO close, when the Boarv nj il>:.vr. n'D !ioi'i
their annual meeting desire 10 ..;.'i ;ilc al
tention Of the public 10 some Of the disadven-
tages under which OUR noble institution is ID
boring feeling fully confident that il will only
be necessary for these imposiioas IL hrcome
known and for IN examination into the facts Of
the case to be made, when Virginia, ever true
TO herself and her best interests will raise her
voice in condemnation Of such abuses This
is no local OF sectional interest. Young men
are collected here from every portion OF Yir.
ginia, indeed, wc may say Of the Cnion. and
every true Yirginian looks with pride upon
this institution, destined, under proper man
agement to become the great iountain-hcad,
from which not only the sons Of Virginia, but
Of the whole South, will drink the waters OF
knowledge and receive such instructions as
will fit them fer the highest Offices Of the land
whether political or scientific.
We would, especially, call attention to the
manner in which the Boarding Department is
conducted, and We sincerely hope, that the
present ';Board" will pay at least some atten-
tion TO the wishes Of the students, and not, as
the lust, seem perfectly indifferent 10 their
comfort as we'll as TO the best interests Of the
institution.
In order that YOU may better understand the
arrangements, We will give You brief outline
of them The College is divided into districts,
and each district is assigned to separate
boarding house, and all those yhu room within
these arc compelled 10 board at the house as.
signed under the penalty Of dismissal should
they refuse. You see, under the present Sys-
ten the student is placed entirely at the mercy
Of the clearinghouse keeper, and ;t is we'll
known that it requires something besides mere
moral persuasion TO cause man 10 do his duty,
Especially when dollars and cents are brought
to bear upon the other balance.
Is not this gross imposition upon thu stu
dents thus to place them in the hands Of a mali
whose interest is diamctricaiy opposed to their
comfort and well being: Is not every induce
ment Offered to the boarding house keeper to
impose upon the student, and this too, with
iinpunty: We may, indeed. as our Only re-
mcdy, present him to the Faculty, and this has
been done, without any perccptible change in
our fare, till we, seeing it is useless, have given
up in despair. These presentments have al
ways resulted in rcry fair promises, which are
no sooner made than forgotten; or, il rcmem-
bcred at ALL q week will remove all impression,
and the sting of conscience, if it has not already
been blunted, soon ceases to have any effect
whatever.
Instead of this arrangement there should be
competition between the boarding house keep
crs. The student should be allowed to board
where he will be best cared for, thus rendering
the interest Of the keeper and the well being
of his boardcr nscparahle. This. and this
alone, will remedy the evil. They say that no
one could be found to take the boarding house,
and that it would not pay. AS to the first, we
only ask a trial; as TO the second, wc ask how
does it pay those who keep the houses out Of
College,? There it pays well. and the studcn;
is well cared for: and would it not pay equally
as well in College, where they have greater adj
vantages, the house being furnished free Of rent:
We hope the Board will consider this mat
ter, and remove an evil which has sent many
Il young man 10 an early grave, or has caused
him to drag on Il life Of disease and suffering.
The man who sits over his books all day, with
comparatively little exercise needs good and
substantial fare. We ask no luxurious fare,
but we 10 ask, and demand as our due, that it
shall be wholesome and well cooked. with a
proper regard to cleanliness, which. we can as
sure you, we do not obtain now. We urge it
more especially at this time. as there is rising
u great institution Of the South which will ii-
minish the number here, md we are
desirous that no evil shall exist which
may detract from the high reputation
of this institution and cause students 10 attend
other colleges, or may cause those who do come
to remain only one year and 10 seek more com.
Portable quarters for the next. Already we
number twenty less than last session; and
though we do not pretend to say that II Is en-
tirely owing 10 this, yet we do contcLd that ii
is in part due to this. 1t may be said that this
is 4 very insignificant matter, ami To outsiders
it will probably seem; but to the student it Is
Of the highest importance, and to those vino
are ambitious 10 obtain the highest honors OF
the University, it presents itself in the form:
Whether they shall lose the h0nors almost
within thcir grasp, or whether they shall OBJ.
tain them with their constitutions destroyed
and often with the germ Of disease Implanted
within them: With this exception, and a few
others or minor Importance, which We hope the
Board will notice, our institution is unriTnllcd,
not only in its general management, but in the
talents of its corps Of Professors. Situated, too,
in a country unsurpassed in natural beauty by
any in America, and in one Of the most healthy
portions of Virginia. it offers every in'inccncnt
which nature can bestow; and art. too. is dc-
ginning to spread its enticipg mcshes over the
grounds STUDENT.
To the Editors QJ Ne Enquirer:
tjSIynEsrrY of Va, JGue IS. iet'H
Mcssrs Editors 1t may be thought strange
bv some, Of the Cnirersitys not turning out a
single graduate in the Law Department.; but
II .t>,n 1-,,o,,. th.. .nIl
the misfortuncs under which the class nave la
bored the whole session, know the class cal! t
be ccnsured, Tor in the first place VIC were en-
tircly without Our professor for nearly three
months. for nearly all this time Prof. llol-
combe waSahSent on Il tOyr to Europe, and IN
that department we were 1T y a'"periect stand
still" aud since his arrival he has not been
able, from bodily nlirmity, 10 discharge the
duties devoiyci Oh the office. We say nothing
against Dr.. lIolcombe as a f. her Or 4 man;
but, then, his health has bee .'ery bad, and
for his lectures, when he has N able to com
pctc them, have been mos excellent; but,
then, those times are too far tween to have
holden the chair he has. W.. can't complain
Of anything but the scarcity Of the lectures.
The matter that they Contained was of the
hest nature, both pleasing and instructive; and
as for his style of delivery, it can't be surpass'
cd, il he was not wanting in physical power.
As for tho other departments OF The same
class, they arc entirely separate lEc one
under John r. Minors administration we
have had no right for complaint until within
the last month, when the great monster Disease
threw her garb around him, and he now lies
PROSTATE with disease of the throat; and that
Of very serious nature He can hardly be
heard 10 speak across the room: and he has
been told by his physician, PROT: Davis,) that
he must not attempt a single lecture more this
term.
We do not send this lis ce;lsure. but only
for it to 60 before the sons Of the "0l1 Domin'
on," showing the caIlse not TO rest on tho
shoulders of the students in this class, and to
show that we have not been placed on equal
grounds with former classes. Compare the
cases--you have the facts Of both.
SECRETARY.
From the Fredericksburg News.