The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-02
AfEssRs. EDITORS: On the 21st OF

= : -
MEssRs. EDToRs:. On the 21st OF
April, saw in the Phenir-and re-
Gently IN the Edseiield Adse,zisey.-an
extract from She Yorkville Enquirer,
tint spoke siespondingly Of the pre-
sent condition of the University of
South Carolina. This article, thus
circulated, without comment or cor
rection, may do undersigned harm to
the University. The writer of that
paragraph claims, I know, to he a
friend of the institution. The pieco
alluded to must, therefore, I think,
have sprung from an undue, NOR
bid, anxiety for the success of said
University. His conclusion is: '.The
University, thus far, has proved q
failure -
Before concurring in this PROPOSE
tlon, let mo make few inquiries Of
It's author. l. Is it not too early to in
dulge III such statements? In the
very i'laio'ion Of the experiment, is it
not premature to judge of the system?
The University has been in operation
barely sixteen ,reeks. 2. Is the writer
Of the paragraph referred to aware of
the difficulty experienced by the Uni
vcrsity in getting the several Districts
informed Of the opening of the exer-
clses of the institution? Though eff
fort was made, by advertising in
every paper in the State, to give due
notice Of the opening of the Univer-
sity, your correspondent has, within
the present month, heard and read
| inquiries, from several sections of the
State, as to the fact whether the Uni
vcrsity exercises had begun 3. Has
the financial prostration OF the State
been duly considered? Buta twelve
month since, some of this commune
ty, at least, were on the very Verge
| of starvation. Is it not surprising
that, amid the general wreck of for
tunes, aly parents have, Mt this early
period, contrived to find the means
to give their sons the opportunity of
liberal education ut the State Uni
versity? 4. Has allowance been
! made for the disinclination to study
| engendered among the young men by
years Of camp life? 7 know of cases
i'll which, though the parents have
been ready to make the pecuniary
advance, the sons have shlunk from
matriculating, because the war had
so utterly interrupted the course OF
their education, and broken up the
habits of application.
These queries must, we think. be
answered in the negative Under
the great disadvantages growing ont
OF the present very peculiar circum-
stances of the State, uer0ly ffiy
students have matriculated. Since the
Sth Of January, when the University
was opened, there has been steady
, aceretion. Since that date, but one
single week has passed without one
or more additions Late in the ses-
sion as it is, five students have cu-
tered during the present month Only
five Districts, viz: Anderson, Green
vile, Richland, Laurens and Dar-
hngton, have us vet availed them
selves of the provisions of section ten
of the bill establishing the Universe
ty. This small number of de0ef-
ciaries cannot be attributable to the
expenses incidental to the ",ae,r re-
yinae." Should the remaining Dis
tricts send the benetciaries to which
they are entitled, the University roll
would reach such size at once that
none in this ''day Of small things" at
the South could style the University a
failure, even as to numbers. The
oreie1 and ulri;cmti>n Of the students
now in the University are worthy Of
all praise. Their progress in their
studies satisfies them of the great adj
vantages that they are enjoying in
the learning and zeal of their in
structors. The prospects, too, of the
institution are bright; one teacher,
for instance, having recently written,
l learn, that he has eighteen candi-
dates for 1natriculation at the opening
of the next term
Will not the contributor to the
Yorkville Eaqui,'e1' admit that there
is something eaco'0uging to the
friends of the University, even at this
early stage of the experiment? If he
cannot, will he not, at least, suspend
his judgment for the present., W.
COLUMBIA, April 80, 1866.
RELIEF FOR THE SoUTH Wall