Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-02-14
n,IA Hobby W ithout a Rider.

The designs of Providence are not al
ways apparent. The segment of that cir
Gle whose center is the Iufinite, whose
sweep is infinity submitted to our in
spection, is so small that, in attempting to
interpret, we are sometimes nisled, often
deceived, and oftener uncertain. It be-
comes more the calculation of probabli-
ties than the demonstration of certainties
\ wise man calculates chances-a fool ouly
dogmatizes. Yet there are some things
which bear such evident marks of fitness
as to leave little room for doubt of Provi-
dental design. Such, for instance, as that
II was the design of God that East Tennes-
see should be the educational center of the
cotton belt.
Can any one look at his map and not
have firm conviction that this is true?
Why else was this region circled like
gulf about this mountain promontory?
Why but that East Tennessee, with its
mountain breezes its pearly streams, its
invigorating climate, should furnish to II
the essential prerequisites to higher Gull
turc ? 1t has been a lesson slow to be
learned by our Southern people, that IT re-
uuires something more than books and APP
paratus and college appliances, even If in
the hands of the best instructors, to give
the necessities of highest educational attain
ment. Yet it must be learned. 1t is high
time climatology was being studied little
in this direction. IL IL high time it was
being recognized as a fact that only a
climate which promises s0nd mems IN sdiao
corpora offers favorable conditions for
highest culture. These conditions can not
be found south CT East Tennessee. Here
southern boys may be subjected TO the
most exacting educational processes, and
developed beyond possible attachments at
home, and still love the college halls with
cheeks flushed with the rose tints of Wig
orous manhood. Cannot our Southern
people be made to see this" They can.
Why has it not been done? Because no
attempt has been made in that direction.
Here is our University, or Agricultural
College, with d large endowment, able
faculty and ample appliances to aecomo-
date hundreds. Why is it not filled to
OVERLOOKING? Because it is a hobby that
sadly lacks rider. The attention of our
cotton State people needs to be called to its
capabilities-its advantages. 1t is no use
TO have light if it is to be put and kept
under bushel. 1t is all very well to have
IA good thing there is a satisfaction in
that. but if il is desirable that Others shall
share this satisfaction, we must bring it to
their attention. 1t may be the first essen
tial prerequisite of a rabbit-pie to catch
the rabbit but did any one ever enjoy
the pie, if nothing more was
done? Not much. So we may have the
best college OH the Western continent, and
no one finds it out what OVAL is it" There
are men in East Tennessee, not to speak
of other sections, who don't know what,
if any, facilities for education the East Ten
uessee University can furnish. Can we
be surprised at this when some of the
Trustees do not know 20 much a the
names of the Faculty? No censure upon
any one is intended-only facts are stated.
Is it not time some one should ride this
College as hobby? Can Knoxville and
East Tennessee afford to have it remain
but the upper room of our common school
- Il a
the University of the South? With more
abundant means, more accessible to the
entire cotton belt, with more favorable
climate than any other college, why should
it not be? Should it not be the desire OF
us all to see this IA good LnircrSity-not i'll
the Southern sense, but in the European
sense-with aims "as catholic as learning,
as generous as humanity, as cosmopolitan
as commerce, as large as culture, as power
full as Christian education ?'' How shall
we realize this desire? BY making this
the hobby of hobbies-but who will ride
ride it? Who? S. n. [.