Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-02-08
1 Hobby Without a Rider.

The designs of Providence are not al
ways apparent. The segment of that cir
cIg whose center is the Infinite. whose
sweep is infinity, submitted to our in
spectiOn, is SO small that, in attempting tC
interpret, we are sometimes miSled, often
deceived, and oftener uncertain. 1t be-
comes more the calculation of pVobablll,
ties than the demonstration of certainties
A wise man calculates chances-a fool only
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
it 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 q firm conviction that this Is true
Why else was this region circled like q
gulf about this mountain prOmontory
Why but that East Tennessee, with its
mountain breeZes, its pearly streams, its
invigorating climate, should furnish to it
the essential prerequisites to higher cul-
ture? 1t has been lesson slow to be
learned by our Southern people, that it re-
quires 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
i'm this direction. 1t is high time it was
being recognized as fact that only a
climate which promises SdIlG mems IN S0nO
corDorc offers favorable conditions for
highest culture These conditions can not
be found south of East Tennessee. Here
Southern boys may be subjected to the
most eXacting educational processes, and
developed beyond possible attainments 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 10
attempt has been made i'll that direction.
Here is our University, or Agricultural
College, with a large endowment, able
faculty and ample appliances to accomo-
date hundreds. Why is it not filed to
OVERLOOKING? Because it is a hobby that
sadly lacks a 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
good thing: there is satisfaction i'll
that, but if it is desirable that others shall
share this satisfaction, we must bring it to
their attention. 1t may be the first essen
tial prerequisite of rabbit-pie to catch
the rabbit; but did any one ever enjoy
Viz f1C1 IA I+cIc w do
done? Not much. So we may have the
best college on the Western continent, and
no Ole 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
nessee University can furnish. Can we
he surprised at this when some of the
Trustees do not know so much as the
names Of the Faculty? No cehsure upon
any one is intended only facts are stated
Is if not time some one should ride this
College as a hobby? Can Knoxville and
Fast Tennessee afford TO have it remain
hut the upper room of our common school
system, When it ought to be, and could be
the University of the South? With more
abundant means, more accessible TO the
entire cotton belt, with more favorable
climate than any othercollege why should
it not be? Should it not be the desire OF
us all to see this good UeirerSity-not IN
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 shai
we realize this desire? By making TINS
the hobby of hobbies-but who will rae
ride it? Who? D N u