Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-03-15
VA.
The University Endowment.
SATURDAY, MARCH IS, 1879.

The University Endowment.
Since our mention few weeks since OF the
nroposed endowment of the Virginia University,
the Executive Committee Of the Society OF
Alumni, in whose charge the enterprise rests,
have issued and sent us second circular on the
subject. We are moved thereby to further no
tee ola project already warmly commended.
Five hundred thousand dollars is the amount
to be raised. The details Of the plan cannot be
reproduced here, but are fully set forth IN the
committee first circular. Both pamphlets Will
doubtless be chcer!uliy furnished on application
to A. r. Biakey, esq, the chairman, at Char
lottesvillc. The rich may found scholarships or
endow chairs, to be named by the donor-a
scheme common in the North and IN Europe
while the aggregate Titles Of those not rich VIII
be combined to form alumni Scholarships,
t, be filled by the Society. Local alumni asso-
Citations may found scholarships to be enjoyed
by their nonnce The Richmond cub, VIC un-
derstand, has already done this What object
more worthy the attention Of the wealthy than
such contribution to high learning? hat
more appropriate or lasting monument to a de-
1artcd loved one than a memorial scholar
ship? As the committee e'oqucnt!y remark
''rhc names and memories OF the great and
good, who, two, three, four aud five hundred
years ago founded the numerous scholarships
and tclowships in connection with the great
English Universities have been blessed through
all these centuries, aud are still held m gratcln!
remembrance by their countrymcn, and cspccl-
ally by those who have been the Immediate
beneticiaries Of their noble generosity.
But, owing to the war, there are compare
lively few rich people among the friends of the
University, 50 that We do not expect the Gu
dowment to be made up as much by the dona-
tions of that unfortunately small class as By the
tens the twcn,icS, and the fities Of those not
rich, or even Of those of narrow means. let
none who can do no better $cruple to offer such
contributions, and let al! do according to their
ability, and the requisite sum will soon be cell
lected
One word now to any WHO maintain that tic
University should be scl!-susaining, or that
JlC CuuOWllEul SDuSul IL unnecessarily i0i 49,
The truth is that schools Of the highest learn
ing never are s3lf-slstan!ng. no such lnstltu-
ton Of learning now exists, or ever did exist,
any where in the world, or i'll any age of the
world, which was not sustained by large anaul.
ties derived from permanent endowment or
State appropriation It we wish our Univcr-
sity to be University indeed, to keep pace
with the times and to continue to shed the
bcuefccnt Influences Of high culture through
out the land, we must enrich it rather let lis
give it million than half that sum it would
be none too much. The University Of Berlin
receives from the Prussian government an an
nuity Of Sill 900, and yet, in report on Ger
man university education, made by high au-
thority to the British House of Commons, this
sum is spoken of us conspicuous!y inadequate.
The projected endowment of our University
would yield less than onc-fourth the amount
which, u a country where education is notori
ously cheap, has been declared insufficient.
The highest education is necessarily expcn-
s:ve. Superior gifts and learning must DC paid
for in the professor as we'll as in the lawyer or
medical man. Libraries, apparatus and other
appliances Of advanced culture cost money. Our
people may as well at once face the question,
and if they really value such culture, make up
their minds that the means Of securing 1t must
be paid for Let it be paid for once for all in
liberal endowment, and, not only will the
permanent prosperity Of our University be Sc
cured, but its advantages placed within reach
of multitudcs to whom they are now necessarily
denied.
We understand that Mr.. Chapman Maui
pin, the agent of the Alumni in behalf of
the Endowment (who has been already intro
duced to our readerS} will visit Alexandria now
in a few days. His arrival will be duly an
nounccd