Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-04
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.

Our States birth is SO all oc'
curence that it may almost be said &c
have begun its existence with the In
coming of the second century of oul
natioral independence. At all events,
cur system of education, while it par
takes of the nature Of the better sys-
TENS known to and tostered BY the
more advanced communities OF the
older States, is in the very infancy OF
is establishing and especially is this
true with regard to the one single H.
stitntion of learning created and sus-
tanned by the State itse!f-the Univer
sity ut Eiko. And while it is unreas-
enable to suppose that an institution
SO meagerly endowed as this is should
take rank with the completer and
richer colleges of the Atlantic States
and Europe; and while, also, under
ted to be conducted or regarded with
reference to any higher pretension
than that which connects itself with a
preparatory school or & academy,
still its future is matter of grave mo-
ment, as its possibilities are insepara-
BILE from the deliberations and respon-
abilities of the Legislature. BY rare
piece of good fortune, the Regents I'M
der whose charge the affairs Of the
University are placed, have secured
the services. as Principal, OF gentle
man whose healthful freshness Of in
tellect is coupled with rare and ad-
,nirable ripeness of collegiate culture
and thoroughness of education. Under
the ministrations of this enthusiastic
scholar and teacher the State Univer-
>ity has been most successfully
launched and made to yield for the
benefit OF the youths who have been
enabled to avail themselves of its adj
vantases, the full limit of existing pos
sibilities. We hope tina. this promis-
ing school may have the benefit of a
wise and friendly consideration at the
hands Of the present Legislature. Not
any geographical interests or rivalries
Of locality should be permitted to i'm
peril the perfection OF the measures |
necessary to the end indicated. In |
connection with this subject We call |
the attention of the Legislature to |
project with which we have been made |
acquainted, and the substance of which
is the creation by statute OF a system
of county acknowledgement county
to DO entitled to one scholar the ex-
penses of whose residense near the
University should be paid by the
State. We hope to hear this matter
fully discussed, and that such discus
sion may result in tho perfection of a
practical, effective and benificent plan.
An eastern contemporary, discussing
the important subject of 8 liberal edu-
catsOu for the yourg people of the
United States says: D:scai2ing =
vulgar competition in stone and NOR
tar, not relying too much on the grow
ing demand for polytechnic instruc-
ton which so many colleges are prop
erly attempting TO satisfy, they should
feel that for them ADS been reserved
the high mission of creating a univer-
sity which VIII make culture an end
to be pursued for It's own sake and not
q means for fitting men to be instru-
ments. Just as athletic sports are
pursued for the pleasure felt in them, {
although they strengthen the body for !
every useful purpose, SO intellectual (
culture should lie pursued for its own L
nobleness and as its own great reward, d
and the mind will meanwhile be in r
vigorated for all the eXertions of prac- /
tical life. AS the country grows an 1
wealth we shall have a constantly in
class of young men who in Il
herit a com petence, and who will start
in life with the means Of gratifying
taste for art, love for manly recrea-
ton, delight in foreign travel and a =,
desire for intercourse on an equal foot
ing with able and cultivated men. If
We had a university organized on the :.
principle that culture is to be priced -
Tor its own sake and is to be courted
or its beauty more than for its dowry, Z
Is standards OF excellence would be SO
raised that all our colleges would he c.
stirred to emulation. Nothing tends W
o diffuse itself like high excellence, 3
wen in trivial arts. The {, ..mpion CT
billiard players have filed all our N
owns with billiard tables; the cham OF
ZION boatmen have covered our lakes til
nd rivers with healthful and exhil- Ii
rating sport; the race course is filling th
he country with improved breeds of O,
lorses. One Pope or one Tennyson M
pawns a school of imitators, whose n,
Heaven save US from n,
eading, although they illustrate the
,ndency of excellence to excite effort To-
. the same direction. All kinds of -;
ulture descend, like streams, from
heir sources but if there were no