The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-11
The Agricultural and Wccilanicai
College.
For the DiSpatch.l

ElAcKSBuHG. VA. December s, 1879
printed report. which has just appear
a lrr.. shows that the Board OF this Col
-. ,rran 10 do things that ought to be pre-
vented. Trey are going 10 meet this week
n Richmond. and rs TINT will be the fourth
melting that lbey have held at placrS dis
ian, from the College cut OF six meetings
hid within sixteen months: as they do not
s,1 inclined when III the College to listen
10 any uUt those who tell them what they
want 20 hear. and IS they Go not mind The
sey>paDers all about the State which have
a.o,ed the policy OF the Board, the under
,.Dei and many more IN BiackSburS would
lie 10 ask the attention OF The Legislature
. The affairs OF the College.
Injustice Done in turning out Individual
tfcers or improper selection OF new Of
Ter, are things that the Legislature cam
BOZ stop 10 consider. Bot making the
4 gbool. which has always been too military,
rere military still, and giving the only col
= e:s which the State has ever provided for
pin 40 ngMen to the students OF clas-
Z .c, and PROFESSIONS, so that the working
tanner and mechanic will find he will have
10 mere chance there in future than he has
heretofore bad at the State University or
] the yirgnil Military Institute, when a
College Board has shown q purpose 10 make
such changes, in spite OF the Judgment OF
everybody, it is time for those who are over
The Board to interfere.
We were told after the August meeting
and after the November meeting OF the
Beard that the Board did not mean any
such great changes; but the printed report
settles that question.
TIE citizers here have had to lodge and
board students and sell them supplies Tor
;Ayir own messeS at rates below any known
anywhfre else. 1t was the only way TO
draw or to keep the sons, OF poor men, and
We took them INTO our homes and shared
TAgt we had with them. Now they are all
10 live IN one big mess and are to be fed by
no Salaricd officers, that board may be
"Cheaper.' Everybody knows it viii be
dcsTer. And our own sons, with homes IN
SIGHT OF the College. are required TO leave
i1eir ZONES. lodge in college-rooms, and eat
1 IN The college mess.
The military gentlemen who have now
20; their own way in the Board no doubt
think, as they plainly show by their " re-
! port" that this is the way TO secure cheap
less and good morals, but few other peo-
From the first there has been great deal
TO much Of the military. For every stu
dent to drill every day during his whole
college course, with the irrtations that ac-
company the drill, has heen the chief bur
! sea and the greatest difficulty and objec-
saon 10 large part Of the students. We
lever could see why every man Should
earn drill any more than every one should
! EARN Latin, ana many and many young
Aecbanic would have come here to spend q
/ lev months on drawing, or young farmer
70 study something that he specially felt the
want Of, but be must buy a uniform and
aF!Ii every day, even if, as has often been
'ot case with students. h. was overtwcnty-
! one and free man, who knows his own
wants.
Now, al! this is TO be much worse. There
4 "a much higher-priced uniform, including
Z araTy helmet, with spike on top, that
.">'s s3.i5. No wonder that the students
I .a'e long been going away, and that few OF
1 a"ni nean 10 return. This sort OF thing
! VA gone long way too far. We have q
I rs1!'payiug delegate and 4 readiusling sem
! T,W' We lock 10 both TO interfere, and
4 "!ns Tins College back TO its former uses.
pJ .rySprpr