Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-07-14
KANSAS LETTER.
The State University.
'speciL Correspondsnos of the S0rthv est

During the last week we took a trip up
to Lar-'tee, this State, and while there
visitet g University, and will try TO
give some idea Of what is to be seen there.
TEa building is one of the finest Of its
kind in the United States, having been
built at cost of over two hundred
thousand dollars. The material used is
limestone, ''rock faced" The dimensions
are, length 246 feet; width of center 9S
feet; width of wings go feet; hight of the
two observatories, 95 feet; total number
of rooms, "a including hall 94 feet long,
SO feet wide and 3j feet high. 1t is stu
ated upon the summit of Mount Dread.
and the view from the towers is very ex-
tensiye. The structure has a very im-
posing look as seen from the city. AS
we entered we were met by an attendant
who conducted us through the building
showing all the sights and explaining all
that was new, wonderful and strange.
We first visited the Museum of natural
history and saw enough curiosities to
satisfy Barnum himself. Not the least
interesting was the collection of snakes
preserved in alchohol. The Orinthologi.
cal collection was good but does not near
equal that of Col. Goss, of this place.
The specimens lack the life like appear
ance that is the characteristic of those
prepared by him. The specimens OF
stuffed animals are much better and COM
prise nearly every species in the west.
We next proceeded to the grand hall
which is a splendid room, furnishing
comfortable seating for over fifteen hun
dred persons. On the rostrum, occupy
ing prominent place is bust of Amos
Lawrence, of Boston, the founder of the
town and the originator of the University,
he having given the sum of ten thousand
dollars for the endowment of school of
high grade. Then we passed through
various rooms all furnished with the best
of apparatus; among the number were
the Latin and Greek room which are
supplied with copies of ancient staunary,
drawing representing scenes of ancient
life, plans of public buildings &C., &c.
The last thing we passed up winding
stair to the top of the north observatory,
and though it was hard climb we felt
well repaid by the view to be enjoyed
there At another visit we met Chancel-
lor Marion, Prof. Miller, of the Matha-
matical department, the Prof. of Latin,
D. H. Robinson, and Prof. Garfield of
the department of English Literature.
They all seem to be very common men,
that is, they do not put on as much style
nor conduct themselves as pompously as
some men we have known that did not
know one quarter as much as any one
of them.
We almost forgot to mention the Ii.
lbrary which contains more than four
thousand volumes and is receiving yearly
accessions of hundreds more. Bit we
had better stop for if we once get to writ
ing of books this letter will prove to be
of indefinite length, and also be continu
ed in our next.
The University was attended last yeal
by nearly five hundred students and the
yearly attendance is on the rapid increase.
Take it all around the State University is
one of which any State or country might
well be proud, and its influence in form,
ing the minds and morals of the rising
generation is of inestimable value.
Long live" the University of Kansas.
G. L. E.