The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-20
THE COMPLETE UNIVERSITY.

The opening of the university, attend
ID even with many drawbacks in the
way of its most successful Inaugural
ion, has been such as gives its friends
the greatest confidence in its success.
The fact that the portion of the uni
versity building, now under course OF
could not be ready by the |
18th of September, was diligently cir
culated by those who did not care, for |
some strange reason, to see the insti-
tuition opened with the greatest sue.
cess, and in the number of matricu-
lants, therefore, decided effect was
produced. The unfinished building,
however, is a matter of but small con-
sequence, for temporarily the capitol
is an admirable substitute. Here
the professors find all the
temporary accommodation they need,
while the university building goes
steadily forward towards completion:
and it is said it will be entirely finished
in six weeks, with really some portions
OF the building ready for occupancy
before this period fully transpires.
The impression having been produced,
that it would be impossible to give
accommodation to large number of
students, many who had signifie dtheir
intention to come, were led, at the last
moment, to seek tuition elsewhere,
and most of these, if not all Of them,
have gone beyond the limits Of the
state. But the regents and the
professors are encouraged Though
the matriculants have not run up
into the hundreds, goodly number
of students are here, and they are
earnestly in search of such education
as these professors are ready and able
to extend. At the end Of year these
young men and women will go home
bearing with them the evidences Of
an association, exalting both as to
mental attachments and moral quail
tiles. There need be no fear that the
university Will not grow" for all
universities sufficiently endowed, and
employing the best talent in its edu-
cational departments, do grow.
None deny that the present
faculty of the university is not COM
posed of as able a body of educators
as are to be found in America. They
are all men who have attained wide
distinction as such, while the enviable
regulations of some of them has ex-
tended across two continents. AS the
distinguished chairman of the faculty
said, on the day of its Inauguration,
the university must grow as the tree
of the forest grows Slowly it must
progress through and beyonp its first
stages of life. 1t must be the twig
and then the sapling, but not until
long years of growth mon
arch of the forest. The univer-
sity has started with a most vigorous
and healthy existence. The earth in
which it grows, being rich and nutri-
tious. it will rapidly advance to
vigorous growth, and in the years to
come, fed by this same strong earth,
it will lift its shapely head as high as
the highest. The University Of Texas
has a fund, which if guarded, must
some day be unequalled among en-.
dowments of such institutions, and
with money, backed by talent in the
chairs of the university, there can be
| no guesswork az to what the
University of Texas will grow
to be. In it the people ought tc
feel pride, and sons and daughters
from every community In this great
state should seek shelter beneath its
branches and take home withthem
the rich fruits it must bear. And SO
it will be; year after year these young
men and women will infuse into the
breasts of Texans love for their great
institution of learning. and they will
make it in time, the grandest univer-
sity of America. 1t was suggested
by many persons, who were here al
the Inauguration of the universe
ty, funds being now attain.
able, that the regency should
at once take into consideration
the completion of the university
building. DR.. Smith said, that brick:
and mortar do not make univer
sity. They do not, but without then
a university can not be made. Classic
halls and scientific laboratories and
museums and observatories and liter
airy chapels are as necessary for uni
versity aslthe sun is for the light Of
day. The work having been begun
it should be pushed as rapidly as pos
sible to grand conclusion, common.
surate with the dreams of the fathers
and with the purposes of magnificent
endowments.