New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-26
A QUAINT OLD COLLEGE.
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.

TFRoM OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE ii'ibo''
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA,VA.,Nov. 2S.-lt Is dliii-
cult the residents say to make the stranger under
stand that the date line above names not only an
institution but town. "Oh, but what Is the place,
how should letters be directedl" is the usual In
ou;rv and when IL ia answered University OF
Virginia. the village anecdote relates that the
innocent visitor still questions 1t was bold and
inst move TO give the title Of the University to the
little village of thousand or more people that
clusters about it. and to furnish it with post
office separate from Charlottesville mile ana q
half distant. AS with Hobart Dartmouth, Am
berst aud many other colleges, the college ~ really
the town IT s the main interest the source OF rev.
enue the essential fact.
The University sits in the centre of low-wallcd
circle of hills-the last undulations by which the
Blue Ridge drops into the barren plains about
Richmond Ones impression in driving up the
shaded carriageway is chiefly Of bricks. Inc nam
buildinr is of brick the dormitorles are OF Drlck'
the walks and walls are of brick; the professors
bonses are built of the same abiding material. 1t
ia n testimony to its durability that all the struct-
nres are in excellent conditions; for every one is
reodv IN assure You that the University has no
money 70 waste and at least little to expend upon
rcnairs There has been time for wear too since the
beginning of the institution in 1928.
CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS.
The dormitcres are unique, being OF only
single story, set upon level with the Wlue DITCH
walks from which they are entered, ana running III
long lines as if part of an encampment. narrow
celI-Iike room is allotted to each student It's orc
window is opposite its door, and there is sla'e
roof above The casual spectator would say That It's
uearness to the ground would IN winter prove
maIarions that its opposed door and window must
he fruitful breeders of draughts and that the slate
roof the brick walk and the low arcade when
covers il would supply the traditional egg-boiing
heat during the summer. But it is said that the
students. despite the temptations of an admirably
ordered inir,nary which, in separate building, is
mart of the equipment of the University, keep
nncommonly WELL The dormitories, built in the
way described make four ranges" as they are
termed in the college nomenclature. these are
connected by numerous alleys, and the most deslr-
able Of them are upon the lawn" which Is VII
gilman for campus. 1t is indeed superb lawn.
The main building with its COrinthan pillars aud
facade looks down its length, open at the further
end TO the mountains; and the dormltories, inter
spersed with ten Of the professors dwellings face
il on either side.
This singular design was the idea OF
Of Thomas Jefferson who was in fact the iatheroi
the University. The Italian architects whom he
brought here worked docilcly upon the lines OF ms
theory. and if oddly was sought the result l.
striking success. It is a secluded, not TO say
clustered eject which gets in the midst Of the
narrow court formed by the buildings. At inter
walls of hundred feet or less the SLIM brief posts
which support the arcade running above the walk,
swell into the pOrtly pillars OF the houses assigned
10 the professors These pillars which are Of brick
shaped extcrorly withsGmc often whitcwashedcom-
positc. were intended by Mr.. Jeiierson to illustrate
the orders of Greek architecture by object lesson.
The two ncighbOring houses are alike and Ionic
Corintbian and DOrc quarrel IN the Observers mind
for precedence II all wears n particularly quaint
and decent air, and one likes it at once.
TnF SYSTEM or STUDY.
Before the war-a phrase which dates most inn
porant events in Southern history was pre-cm-
ncntly the college Of the South. II had fcw rivals.
and its broad methods Of study and liberal discl-
uline drew the young men Of family the chvaric
blood which is the precious Southern tradition. 10
its halls. Most educated men older than forty in
the South have spent season here and even now
with the multiplication Of state Universities and
privately endowed colleges in the South Atlantic
and Gulf States, its prestige keeps IL at the head
In 1861 It's seven hundred students went almosiina
a body To- the field. During the wara handful oipro-
fcsSors maintained the outward show ofns,ruction
Joining the army in some instances for the summer
vacation. ne SPACIOUS DullflnE1 NfIb ~ H'Hpith
for Confederate soldiers kept choked by the costly
battles fought near by. When the war was done
the wcaried people turned slowly to the thought Of
education, aud the University regaincd its lost
place slowly Last year, esteemed n comparatively
prospectus one three hundred and thirty students
were enrolled, and tins number Is not likely 10 be
notably increased.
1t il an interesting fact that the University Of
virginia must be regarded as the mother Of the
elective system in this country. From its founda-
ton the students have been allowed entire freedom
of choice in their studies, and except in the schools
of Law and Medicine there is essentially no pre-
scribcd course. The University is also open TO all
corners without the fonnality Of examination; the
rigorous md-tcrm and final tests being relied upon
to keep the classes weedcd. IL is another singular
feature Of the regime that, save the long summer
ntermssion, there il no vacation, nor a single
holiday with the exception Of Christmas. Thanks
giving, New Year Washiugton's Birthday are simply
the last Thursday in November, January l. and
February q, 10 the stern calendar in vogue here,
and Saturday shines not n holiday. Even the
Founders Day of certain northern colleges is
denied the plodding student One would 60. that
he ought to get through with an immense deal of
work, and the local legend is certainly To that
effect. The serious-minded Aumnus OF the Uniyer-
sty Of Virginia assumes fine disdan for the lotus
eating students of Harvard, Yale and Columbia.
If one may take the examinations propoundcd here
as n criterion every Northern cOllegan will doubt
less be willing TO admit that it cannot "seem
always afternoon" TO the University of Virginia
student. These examinations, incredibly enough,
occupy from six TO fifteen hours and are said to
average about ten. 1t is true that the utmost
freedom is allowed, the young men come and go rs
they please, they are subject to no espionage. But
pm. for completion with dilgent labor is clearly
absurd. The general agreement of professors and
students leaves no room for question Of the truth
Of these statements.
STUDENTS AND OFFICERS.
Ii is anatural outcome of the general liberality