The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-14
THE COOPER INSTITUTE.
The Scope and Purpose of This Great and
True Charity.

THE COOPER INSTITUTE.
The Scope and Purpose of This Great and
True Charity.
New York Herald.
A quarter of a century ago. lacking one
year, Peter Cooper realized the dream of his
life in the establishment of the institution
which bears his name. Believing, as few
very few, rich men do, that his wealth was a
sacred trust to be used for the benefit of his
fellow-creatures, Mr.. Cooper gave not merely
of his money but his life thenceforth and
anxious thought to the building up and
maintenance of the Cooper Union for the Adj
vancement of Science and Art. The title,
while it expresses high purpose, falls far
short of conveying any idea of the vastrange
OF the good work of the union. The advance
ment of science and art is we'll enough but to
teach, without one cent OF charge, 40, 600
men and women to earn good living at
skilled trades; to cultivate, without money
and without price, the hands and brains of
scores of thousands SO that they may advance
themselves in the world, and to exalt, men
tally, morally and physically the poor and
friendless, are far nobler objects. What the
schools of the Cooper Union do is to give
boys and girls that practical education which
will be inestlmably valuable to them in their
trades and professions and enable them to
earn bread and butter and a something be-
sides, for their families.
The actual work of the Cooper Union is
one of the largest of any educational institu-
ton in the world. The reading-room fur
nishes amusement and instruction to over
two thousand people every day, and over
three hundred papers and magazines and five
hundred books are called for. 1t is open
from in the morning until 10 at night
through the week, and on Sundays after II
O'clock and every respectable person is adj
mitted without any formality or restriction.
1t is the largest reading-room in the country,
is well lighted and comfortable, and fully
supplied with the periodical literature of
many languages.
But the reading-room is the least import
ant part of the educational machinery of
Cooper Union. The number of pupils who
entered the various classes last year was
1884. And besides these there are public
lectures every Saturday night during the fall
and winter in the great hall OF the Union,
where about two thousand people assemble
once every week to hear the most distin-
guished men in the country discourse upon
the questions of the day in science, art and
literature.
The building cost $63O,OOO, and Mr.. Coop
er's previous endowments for the support of
the institution have amounted to about
$780, 900. The administration of the interest
from this fund and the general management
of affairs are under the control of
board of trustees, of which Mr.. Cooper
himself continued to be president
and the most active member up to
his death, The present trustees are ex-
Mayor Edward Cooper, the founders son;
Mr.. Abram S. Hewitt, Peter Cooper's son-in-
law and business partner Mr. Daniel F. Tie
mann, Mr. John e. Parsons and Mr.. Wilson
6. Hunt. 1t costs about $50 900 a year to
run the institution, and it is practically self
supporting, the income being derived from
the rents of the stores IN the lower. part of
the building, the great hall in the basement
and tho ha arJs -
fund. But hundreds of applications are an
nually refused for lack of accommodations,
The entire expenditures of the trustees on
the building and education from 1859 to 1892
inclusive, were only $1,549, 1872. Reckoning
the thousands of pupils that have passed
through its classes and the hundreds of
thousands benefited by its other advantages
of instruction, this comparatively small sum
spent in twenty-three years will appear a
very economical means to very large and use
fu ends.
The schools occupy the greater part of the
building. The whole of the large structure
above the reading-room, which is on the
second floor, is DIVIDED into class-rooms and
devoted to educational purposes of a wide
range. There are now $500 pupils, and there
would be many more if the building would
accommodate them. The demand is growing
every year. and in all the departments the
applicants seeking admission far exceed the
accommodations. In some classes the num-
Der of those who are turned away at the be-
ginning of the present year was greater than
the number admitted. The pupils are re-
ceived on the simple rule of first come first
served the necessary qualifications on the
part of the applicant being good character, a
suitable age and an expressed intention to
turn the advantages of the institution to in
dustrial purposes and selfsupport. Great care
is taken to select for admission those who are
the least able to pay the usual charges of ed
ucational institutions for special instruction
Young men and girls with poor parents, or
who are dependent upon their own re-
| sources, are always given the first choice
Amateurs in art or science are not wanted
and not admitted, with a single unimportant
exception, to be hereafter explained. Such
is the reputation for thoroughness in the in
struction given in these schools that many
parents who can and will pay literally are
anxious to have their children received
The building could be filled with these
amateurs twice over every season, but it
would be directly contrary to the wise pur-
poses of the founder to receive this class
and they are never knowingly taken. The
private pay schools furnish ample provision
for them.
ut is great pity we have no more ROOM"
said Curator Zachos; "this great institution
should be multiplied fourfold. In some of
the Enthusiastically the women's art
school-applications for admission some
times wait for two years before they can be
received. We use every available inch of
room"
Burnetts Cocoaine.