Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-22

THE STANFORD UNIVERSITY.

The news received yesterday of the
steps being taken by its founders to begin
active work upon the Leland Stanford Jr.
University, was read with specially deep
day when the benefcence of the projectors
of this great educational work induced
them to put their hands and seals to the
deeds Of trust that gave tangible assurance
of the scheme taking form, has there been
any complaint that there was unusual de-
lay in setting the institution upon its feet.
Californians are fully aware that universe
ties are matters of growth and are not
made. Not even the wealth and enthusi-
asm OF the founders can force the growth
speedily of the great enterprise to which
they have devoted the chief labors of
their remaining life. The most they can
do is to furnish the mediums for it. This
they are doing with a prodigality Of en-
dowment never paralleled. We have now
the assurance that the site for the build
ings will be fixed upon within the next
three months, and that the work of erect
ing them will begin early in the new year.
But in the meantime Governor Stanford is
giving to the scheme that deep considera-
ton, and gaining that technical knowledge
50 absolutely necessary to the success of
the Inauguration of the work. 1t is stated
that he has been in consultation with
prominent educators at the East, and has
been viewing the working methods of
several educational institutions, training
schools, chronological institutes and schools
OF manual labor on the Atlantic side In
the meantime, also, trusted adviser goes
to Europe TO examine college and school
buildings, and to CLEAN all possible infor-
NATION from the experience of educa-
tors in the several countries of the
old world. The expression was made
IN these columns some months ago that we
had reason to believe prime object with
Governor Stanford is to make the educa-
tion at the new institute very practical.
since he had said while in Sacramento
last, with emphasis that his idea was to
educate contemporaneously- train on
parallel lines the hand and the head. That
Is TO say, young men and women will be
fitted for skiilful entry upon yocations use
ful to society and sheet anchors for them
selves Il appears from the dispatches
that he has reiterated this view, and it
may therefore be taken that the classicists
at the East have not drawn his attention
from this all important object He is re-
ported as again saying that it is his desire
to lit young people at the University for
entry upon such active duties of life that
they can earn their own livelihood on
leaving the institution. We may, there
fore, take this much as granted, that the
University is to he training school for
the hand Is well as a center of intellectual
culture. 1t is altogether probable that
this viii become the chief feature of the
fniversitv-it certainly will be the first
entered upon. That is to say, the entries
for scholarship will be first and largest in
the scientific and mechanical departments
and TO encourage this provision is to be
made to enable families to live near the
college while educating their children
thus surrounding the place with domeSti,
influences. From the manual labor training
departments then we anticipate the earliest
fruits OF the great work, while for the
development of the classical side of the
Institution we may have towait very much
longer. The demand of the day is that
our youth shall be trained to manual labor
and skilled yocations. 1t is a manifesto
tion of the practical side of a verv prac.
teal age. The idea is gaining ground that
we are educating our children too freely in
intellectual directions to the neglect of that
practical knowledge that shall fit then
for the struggle in life that eacl
wear grows sharper and more difficult
We look forward to the Leland Stanford
Jr. University becoming from the outse
the most imposing ard practical teacher o
the dignity of labor, and the most con
spicuous and commanding training schoo
of the world. 1t is not only to be tht
cultivator of brain, but the eonseryator o
Drawn. 1t is not 10 turn out men anC
women highly cultivated in intellec
alone, but it is to give them the practical
knowledge how to apply their learning tt
the betterment of themselves and those t
become dependent upon them, and hence
to the betterment of society at large. Ii
this age we have proved that becoming
skilled by ahard knock" and ''long serv.
ice is no morenecessary. With tho
appliances of an inventive age, the adj
-,-,,,o, =, II n ,,.tc and fhe sciences the de