Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-06-04
The University of Virginia.

10 me edlt0r OF inc dteLuHHtN UdZette.
Many friends of our State University
have read with interest and approval the re.
cent structures of the GAZETTE on the action
of the last legislature in cutting down the
annual appropriation for its maintenance.
They felt no surprise, however, that u
journal which has for generations been
80 earnest ard consistent supporter
of the sacred cause of education in Virginia
should be SO minded on this important ques-
ton.
There might well have been added to the
arguments matshalled by you against the
abridgment of the University's allowance
one other which l venture here to mention.
Twice in late years the annual appropria-
ton had been increased-to the final maxi
mum CT S40,000--on the express condition
that additional and important charges
should be provided out of it, and when
the late reduction was made none Of
these requirements were Withdrawn. II
was in this way excessively that free
tutor for Virginia academic students was
offered, chair Of English established, en-
cheering and analytical chemistry raised to
full professorships, assistant instructorships
instituted, and the amount for repairs aud
improvements doubled. 1t was surely un
just to lake away part Of the money given
for these purposes without relieving the in-
stitu!ion proportionstely CT such additional
charges.
While the interest Of your readers in the
University is presumably more than usually
alert, it is not inappropriate to lay before
them certain facts concerning the presen;
condition of that great school and the work
it is doing Oat Of nearly 400 students this
session, 242 are from Virginia-the highest
number since the war. The law school is
up to the average of the best years in the
same period, and the number in the medi
cal department is the highest since 1867. A
hitherto unusual number of students In this
department are now induced 10 return sec
ond session for graduation, the growth Of
the hospital and dispensary in the direction
of clinical facilities having achieved this de.
sirable result. Among the academic and
professional students both good order and
diligence have prevailed
The recognition abroad of the Virginia Univer-
sity is gratifying. Its faculty have been invited
to send delegates to the celeb :aton of the SOOth
anniversary Of the University Of Bologna and
two eminent alumni have consented to accept ap-
pointment as such-i. @. the Hon. Boyd Wincles-
ter. U. s. Minister Al Berne and the Rev. George
Is. Taylor, ID. j.. now rPSlucnI Ill hOluc III Ill
astronomical observatOries in foreign lands the
finc work of the Leander Mccormick observatory,
under the direction of Professor Stone with
Telescope hat has but one superior In the world,
makes our University known. Her school ofnat-
ural history, headed by one of her own alumni,
contributes to the great librarit Of the old well
as the new world in the shape of government re-
ports of geological investigations, and studies in
fossil botany, by Professor Fontaine Some of
Professor Humphreys monographs on Greek
philology are translated into modern Greek and
published in Athens; while Professor Mallets
high reputation original investigator is vim
Dictated by honorable place in the proceedings of
the Royal Society in London.
OF 9,160 students in her first half century, the
University sent out 5000 physicians, 1,935 law
yers, 500 professional teachers and 265 ministers
of religion. Her alumni in that period included
34S members Of State legislatures, 167 judges 90
members of Congress, 30 generals, governors, 2
cabinet ministers and speakers of the House of
Representatives. No less than . 300 were in the
service of the Confederate States. L. NJ. B.
Fairfax county, Va June 4, 1888.