Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-02
TIE UNIVERSITY.
The New Year Opens With an Increased
entance-Neeels of the Institution.

The New Year Opens with an Increased
Attendance of the Institution.
Special Correspondence Of ne Register.
MoRcANrowN, September 3O.-The
school year Of lS90-9l with its manifold
duties is upon us. Ii has been remarked
frequently that Che new students, of
whom there are more than usual So
early I'm the year. are more mature. more
manly. and wthal a better appearing
SET of young men as a class than ever
before. The law class numbers thirty
men, of whom five are alumni, and all
the other departments are correspond
iugly well represented. All the new
professors are giving the greatest salts
faction and the outlook for the present
year is especially gratifying. The Uni
ver>ity is now supplied with larger
corps Of professors than ever before,
due 10 the increased attendance.
and many of the department,
have been enlarged, improved and
made more practical. The numer-
Gus additions % the Scientific course,
have rendered them more attractive and
efficient. At this, as at every other
State University, generous provision
for libraries, museums, chemical, phys
Zeal and philosophical apparatus is alb
SOlutely necessary, not only 10 the per
manent retention of the best instruct
Ors and 90 attract the best students,
but 90 the ultimate success of the Uni
yersity as am educational institution.
The rapid development of higher ed
rr. % ID
advance of practical interests, has, i'm
these latter days. given death blow To
that old theory that where the greatest
material and political activity prevails.
men are but little disposed 20 inyeSti-
gate and theorizc. but that in more
tranquil periods they turn 20 reflection.
We DO not urge an age practice alone,
bat of practice aud theory combined.
one of the UniyerSity'S greatest needs
is mechanical building with all the
apparatus aud machinery necessary for
practical work-a school In which a
student may become familiar with
steam engines, lathes. pattern. carpen-
ter aud cabinet work, and all wood
working machinery; FORCES. anvilS and
cupo'as. "a school of mechanical en-
cheering where student may receive
practical instruction in the art Of the
founder, the blacksmith, the machincSt
and the general worker i'm iron. An
other need of the University is a prac-
z tical course m agriculture. The day Of
"book farming" is paSt-we want a
system whereby students may become
scientific agriculturalists and hOrticul-
turiSts. If they so desire. In this de-
partment we want enough theory 20 eN-
plain practice and enough practice "a
I illustrate theory.
10 is exceedingly strange but never
/ thciesS true that the University museum
/ is sadly neglected. The collections are
small and with a few exceptions eX-
/ trcmcly common. In country rich in
geologic. geologic and historic remains,
+ why is some effort not made TO increase
|and improve this very important feature
of the school And then instead OF be-
/ ing closed for the entire year, except
perhaps commencement week, 10 should
DE free of access 10 students. We need
To gymnasium adequately equipped,
wherein physical culture may be pro-
vidod for Since we have cO-educatiOn
we need dOrmitorieS for the acc0mmo-
|dation of the young ladies OF the state,
|and until their erection the friends of
/ the system can not reasonably hope for
+ the highest success. These are some
+ but not AN of the UniverSity'S needs,
and while they are being sup
piled another duty devolyes on
I the school men of the State,
viz: of urging the establishment of
intermediate and training schools
whereby may be bridged that charm
I that now exists between the high
schools of the State and the Freshman
year of the University.
Superintendent Morgan is % be con-
graduated ON having established har-
mOnv between the University and the
normal schools, but this is not sufficient.
A preparatory school should bee cStab-
l~hed iu every Senatorial district, for
which purpose the Legislature must i'm
sure financial support aud lawful en-
cOuragemcnt.
When these missing factors are sup
piled. when the University shall become
as indissolubly connected with the high
schools as is the high school with the
grammar school. or the grammar school
with the primary grades, then can We
hope for that educational millennium
when no county, no township and no
hamlet iu Our State shall be- so remote
as to fail Co receive some inspiration To
right living aud right thinking from the
uphuilding and eicyating of the West
/ Virginia University.