The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-12-27

VuoS- lAo university a4U tue
Normal Schools NO Slate ia Ret.
ter Prepared to Educate tho Grow
ing Generation.
THE UNIVERSITY.
As Americans we may claim for our
educational systems as much Of q dis
unctiOn from those Of other countries,
both in their organization and effect
rs is commonly granted our other in
situations. This is partly. due to the
comparative infancy Of the country,
but more largely and permanently to
the composite character Of our civili-
xation, fact which will probably rem
der it impossible for our educational
systems to stand, at any point in their
career, on a perfectly just plane Of
comparison with those Of other lands.
While. however, the competition is
waged between our country and others
with such a degree of strength and
equality in other departments Of life,
we must expect that the effects Of our
educational systems as well Will be
estimated by the results OF the systems
Of other countries. We may therefore
consider it our good fortune when we
fall into the hands of so fair and COM
prehensive a foreign critic as the au-
thor of Bryce's American Common
wealth, who devotes a chapter of his
extensive work to the methods of
higher institutions Of learning in
America. Mr.. Bryce not only gives
due recognition to the influence upon
the community of the large and older
centers of education, but allows ample
credit for the work of the younger in
situations, which has not previously
been given sufficient account in the
summing up of general educational re-
suits. From the summary of the chap
ter on universities are taken the fol-
lowing remarks: I'm some Of the
smaller Western colleges one finds to-
day men of great ability and great at
tainments; one finds students who are
receiving an education quite as thor
ough, though not always as wide, as
the best Eastern universities can
give" "They get hold Of a
multitude of poor men who might
never resort to a distant place for ed
ucation." .They give the
chance Of rising in some intellectual
walk of life to many a strong and
earnest nature who might otherwise
have remained an artisan or store
keeper and perhaps failed in those
avocations."
In speaking further on the general
educational aspect Of the country he
says: "But If may venture to state
the impression which American uni
versities have made upon me I will
say that while of all the institutions of
the country they are those of which
Americans speak most modestly, and,
indeed, deprecatingly, they are those
which seem to be at this moment
making the swiftest progress and to
have the brightest promise for the
future"
Six years before the admission of the
Dakotas as states to the Union the
need was felt in this section of the
country for an institution Of learning
which should both supply a demand
and prove a center Of inspiration. Ac-
cordingly, some enterprising citizens
of the territory pushed the matter and
bill was introduced in the territorial
assembly by Hon. George III. Walsh
and became law Feb. q, 1863. In
the eighteen months following a sub
stantial brick building was erected for
the use of the university and it was
first opened for the reception of stu
dents Sept. 8, 1880. By the division Of
the Territory Of Dakota and the admis-
sion Of North Dakota as a state in
1890 the university became the state
university Of the state. From the be-
ginning the hope and aim was to es-
tablish just such an institution as Mr..
psVyf> to- IT. =
be found as teachers linen of ability
and fine attachments" and which
should provide ian education quite as
thorough as the best Eastern UNIVERSE
ties can give" to "young people Of
strong and earnest natures" who might
never be able to resort to places of ed
ucation outside their own state. The
university feels that it has already
given number of young persons Of
this description a chance to rise and
take the places in the high citizenship
OF this country to which their native
abilities entdtle them, and that, in the
institutions short career of twelve
years, 1t has to a gratifying degree
realized the fulfillment of it's designs.
President Merrifeld, a Yale gradu.
ate, who has TAUGHT in the institution
soAA4~S 40 OA61AAxh3 duu WIN lOr IOuc
years has stood at the head of the uni
versity, zealously guarding the inter-
ests of the state as represented there,
is q man who enjoys the friendship
and respect Of many Of the foremost
educators Of the country and has,
therefore, superior advantage in OBJ
tanning for the university as heads of
Its departments graduates from the
first-class institutions of this country
and Europe. As result, the univers-
tty now possesses q stan Of instructors.
which, although limited in number
because of the financial inability of
the state to support an extensive in
structional force, is in strength and
modern culture quite equal that of
many Of the older institutions of the
East.
Six classes have been srsdu.
ated from the university thus
far averaging eight members each.
The class this year bids fair to more
than double the usual number. as II
now consists Of twenty young men and
women, the per cent Of young women
In this class being much larger than ia
the proceeding one. In ability. the
members Of this class can hold their
own with any Of the graduating classes
of the institutions located in older nor