The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1895-08-22
STATE UNIVERSITY.
An Integral Part Of Public
School System.
The President the Father of the Great
Family of Students.
Interesting Letter From Prcsident-Elect
Garfield to the Board of Trustees.

The newly elected president of the
Ohio State university. Chancellor Jas.
II. Garfield, of the Nebraska university,
IS expected to arrive in Columbus about
July l. 1t was hoped that ne would be
here to attend the commencement in
June, but the closing exercises of the
institution with which he is yet con-
nected makes that an impossibility.
Before President Garfield accepted
the position offered him by the trus-
tees, of our state institutio there was
much correspondence between those
interested. as would be expected under
the circumstances; he making exhaus-
tive inquiries in every line bearing up
on the institution, and the trustees
giving him all possible information.
In one of these letters written before
his acceptance OF the presidency, he
wrote his views upon the connection of
Il state university with the public
schools, and the relations of the chan
cellor (president) TO the regents (trus-
tees), the faculty, the students and the
public. In this letter President Cam
field says:
"a state university is an integral
part of the great public school system.
1t belongs to the people, and to the
whole people. It's purpose is widely
and practically benefccnt. 1t is to
minister to the needs of the greatest
number. Therefore it can not by any
forced process be lifted to an ideal po-
sition out of touch with the primary
and secondary schools and their pupils.
1t can advance only as there is general
Improvement in the public schools of
the state. But it must lead in this adj
vance ync2t: i must lc,,c,sGr. 81 /, =: re
the entire school sys-em.
The chancellor of the university has
four-fold relations, to the regents, to
the faculty. to the students and to the
people.
TO the regents, he must be the one
who wisely yet vigorously executes
their plans: who sees that every man
is well placed and that every dollar
is well spent; who can at any time put
the board in possession of any infor-
nation it may need regarding the
material condition or educational work
of the university; and who will make
it possible for the board TO con-
sider general policies rather than
to master details He is to keep the
board in touch with every person, !
and every interest, and every condition
but only in touch, not burdened
therein.
''To the faculty he is the one who
makes possible uninterrupted atten-
ton to the work OF investigation and
instruction, who sees that each has the
greatest equality in right OF way ard
ali reasonable assistance in running
his race, who prevents friction and re-
mSves Misunderstanding who is sufTi-
ciently sympathetic and sufficiently in
formed as to the work OF each to
quicken with ccmmendation where
commendation will count most, and to
stand like wall of adamant between
an instructor and unjust criticism or
attack from either inside or outside
the university world, and who pos ,
sesses wisdom, energy and tact-the |
three conditions precedent to success.
full leadership.
ITO the students. he is the father OF
the university family, the one who has
a broad outlook both within and with
out the institution, and who has both (
experience and observation as to men
and affairs. And therefore is wise
counselor, who has forgotten neither !
his youth nor his blunders. And there.
fore has the patience of true friend,
who is open and approachable, thought
full and considerate, more willing to
close his eyes at times than to be al
ways making an issue yet with a
constantly firm though light touch on
the reins.
ITO the people, he is man who
breaks bread with them under their
own roofs without regard to the So
cial distinction or condition; who lis
tens to their suggestions and studies
their needs, and is constantly planning
to meet both as far as in him lies; who
reports to them face to face the work
accomplished, either by the institution
or 10y some son or daughter; who de-
vises ways of exciting their interest
and securing their patronage, or draw
ing them from mere Indifference tc
active cooperation; who feels himself
to be their hired man in 4 peculiar
sense OF the words and accountable to
them for proper use of the power
which they have entrusted to him, and
who can secure their confidence by the
largeness and generosity and value OF
his public services. The Dispatch.
How vividly the home and its sur.
roundings reveal character! Take
view OF the immediate external sur
roundings of the homes in any neigh
borhood. To the observing eye does
not each little plat of ground about
the home tell much of the characters
tics of those who dwell therein? Here
is order, there disorder On one hand
we see neatness and precision; on the
other chaos and confusion. Here you
see expense and labor, but all misdi
rected, without skill or knowledge.
Again you see evidences OF taste, but
too much was attempted and the lack
OF time and means resulted in failure.
Here we see procession of trees,
shrubs and flower beds, without plan,
d mixed nursery and not a landscape.
There are here neither trees nor
shrubs, nor flowers. and the home
looks naked and desolate.
Almost every phase of human char.
acter is shown. We have reflected