Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-03
VIRGINIA COLLEGE YEAR.

Soon the Virginia commencement sea-
son, with its bursts of oratory' It's many
pleasures and gayeties, its Destowal Oh
degrees and honors. will be fully under
way and ere long we shall know the full
measure Of the harvest of graduates
From what can be learned. this harvest
will be quite a large one. The colIeso
year in the State has been very sauslac-
tory both I'm respect Of the aggregate
attendance upon our universities ana COL
lcges and thoroughness Of work done, as
well by the students as by the faculties
All things considered, all of our higher
institutions of learning have been wei
patronized, and the present session mas
been with each one Of progress in the
direction Of insuring increased patronage
for the session Of 1861.
There has also been general progress IN
another direction, that of broadening the
course Of instruction in certain depart
ments and introducing specialties' But
this progress, it is gratifying to observe
has been along conservative lines. WINE
introducing new courses Of study and
necessary TO secure certain degrees, our
advanced institutions have not discarded
the old system of leducEuon mat Is
synonymous with cultivation. They nave
not allowed the idea Of the practical IN
education" that has such a strong hold
IN the North and West to subordinate
the liberal, Of which some Of the brightest
statemanship in the South and the South's
civilization and splendid social structure
before the war were largely the product.
During the past few years athletics have
become a prominent feature In all or
our higher institutions of learning ana
with rare exceptions have received the
cordial encouragement of the governing
powers Of those institutions. But 1t is
also gratifying 10 note that the fear that
interest in athletics would work detri-
ment TO the college literary societies and
cause enthusiasm in college debates ana
oratorlcal contests to languish, has proved
unfounded The Virginia college literary
societies that have educated in oratory
so many Virginia public speakers, have
as firm a place in the hearts of the Nir-
gina student class as ever.
There Is a direction, however. in which
there has not been the progress we would
Ike to see We refer to the matter or
increasing the endowments of our insu-
tutions This is not the fault Of the col
leces and universities, but of the people
who could afford 10 aid them along that
line Our seats Of learning are keeping
fully abreast of institutions of similar
grade in the North and the West as far
as is concerned the question Of general
educational standard, and there is no
excuse for sending a Virginia boy
North for the purpose of re-
ceiving q college or university educa-
ton. But our men Of means are wofully
behind the men OF means I'm the two
great divisions OF the country mentioned
I'm gliding the cause of advanced educa-
ton. No man can build more enduring
monument to his memory than by in
creasing the general endowment of an
educational institution, or establishing
in II a scholarship or fellowship, the win
ming of which would afford some poor boy
or girl the opportunity, not otherwise pos
slble of acquiring thorough education.