The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-27
To Give the Bows a Chance.

Guthrie o. T.. Jan. 26.-The board OF re-
| gents of the State university met here last
/ night to prepare for the second term OF the
year, which begins February L Among
| those present was Mr.. David r. Boyd, pres
| ident and professor Of mutual and moral
science. From him learned great many
interesting things about the institution and
4 its progress. The university is the result
| of an act passed in 1892 entitled An act 10
locate and establish the University OF
| Oklahoma" The act provided that when
| the town of Norman, county seat OF Cieve-
| land county should have paid the sum of
$1,000 and donated fifty acres OF land the
university should be located there The
| solid business men of Norman. who were
alive to the importance Of such an insti-
/ tuition, soon put up the money required and
| donated the land. The building was built
of Kansas City pressed brick and furnish
ed with all the modern equipments OF an
ambitious seat of learning. The universe
4 ty is supported by a tax OF y OF mill on
each dollar of valuation on the assessment
roll of the territory and its future pros
! perity is assured, as the lands donated by
| the government to its support become
valuable.
| The faculty of the college is very strong
one and has been so recognized under DEM
ocratic territorial government The presi-
dent, although being Republican, was
| retained in Office by Governor Renfrow,
| who recognized in him ability, both as
scholar and busienss man. The faculty
| is COMPOSED of David r. Boyd, OF the
University Of Wooster professor Of mental
and moral science; Edwin DeBarr, Uni
versity of Michigan, professor Of chemis-
| try, physics and pharmacy, James S. Bu-
| chanan, Cumberland university. professor
Of history and civics; JoseDh T. Paxton,
University of Missouri, professor OF Greek
and Latin; Frederick s. Elder of Princeton
| instructor in mathematics; Miss Mary j.
| Overstreet, instructor In English; Grace
| A. King principal of musical department
ard Maude DeCou. librarian. The course
of studies embraces everything usually
| taught in the various state universities.
| In fact the Oklahoma university has been
! admitted into full fellowship with all the
state ersities, being a member or the
| League OF American State universities
There are now 13 pupils in tn university,
with sufficient room for 200 more. Presi-
dent Boyd is anxious to increase the MEM
hership and is making strenuous EFFORTS IN
that direction and towards that end. He
is met with the general ignorance or the
people with reference to the facts connect
-
the people Of Oklahoma have no knowledge
of the fact that tuition in the university
is absolutely free to the people Of the terri
rory and half the other quarter have an
idea that a university Is suitable only for
those VINO are rich and aristocra-ic. These
ara mis- taken ideas. The university or
Oklahoma, as we'll as that OF Kansas and
those Of other state, is not intended for the
rich and aristocratic youth, such institu-
tons are intended for all classes and are
Do troniyed mostly by the middle classed
Ninety per cent Of the pupils OF Oklahoma
university are the sons OF farmers. Anu
speaking about farmers reminds one OF
Populists. 1t is not generally known that
the first Populist legislature OF Kansas
made more liberal appropriations FOR the
state university at Lawrence than any oth-
er legislature in the history Of the state
Professor Boyd gives some interesting
facts about the pupils who attend. some
OF them live on $50 year. They FORM
club of four or five each, rent a cheap
house with modest furniture. supply II with
cooking utensils and other domestic neces-
stiles, cook turn about snd IN this way ger
along nicely, The boys who are forced to
do this from the stress OF limited finances
are the boys who graduate at the head or
ctdSSeSa
a-ises out of the forced economy OF the
boys and that Is the poor lights they sup
ply themselves with. Inferior camps IN
lure their oversight. Professor Boyd visits
them frequently and gives them some hints
that aid them materially. There IL one
class 10 whom the university Is OF great
benefit and they are taking advantage or
It, This class Is composed OF the boys VINO
came out to Oklahoma In Its early Gays
when they were 13 and IA years OF age ana
went to work raking and scraping with
their parents to make q living. Now that
they are In better circumstances they are
too old to 60 into the public schools and
hence turn their faces towards the unlver-
s,ty of Oklahoma, which has splendid ar
rangements and wise provisions made Tor
this class. They are taken into the pre-
paratory class Of that institution and COM
mence there where they left of when the
hope of improved condition siezed them
and they were inspired to come out ana
grow up with q new country.
The university is supplied with splendid
library of something like 1900 volumes and
IL is growing every year by donation and
purchase. Being a young institution the
library is made up Of the very best up-to-
date books, magazines and newspapers.
The university is the depository for all gov
eminent reports and IL Is also the custo-
dian OF the State Historical society. 1t gets
every newspaper and publication printed
In Oklahoma and this, in itself, Is great
help to the students in giving them enter
tainment and knowledge combined.
The apparatus in the laboratories is very
fine. the electrical and mechanical appara-
tus being among the best in the country.
For reasons stated in the case of the libra
~ it is up-to-date in every respect and was
imported direct from Paris. France.
There is one thing very commendable IN
the spirit of Oklahomans and that is they
love their young institutions. They take
great pride in the territorial university, and
we'll they might. for II will be the making
and the moulding Of a strong character IN
the rising generation OF young men who
are 10 guide the future destinies OF what
promises TO be one Of the greatest and
most enlightened commonweslths in the
United States. DAVID d. LEAHY.