Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-03-29
Letter rrori, III. Rouss.
Re EaolOscs a CHECK for $4,000 70 ne uni
UerslAl Of Virginia.
Especial to the baltimore Sum j

"Carrying out my promise made sew
eral months ago, hereby send you my |
check for $4,000. the appropriation of
which YOU will understand. but which 1
will here state. Having been informed
that the $es, 900 previously donated by
me was not sufficient to complete the
physical laboratory building which bears
my name and unwilling to permit any
one else to have part in work which /
consider to be my special privilege, l
desire so much of the sum sent as may be
needed to be used in liquidating the
balance due on the cost of the building,
the remainder to be added to the equip
ment fund.
81 regret to observe through the Vir-
ginia papers that there is disposition on
the part of some members of the Legisla-
ture to curtail the annual appropriation
to the university. regard this as a
great mistake. Because of its great
/ name as an educational institution the
university has always been not only the
pride of Virginia, but of the entire South
land. A very large proportion of themen
from that section who have attained emil
hence in the councils of the nation and
fame in the fields of literature and educa
ton are proud to point to the university
as their alma mater, and in its BREADTH
depth and scope of educational concep-
ton and possibilities under the direction
of teachers thoroughly equipped for the
great work in hand it is not outranked
anywhere, but can claim peership with any
in the known world. 1t is to be hoped,
therefore, thatthe Legislature of Virginia
will rather increase than diminish the aid
annually contributed to the university
That institution mas done noble work in
the past let us help her to do, possible,
"a greater work in the future.
''It may not beimpertinent in this con-
Injection TO CORE ct the erroneous state
ments which have found expression re-
Gently in the public press that would re-
fuse to give any thing more to the uni
versity because Mr.. Bryan had been in
vited to deliver an address last session be-
fore the litererary societies of the institu-
ton. How unjust such suggestion!
Can it be possible that, with my life
long demand for free thought and free
press, as loyal disciple of Thomas Jeffer-
son, your great founder, should be
charged at this late day with possessing
such narrowviews as would deny to others
that freedom of opinion and action which
have always claimed for myself? No,
rather might it have been said with truth
that it is because of the fact that the
university scheme opens the door of free
discussion to all creeds, political. social
and religious, which has commended it to
my patronage When the day comes
that truth is not permitted to stand the
test of intellectual analysis and the inves-
tigatlon of reason, then indeed may hui
mainly shudder while false teachers rob
mankind of rights divinely vouchsafed for
placing its civilization upon true and inn
Ipregnable foundations. No; away with
such contracted sentiments, sayI. Truth
asks no favors, and reason, that divine
guide, will blaze the pathway of knowl-
edge throughout all the fields of science
by signals so unerring as to leave no one
in darkness"
THE RoUss. PHYSICAL LABORATORY.
The new physical laboratory of the Uni
versity of Virginia, now completed and oc-
cupied. is in several ways probably unique,
and there is certainly nothing to compare
with it south of the Potomac The ampi-
theater in which the larger classes meet is
lighted entirely by sky light, having no
side windows whatever. The apparatus
is in itsselfa single glass case, surrounded
by double windows, fitted with rdbber
joints to exclude dust
The laboratory for junior experiments
accommodates fifty students at time, and
located as it is on the ground floor, sur
rounded on three sides by numerous large
windows. Its construction is almost ideal
so far as stability and light are concerned.
In one portion of the basement is the
electrical laboratory, and in another
is a large room containing pliers
for DELEGATE work containing ex-
IRENE stability. Other rooms are ar
ranged for optical experiments and
among the many interesting pieces of OPP
teal apparatus, either secured or ordered,
two are worthy of especial mention. One
of these is Nicholson interfermeter-the
only one in the South and still greater in
terest is Rowland concave grating of
213 feet, focal length, intended for deli
cate spectroscopic work. This beautiful
instrument is equal to the finest in the
world; in fact, in this country probably
the only duplicate of tits that in Professor
Rowland's own laboratory in Baltimore.
The Workshop is so planned, with watch
makers lathe and other delicate appli-
ances that when necessary the finest
instruments can be made on the spot.
In an external angle of the building is
situated tower, in one corner of which
can be swung 6o-foot pendulum for
gravity experiments. In another wires
can be arranged for torsion experiments,
and still other work is conducted in a
third.
Everywhere throughout the building
the greatest care has been taken to secure
those three essentials to physical labor
atOry-light stability and uniform tenn
perature.
HOW TO FIND OUT.
Fill bottle or common glass with urine and |
let stand twenty-four hours-a sediment or |