The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-10

methods OF instruction. Not only stu
dents and investigators, but the public
mind. too, was strongly aroused to the
deepest interest in science. The utiliza-
tlon of electricity for light, heat and
power, the substitution of the micro
scope and the teSt-tubc for the service
or the physician instead of the eye. the
nose and the finger, the germ theory. of
disease, the Darwinian theory of life,
the invention and employment of the
telegraph. the telephone and the phonO-
graph; these and other triumphs of the
intellect over the material world had
quckened the desire of humanity for
more experiments, more knowledge. a
better comprehension of the past and Il
clearer vision of the future. New OPP
portunities were created for University
workers. and with them enlarged de-
mands for work, genius and equipment.
Our new University was not Needless
! of the demand. a chemical laboratory
was provided, with new equipment and
new methods of instruction. Apparatus
was secured for physical experiments;
geology and mineralogy were organized
into Il separate department, with work
ing laboratories and field excursions:
and biological laboratory, modern and
well equipped, was established i'll the
hall of the old Philanthropic library. The
new University made provision for mod
ern instruction i'll every science excepting
astronomy. Each step taken was III
accord with the spirit of the age and in
harmony with the requirements of the
new education. Everything was accom-
plished that could be done with the
limited resources available. Graduates
of this University might now go for adj
vanced instruction III the great univer-
sites of the world. confident that they
would have nothing to unlearn, but only
to extend their knowledge by means of
oh flnI
elsewhere by greater wealth.
There is scarcely leading university
III America where graduates of this in
stitution, during the last twenty-five
years. winning scholarships and fellow
ships in competition with men from
other colleges and universities, have not
achieved honor and distinction by Schol-
arship in letters, investigation in science,
speculation in philosophy or research in
| history.
The new University planted on high
ground its standard of scholarship, not
only for the few leaders who wore its
honorS, but for every man that carried
its diploma. The real work and the high
achievement requisite to graduation slim
ulated desire for more work and still
loftier achievement after graduation and
led to the establishment of advanced
courses of OSt-graduate instruction and
in recognition of work actually per-
formed under the guidance of the Uni
vcrSity faculty. 1t is not the least glory
of the new University that it maintained
from the very first high requirements of
scholarship. thereby elcvating the teach
ing standard throughout the State. This
twas accomplished mainly by the selec
ton of well qualified and competent pro-
fpSSorS for all the chairs of instruction.
No consideration of personal popularity,
political necessity, family influence, sec
tartan interest or local demand availed
to place unworthy men in the faculty of
the new University.
One of the greatest problems before
the new University was how to make its
and character without means to bear the
expense Of education away from home
1t was the problem of free tuition and
cheap living. This problem appealed
more strongly to philanthropiStS than all
other problems before the University
At the very beginning it moved the leg
islature to establish scholarships for
every county, and year by year it touched
the hearts of men and women longing to
| lift up struggling lads to higher oppor-
| tunitieS in life. Fund after fund was
established and additional scholarships
were provided: the Deems fund, the
Mary Rutfin Smith fund. the Mary Ann
| fund. the Martha and Narna Mason
| funds, the Thomas i. Woods scholar
ships and the Paul G. Cameron scholar
ships, with free instruction for lads pre-
pairing to serve the State as teachers or
preachers, or handicapped i'll the struggle
| for life with bodily infirmity: until it
could truly be said that the doors of the
new University were practically open,
| free of charge, to every lad who was
worthy to enter and unable to pay. 1t
| only remained to reduce the expense of
| living, which was accomplished in 1896
| through the combined generosity of the
| alumni in donating the use of yondCr
| building. and of Mrs. Mary Baker IN
supplying the funds for the equipment
of Commons Hall as Il token of apprc-
citation of the benefits received by her
son in this institution. May these facili-
ties for cheapening the cost of educa-
| ton in this institution continue to grow
and multiply. May we behold at an
arly day upon this campus commodlOuS
and we'll furnished dormitOry for the
free lodging of lads who have climbed
to these splendid heights along the steep
path Of poverty and labor.
In completing its organization the new
| University was not unmndful of stu
dent life and of the larger opportunities
demanded by modern education for the
exercise of student activities. The old
| literary societies which had trained in
forensic and literary culture the fore
| most men of the nation, were still re-
| tanned and foStered. For scientific
study and research, the Mitchell Society
was organized; for Shakespearean study
the Shakespeare Club, and for linguistic
the Pathological Society. a scholarship
club, dozen Greek letter fraterntieS. IL
sophomore society, Il German club,
various class organizations. base ball
| teams, foot ball teams. tennis clubs,
bicycle clubs, track athletic teams, these
and possibly others not reported to the
executive at that time by their members,
were organized. equipped and set III
motion. There was Il chance for every
body to be organized into something.
| Latent genius could not be hidden; it
was bound to he discovered and aroused
and developed through head, heart, hand
or heels. 1t was an era or organization
and development. But the greatest inn
provement was made in college athletics.
| Under the old University, as outlets for
superflueous physical energy, students
arranged running matches during the
small hours of the night with college
professors, signaled by the vigorous
ringing of the college bell, or with I'M
varied energy placed upon the roofs OF
| college buildings the wagons and stock
of neighboring farmers; or guided fresh
men from twilight till midnight in the
! hi ~