The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-06-12

Jauts and investigators, but the pdn,'
mind. TOO. was strongly afonnea
J..p4.st interest in science. Inc "tih III
- nf ete,tricity for light, heat anu
newer. the substitution of ihe fhsto
n.ra and the ttSt-tube for the service
of the physician instead 81 me 80. !"
nose and the finger. the germ lhe"lt
diSeose. the DarWinian theory OF ny
tbo invention and employment OF The
t,leorauh. the telephone anu the l'nono
oranl: these and other trinnlphs OF ih1
int1llect over the material world hau
nnickeued the desire of humanity Tor
1"rra nxperiInents. more knowledge. a
I,trrr comprehension Of the past anu Il
cIa,r4r vision Of the future. New op
~nnrtnnities were created for hlNtrsitH
workers. and with them enlarged ut-
orr new University was NOT needless
If the demand. \ chemical laboratory
was provided. with new equipment ana
navy methods of instruction. Apparatus
v-9s secured for physical experiments;
Geology and mineralo@y We're organized
;ntn \ separate department. with work
ING laboratories and field excursions;
and i biological laboratory. modern ana
we'll equipped. was established III the
hall of the old philanthroplc library. Inc
nov University made provision for mod
ern instruction in every science excepting
astronomy. Each step taken was IN
accord with the spirit of the age and IN
harmony with the requirements Of the
new education. Everything was accom-
niished that could be done with the
limited resources available. Graduates
of this University might now go for adj
yanced instruction in the great unlyer-
stiles Of the world. confident that they
would have nothing to unlearn. but only
10 extend their knowledge by means of
the greater facilities which were afforded
elsewhere by greater wealth.
There is scarcely Il leading university
in America where graduates of this in
stitution. during the last twenty-five
years. winning scholarships and fellow
>hipS 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 on research III
history.
The new University planted on high
ground its standard of scholarship, not
only for the few leaders who wore its
llonorS. but for every man that carried
its diploma. The real work and the high
achievement requisite to graduation slim
Hlated Il desire for more work and still
letter achievement after graduation and
led to the establishment of advanced
courses Of postgraduate instruction and
the comforting of advanced degrees only
III recognition of work actually per
formed under the guidance of the Uni
yerSity faculty. 1t is not the least glory
Of the new University that it maintained
from the very first high requirements of
scholarship. thereby elevating the teach
ing standard throughout the State. This
twas accomplished mainly by the selec-
ton Of well qualified and competent pro-
fcsSors for all the chairs of instruction.
No consideration of personal popularity.
political necessity. family Influence. sec
tartan interest. OF local demand awaited
to place unworthy men in the faculty Of
the new University.
One Of the greatest problems before
tla nnV University WAS how to mako itS
opportunities accessible to lads of talent
and character without means to bear the
expense of education away from home.
Il was the problem of free tuition and
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
;he hearts of men and women longing to
lift up struggling lads to higher Oppor-
~tunitics in life. Fund after fund was
established and additional scholarships
were provided; the Deems fund, the
Mary Isiflin Smith fund the Mary Ann
Smith fund. the Mary Shepherd Speight
fund. the Martha and Varina Mason
funds, the Thomas f.. Woods scholar
ships and the Paul G.. Cameron scholar
ships, with free instruction for lads pre-
pairing 10 serve the State as teachers or
preachers. or handicapped i'll the struggle
for life with bodily intir1nity: 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 III donating the use of yonder
building. and of Mrs. Mary Baker in
supplying the funds for the equipment
of Commons Hall as Il token of appre-
cl;itlon of the benefits received by her
son in this institution. May these facili-
ties for che!pening the cost of educa-
ton in this Institution continue to grow
and multiply. May we behold at an
:lly day upon this campus Il cOmmOdiOus
and we'll furnished dormitory for the
tree, 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 unmindful of stu
dent life and of the larger opportunities
demanded by modern education for the
exercise of student activities. The old
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
the Shakespeare Club. and for linguistic
the Theological Society. \. scholarship
club. 4 dozen Greek letter f~raternities. a
sophomore society. a German club.
' III u tiiSS 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 in
motion. There was a chance for every
body to be organized into something.
Latent genius could not be hidden: it
was bound to be discovered and aroused
and developed through head, heart, hand
or heels. 1t was an era or organization
and development. But the greatest inn
proye'nent was made in college athletics.
Jnde the old University. as outlets for
sllperf1ueous physical energy. students
arranged running matches during the
small hours of the night with college
professors. signalled 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 nelghborlng farmers; or guided fresh
men from twilight till midnight in the
unavallIng pursuit of the ever vanishing
Snipe. College athletics in those DAYS
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