The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-08-17
rnE UNIVERSITY on MISSISSIPPI

Important Progress -areat Usefulness.
To all who observe the educational
work OF the State. IL Is apparent that
the University has made most crafty.
ing progress for the past three or four
years and that now It Is far better than
ever prepared to do the great work,
undertaken more than flfty years ago,
and to give to the youth of the State
the substantial benefits OF the high
est and best educational advantages.
The University. Il may be remarked,
Ia the only one OF our State institu-
tions that is not doing preparatory
work, the denominational colleges al
80 maintain preparatory departments;
but the State University reeog.
nizing its position at the
head OF the State system
of education and desiring TO eneour-
age tho local public high schools and
private enterprise, in doing the best
secondary work, abolished prepara-
tory work and limits itself TO Its APP
proprlate functions. As matter OF
course this places the University at
an apparent disadvantage, II only
numbers are considered; but numbers
are not the proper criterion by which
to Judge a great University. There
are scores OF public schools In Missiles.
ippi and throughout the country that
enroll annually more pupils than
Johns Hopkins University, and yet the
Hopkins is recognized In America and
in Europe as one of the greatest Uni
verslties In the world A great Uni.
versity, whilst desiring as large mum
bers as practicable. takes its position
by the character and quality OF It's In
stltution and advantages.
IL citizens are surprised that our
State University registers In Its cata-
logue annually only about three hun
dred students, let them turn to the
catalogue of our colleges and they Will
find that hardly any one of these col-
leges has more than one hundred
pupils, II so many, that could enter
the freshman class of our University.
This is written, not in criticism Of our
colleges. but as an explanation. justly
due our University. The other State
institutions are doing their assigned
work and doing 1t faithfully. The
University stands for thorough liter
airy. scientific, classical, technical and
professional education. IL Ia painful
10 note that this high grade OF accurate
attainments and elegant culture Is moi
valued among us as IL should be. Since
the present Chancellor came into OF
fee, the annual income OF the Univer
sity, mainly by his efforts. has been
increased by about $4,000, making the
total income something over $4,000
per year. by means of this increase oi
funds, with some help granted by the
| legislature, notable improvements
have been made and three new depart
ments, in whole or In part, have been
introduced, viz: The School of Electri
cal Engineering. the School OF Mines
and Mining Engineering. the School
OF Civil Engineering. These new
schools broaden the scope OF the insti-
tuition and increase It's value to the
| State.
The law school ranks with the very
best in the South. To young man
who expects to reside In Mississippi
the advantages OF studying for the
profession in the University law school
are incalculaDle. The establishment
OF medical school as a part of the
University has been contemplated by
the board, chancellor and faculty for
some years; IL ought TO be done prompt
| ly. No good reason can be given why
Mississippi should Ignore this honored
and scientific calling In It's educational
provisions. Hundreds OF young men
go out OF the State for medical educa
tion, who might get better equipment
and at much legs expense In medical
school OF our own. Young men oi
Missouri get free tuition In the medi
cal school Of their State University
the liberality OF the legislature, TO
| gether with the large endowments o.
the University, enable them to do this
| tihapn OhhSA Obabfb ulAhf riuiiht DiO
visions. II is not consistent with th'
dignity OF great commonwealth TO b.
wholly dependent upon others in (
matter OF such great Importance q
the people as the proper training o.
her physicians and surgeons. II Is I
fact often noted that there is not 1
medical school In the State OF Mississ
ippi.
Edgar Wilson, in Pieayune Current
Comment, notes that there are two
senator's to elect at the session OF the
legislature Of 1904. Both will be chos
en- for a full term. The legislature
which will elect them will be chosen
the Tuesday after the first Monday
in November, 1903. In the meantime
cotton mill will help town more
than a senator has ever done any town
in Mississippi"
The order OF knights of Pytbias has
been victimizei by the rascality Of a
few men who had charge OF its funds.
It's handsome surplus Of nearly half a
million has been swept away and the
members Of Endowment Rank VIII
have TO pay increased assessments II
was the one benevolent order that we
thought was conducted on business
principles. It Is believed that a recur.
reuea of afch n1tr-ahoH rnauaUoraor.f