The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-08


Mas great universities has
TO do with two vast fortunes
and the benencent uses TO
which they were put 1t also
demonstrates woman's capacity for
handling large enterprises In the most
systematic manner and her willingness
10 make great sacrifices for the accom-.
plishment of worthy ends.
Fifty-one years ago a sturdy young
Alissourian. George Hearst took the
Californian gold fever then prevalent
and went in search OF his fortune Aft
81. ten years be found II and when he
died in 1891 his estate was estimated at
s2o,oO0,O 900. He had endured great hard
ships and had been almost on the poin,
OF giving UP when good luck came T.
him, After Il came he returned 10 his
Missouri home sought out young wo-
inan whom he had known as a child
and made hei hic wife This young wo.
man, then under 20 years Of age was
Miss Ph,ebs Elizabeth Appel sou. the
daughter Of a farmei She WAS know
throughout the county IN which, sha
was born FOR her W.T. and generous dis
position The miner returned 10 Cali
fornia with his bride, and they made
their home in San Francisco In 1887
Mr. Hearst was sent a. United states
Sepator 60 Washington. and Ia that
thy nc died
EQlx xyniue years ago another fortune
eetkeN Joined the great army that had
been for three years moving westward
and east his lines in San Franri,co
who're hc G6IcieT into Eusihess This
man was LcIapd stanford. The @.n Of a
y ospcrous farmer OF Albany county
y y whose education obtained i'm the
common schools, had been supplement
ed by few years study Of law. In
1875 he had married Miss Jane Lathrop.
the daughter ~ Dyer Lathrop. sheriff
OF Albany county. 3 talented young wo-
man Of sreat meuiai endownients and
IN inherited sound and sturdy coDstitu-
ton.
'Air Stanford had great success in
tusintss and. becoming Identified with
politics, was chosen delegate 10 the
convention at Chicago which nominated
Abraham Lincoln and the same year
wasielccted governor Of his state by an
overwhelming majority AS president
OF the Central Pacific railroad he de-
voted all ais energies to the consumma-
uon of the gigantic undertaking which
resulted in uniting The Mississippi with
'he Pacihu and Ia MAY 1869. drove the
last spike In the first completed line
THAT betted the continent. In 1885 he
vas elected TO the nationsi senate and
ie-elected IN 1891 like his colleague
HEARST ending his life ifr Washington
while serving as senator from Califor-
n2. Senator Hearst died in 1891 SEN
alor STANFORD IN 1898.
These are the facts, badly stated,
which form the foundation OF the won
derful story OF CALIFORNIA; advance
ment as great university state The
fortunes accumulated through the ener-
gy and sagacity of two enterprising
men and judiciously left to the unre-
stficted use of their widows have be-
come in the hands of these philanthrop-
&c almoners n means OF beneficence to
thousands. These relicts OF two of Cal
iiornia's great men became, though un-
Willingly, rivals in educational philan-
thropy each dominated by the highest
and most worthy sentiment--tho desire
TO perpetuate the memory OF a depart
ed member OF her family and 10 carry
out aims and ambitions which were cut
short by death II Is through this
friendly and noble rivalry that the state
of California is indebted 20 two women
for the achievement IN a few short
yesrs OF what without their intelligent
guidance and material assistance might
have taken long decades OF effort.
The older of the two institutions
which have been endowed by the ladies
mentioned above, the University OF Call
ifornia, Was organized in 1868 and cs-
tabliShed at Berkeley, then a large town
opposite the Golden Gate on the eastern
shore OF san Francisco bay. IL is a
nonsectarian, coeducational university.
at the present time we'll 10 the fore,
with 500 instructors, more than 5000
students, with BENJAMIN Ide Wheeler,
LII. d, as president The site OF the
university Is unsurpassed for natural
beauty, occupying a broad slope rising
To- n height of nearly 300 feet, one OF the
forest covered buttresses OF Grizzly
peak which is 1900 feet in height.
There are great flelds, green or brown
according 10 the season; magnificent
groves or live oaks, bays and pines,
dark, miniature canyons and sparkling
streams. while from the verdure clad
slope that breasts the bay Is outspread
n view that charms all who behold II.
W.th q perception OF tho surpassipg
na tural features OF the site that I'm itself
Is n proof Of. her wisdom. Mrs Phebe
Hearst. having decided TO devote for.
tune to the university, invited irterna-
tional competition for comprehensive
plans for permanent buildings and a
iandscapo scheme which should ~ pos
siblc enhance the beauty OF ths site and