New-York tribune., 1902-01-12
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
Has AN INTERESTING HISTORY AND
NOW NEEDS FUNDS.

-. members Of the present constitutional con-
\ ~.,on Of Virginia, less than thirty-six are
snstss Of the University of Virginia.
trssr II came to setting their governmental house
-5er the Yirginians OF to-day determined that
=. hest that there were among them should at
end 10 the work
- the same great mind this country owes the
/ .ssilahle declaration of the rights Of mankind
u virginia owes her State University. It was
-rnss Jefferson's commanding genius, persistent
- and personal influence that brought the
asee into being. and upon IT he stamped his
.o,airv. II when yet a young man. recent
a.urped from his students life William and
sr College. that jefferson first conceived the
!. Of a popular educational system worthy
university. Through the half century and more
- vas left Of life 10 the purchaser OF the Louisi-
= territory this idea remained firmly planted in
= mind. and TO its execution he bent his
..sv endeav0r. II the bold thought OF a
IA man 10 found a college in a country then
tr- recently carved out OF prineval wilderness.
,s upon the borders Of which a primeval people
Iii fingered and made menace. The time and the
on however. both served. To the aid or Jefferson
.rs one Joseph Cabeu Darlington. A broadly edu-
-.ed and highly endowed man. just returned from
80 French and Italian universities. What the third
President had conceived he championed and II was
r.rr,ug.ons Efforts that finally brought statutory
.,,ribleness' the scheme Before the Sage Of
waniceTo passed 70 that home from which no trav-
sns- returneth he had the satisfaction Of viewing
.,om the windows OF his home mountains
crest Of another ridge the peaceful valley.
M. alone did Jefferson conceive and put into ex-
s.uiou the idea Of the university but builded II
Is well Architecture was his passion, and this
dsy Virginia Is dotted with ancient manor houses
which he planned. To the physical structure OF the
colege Jefferson gave freely Of his genius and gen
srousy Of his time The works Of Palladio. the
sat italian architect Of the sixteenth century.
tpok for his model and the result the series OF
classic and pleasing buildings at Charlottesville.
For the model Of the rotunda however. he
drew upon the famous Pantheon at Rome and a
beautiful and unique structure the conse-
ouenoe The last time that jefferson the
university he stood the window in front Of the
mrary room. upon the lawn. until Mr. Wertenbaker
Iis appointee as ubrar1an) brought him a chair
from his Office. when he sat for twenty minutes
or So watching the lifting OF the first marble capi
ts 10 the top pillar. the the southwest
corner This concluded. he left the grounds and
never returned"
One dominant and lasting note in the policy Of
the college is the absolute freedom Of religious
thought and this # directly its founder
The assertion that he had sworn upon the altar
Of God eternal hostility 70 every form Of tyranny
the mind Of man jefferson meant IN all the
force that It possible attribute the phrase
He had il in mind even before he laid the foun-
dation Of the university. for he wrote 10 George
Ticknor. Of Boston:
am not fully Informed Of the practices at Har-
. .aIJ nlI Is 3 = LloIlt Ion "ICn y5 sIl1Il ,i
b. nearly every college and academy in the United
States. That is. the holding. the students all to
one prescribed course Of reading. and dsallowing
exclusive application TO those brar ches only which
which they are destined We shall on the con-
trary, allow them uncontrolled choice in the lect
mentary qualification only. and sufficient age Our
all the good ii can without consulting its own
pride ambition Of letting every come and
listen TO WhateTe he thinks may improve the con-
dition OF his mind
No reference to the university would be complete .
that contained naught OF Edgar Allan Poe that
strange and fascinating spirit whose mark so
strongly fell Upcn American literature. Poe was a
student there. and 20 the superstitious omen
NAV lie IN the fact that when the university he
lived No 3 West Range The dormitory is still
known Poes room. Many there are who would
have accepted the unhappiness OF Poes lot in later
life for the glory Of having written The Raven"
or "Ligeia-"
While the devastating touch Of armed force
never came in direct contact with the univer-
sty. nevertheless the college, in common with the
rest OF the South and its institutions suffered
from the blghting effect OF the war Dependent
this university is upon the financial position of
the communities from which it draws its students
the almost complete ruin OF the South wellnigE
beggared the college It has never fully recovered
from the blow 1t received when Appomattox for
ever ended civil war in this country, and made |
Of the principles for which the Southerners fought
that saddest, most romantic and most pathetic of
The lost causes OF history. The ended war found |
The South faint. hard wounded and beset- |
For tine it seemed that she was fatally stricken.
In those trying times OF reconstruction the uni
Fersity suffered the South suffered, !
hungry when she did. until slowly. but hand in |
asnd the twain made their way back again TO in
Even to this day the effects Of that Titanic
torts and good work Of the college. In the hard
!saEs ensuing after that hostile contest the Uni
cost Monev % i5 5 ~ a. . hiis1tnJH stb t OF
he wa and he eei Of an
sSSacsaon at small expense vas a vital to
supplied and stil supplies 1t is possible there in
rese first years Of the twentieth century. as 1t
:. ne least cost in American colleges. For ex-
:, ample four classes of students are not required
re and in receipt of State appropriations, and
not required 10 pay fee for tuition: nor are fees
rT1ced rSIsnoed Of candidates for The ministry Of
Forty dollars includes matriculation fee, use OF
y Siaslln ana library, and best medical attention
the university bosnits % oa sd 1raeI ief,dee
s2ilstion fees and Cost Of Diplomas. There are
80 sSS'IItey Iy no extras. For the nine months man
:s :s, and attendance That is Fs5 for the college
'ssf' put many student lives there for less.
d. tn.s should be added fees follows: Aca-
es5a 1ree 70 Virginians. s5 for three classes 10
Second 500 rd s fangtb SGT total sfaf FOR foT
sseoSs So So Law department-First year. 500;
,.i ~ Rsrrineer the president Of the university.
gss- gIs = Ihaer recent date. says: Add TO each
fr- irs--
49, AElng expenses s135 minimum or $40 maximum
Closely '' ''i7 Hiat'ei Hsuieu ouI pretty
be ms must, Of course. be added the cost Of
hoeSs ~ IN the case Of lawyers and doctors these
lbrS- III FORM the nucleus Of the professional
fs -..st tlst Is 2 necessity OF their practice Match
al 500 who can Then too, at Charlottesville
q sssnts 1--we simply, and the glaring contrasts
te-s - oIher colleges exist not. The tendency
hs rs r. hot toward side" Some men. Of course,
ksx - -. ana spend more money than their fell
al ~ 49, Lheir mode Of life is widely removed
srsce Soh.rast 81 never extensively conspicuous.
~ J ne American Commonwealth SAYS
Etts.e university that II IS the only Southern in
efss.,. "A learning which takes first rank as a
Il. ~ re eEen a and sa1-