The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-17

plans for still greater things for IT. 1t
Is the one subject to which Dr. Nc
Bryde devotes his life. Something was
said Of the prospect OF his being elect
ed to the presidency Of the University
of Virginia. HE only smiled. "He
will not accept the office Il offered It,
said a member OF the faculty before we
left the Institution. There was nothing
shid BY the doctor to indicate that he
had ever given the subject a thought.
suggested that q beautiful medallion
OF Thomas Jefferson, which hangs on
the wall behind the DOCTORS deskI might
Indicate that he was going to the Uni
versity, but one Of the gentlemen with
mt interrupted to say that It was sig
nificant only as showing that tho doctor
was Democrat t4a5t5t
THE PRESIDENT.
DIR. sMcBryde did not talk anything but
the Institute. Occasionally the subject
would change. but invariably 1t would
vecr around to the original topic, and
1t was apparent that he mad brought II
back. have never seen man SO
wrapped up in a special work Is he
In the school which he has made.
He went through the9i,uidlngs with US.
Several Of the professors helped the
visitors see the school, but 1t was plain
Tat none were moro interested In de-
reribing and expnirins and pointing out
tEan the president. Pride was manifested
n every tine. Evidences Of his handiwork
were on every sid,s ard honest gratifca-
ton at the Visible results OF his labors
was only tho natural emotion t&is q
temarka bic fact that every member OF
the faculty. MS one Of the number said.
| accords to Dr. McBryde the honor of
having made the Polytechnic Institute
what 1t is to-day. Each may have in his
mind the thought that he himself has
to- I1,S, " % he
great schools OF the Sout h and the coun-
t-y, but he Is unhcsitatlng In expressing
tie opinion that the president has been
first. The devotion and the loyalty of
the faculty undoubtedly accounts insgreat
measure for the success which the lnsti-
| tuts has attained, and none Is so eager
| to say this as the modest gentleman who
! presides over them. But it Is justice
I 10 say{that there are few men who could
4 haveinspired&su such loyalty. s{s
j believe I said we VISITED the cream
I cry u Then we went on to a he Young
| Mems Christian Association building, a
| beautiful structure OF brick and stone.
erected by the people OF Virginia. through
! voluntary subscriptions The building Is
| IL charge OF a secretary. sustained by
| the State association. and with Its gym
nas!um and reading room and baths, Is
| one of the most popular resorts the
! students have.
isHf POWER TLANT.
The power plant, which furnishes all
| the power and the liE1t for the college,
l.: said to be splendi1ly equipped, and the
! students are made to study the ma
thin,.ry under competent instructors, and
thus gain practical lessons in the
! branches taught in the mechanical en-
/ Enecrins course. Only an expert could
! describe the ma chinety in the plant.
4 r IL -, tor, In, t1,n
| rover house, the Will OF mahinery al
| most drowning the voice, that one Of the
faculty gave mo an IDEA Of the extent
| OF the course in mechanical engineering.
| I am surc 1t will surprise the reader
as much as it did me. ] had no concep-
| tior Of the multiplicity of subjects en-
brace and the length OF time required
to complete it. There are seven classes
/ In this department, including mechanical
technology, appAed mechanics, hydrau-
| lies valve gears, tho; madynumcs and
other subjects. In addition to this, the
] student who takes this course has to
(, study the design ana construction of
i Dill ect and alternating curinnt dynamos,
1 motors and other electrical apparatus,
! the various systems Of wiring for the dis
J lributon of electricity, the subject OF
| compressed air and reliigerating, and do
q great quantity OF miscellaneous work,
| such. as the testing of boilers, of hydrau-
| lie rams and motors, flow of water over
Weirs. over notchboards. and through
pipes, and the testing Of gasoline en-
zines and air comprossors. ! was amazed
at tho extent OF the course which is
taken by the man VINO wants to b.ecome
mechanical engineer, and perhaps there
ale few people outside OF an engineer of
this kind who know flat q knowledge
OF so great numh-r of subjects is
necessary or useful 10 him.
From tho power-house. went with
our party over to the science hall, an
immense brick structure, containing lee
| ture rooms and laboratories, Professor
Symth. who occupies the chair of biology.
| and is the dean Of the faculty, Joined us
on the way, and great portion OF the
time was spent with him in the museum.
which consists Of wonderful collections
of mounted birds, eggs, shells. alcoholic
| specimens, birds and insects on de-
| post, The collection of butterflies. repre-.
senting varieties from all over the world.
! and birds from every cline, were prob
! ably the most interesting things seen
| during the afternoon.
BIOLOGY COURSES,
Professor Smyth Is said to be one of the