The San Francisco call., 1904-03-24
CHARTER DAY CELEBRATION AT UNIVERSITY
ROBBED OF USUAL PROCESSION BY THE RAIN
Exercises Held in
Harmon Gym
naSlun.
Michigan's Presi-
dent Delivers
Address.

BERKELEY, March 23.-Charter day
at the University Of California was
robbed Of one Of its most imposing
/ spectacles-the stately procession of
men Of learning in academic regalia.
+ The picturesque and profound feature
+ that has been the conspicuous thing
on other charter days was lost to this
! one. and all because the clouds wept
upon the campus. President Wheeler
/ hoped against fate yesterday for a sun
/ that would be coura geous enough to
I shine. but at last despair came and
he sent forth the word that the exer-
cises would be entirely within doors,
and so gloomy Harmon gymnasium,
not the classic Greek Theater sheltered
the hosts that came TO honor the uni
versity on its birthday.
Instead cf the long line Of dignitaries
in somber cap and gown. with gay fac
ings, there was a hurried formation
this morning in the armory OF the gym
nasium and a struggling mounting Of
steps into the hall above. Professor
Frank Soule. president of the day, came
/ first. and then President Wheeler and
President James B. Angel Of the Uni
versity Of Michigan, the charter day
speaker. the other faculties and guests
and students following on.
From the stage in the gymnasium the
distinguished people looked out upon
an immense audience. Floor and gall
lery and aisles we're thronging with life
/ The place was becomingly decorated
with blue and gold and now and again
a motto or emblem discovered itself
among the folds OF bunting. The COL
ors Of the nation were distinguishable
too. in places where they contrasted
with the more somber colorings.
LIBERAL BENEFACTIONS.
A deep silence fell over the thrcng
while the Rev. Edward Lambe Par
sons, rector of St Marks Episcopal
( Church. delivered the Invocation. This
was followed by an address by Presi-
( dent Wheeler and then the introduction
/ Of President Angel.
President Wheeler's address was de-
voted TO a review of the benefactions
Of the past to the university, the pres
ent financial footing and the plans for
the future. In the course of this re-
view a large amount of ground was
covered All the more substantial gifts
10 the university were mentioned. Most
interesting was the announcement that
Mrs. Phoebe Hearst's benefactions to
the university have been between $500.
600 or 5000. 600. the exact figure. Presi-
dent Wheeler confessed, he could not
tell. The expenditures upon the uni
verr y since its birth have been some
thing like So 900. 900, a sum the speaker
considered very insignificant consider
ing the benefit to humanity in a spirit
ual and material way
As to the needs of the university.
President Wheeler said there is certain
ly need for more fellowship funds to
help students on for two or three
years uninterrupted study after gradu-
alton. There is need for a new medical
school and a hospital, for the proper
clinical study cannot be obtained with
out them. There is need of a school of
forestry, for the State deserves 1t. and
more people should be stimulated in the
study Of forestry. A school of naval
architecture is necessary, a new agri-
cultural building. a geology building.
new botany building and hall of Ian
guages.
The gift Of $500 600 for new library
building, President Wheeler said. will
give substantial structure, but before
many generations the university will
need a library worth 3 ,OOO, 900. The sum
Of $3.50, 900 Will be available for the uni
versity this year, and of this amount
s150.OO0 constitutes a portion of the
State appropriation for California Hall.
the remaining 100000 being for other
purposes.
MONEY SAVED FOR PEOPLE.
1T sounds large-$7OO 900" said Presi-
dent Wheeler, but it is not anywhere
near what a great State ought to pay
for this great uplifting force Why.
enough money was saved in one recent
Intervention by the agriculturists of
this university. working in the orchards
Of Placer County. to more than support
the university for one year. Something
like $4,000 was lately spent to establish
a poultry station at Petaluma, and vet
in fifteen days that amount, and much
more, was saved the State by the stiff
ling of an epidemic that threatened the
poultry interest of the State
The fact is that the cost of higher
education is going far beyond the fig
ures that were formerly talked about
d. o. Mills said to me recently that the
extent to which the universities are
financed on so little is remarkable. The
truth about it is that higher education
means research and nothing else 1t
is a quest for new truths. Science
keeps putting out it's piekets. 1t wants
men to go beyond the picket line. And