The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-10
University of AlabamA;
 A Democratic Institution

| The wonder is that there should bt
 any call or need to teach any portion of the people of Alabama that the Uni versity is not class school There fl a need, however There is an impress
 sion, not widespread, fortunately, tha the university Is not of the people, a: the common school system Is.
 The University Is not responsible for this sentiment. No man, no set O men, ever connected with the Univers ity by deed or word gave forth reason for this sentiment, or allowed a bas' for the founding of this impression The man who in past years. believed | rich mans school did not get tha belief from a personal knowledge ol from personal contact with the Uni
 versity and with the Universitys work He got 1t from the demagogues, grea and small, who would try to win theii way to the heart of the voter by de nouncing the University, of which tho
 voter knew but little. and of praisine ! the common school, of which the voter trails behind what is popular and de- nounces that of the merits of which his hearers may know nothing is even | less of a safe leader in the matters which are linked with the great cause of education than he Is in any great governmental or economic question. So it comes about that the far sight ed intelligence at the head of the Uni versity is planning to educate the peo- pie on the one hand to the greatness of the University and on the other to its wonderful simplicity. The people
 some of them at least, are to learn that its opportunities and advantages
 are so easy of access and so cheap of cost.
 1 The lesson the new policy would
 teach is that the field of common school is a field that the University can not touch and that the field of the univer- sity is a field that the common school can not touch, but that the two of a | right are linked together in a common interest because their harvests have the ! one thing in common, the good and the glory of education in Alabama. In the development of this policy the ! University Summer School was estab- | lisheds It was the thought of Presi- dent Abercrombie.,H came to head the University with laurels fresh from his labors for the common schools of the State and with the joy of that labor still within him.
 It was apparently no great undertak- ing. this summer school. The Legis- lature gave him s5.0o0 for the school upon the condition that he would raise $2.6o0 for the same purpose from other sources. The Legislature did not set any great store by the proposition and the money was given with an air of "oh, well, take 1t. It doesn't amount to much any way.
 Giving and Receiving,
 To all who considered the proposed | school 1t seemed but a very fine l chance for struggling school teachers to compliment their education and pre- fAn [. N--lS requirements of the State Examing Board It was on the face of things good chance for some three hundred and odd teaching aspirants of Alabama to do the work they had left undone to equip themselves for the profession of teaching.
 It was that and more, too The uni- versity summer school was fine thing for the teacher, but it was no less a good thing for the University What the University gave in benefits to the teachers it receives or will re- ceive five fold from tne teachers who thought and studied within its walls These same teachers are each and every one links which bind and chain to- | gether the common school and the Uni- versity.
 There Is extant the story of the man with the twelve children who wanted to see the trained moose. The moose was being exhibited by, a show man at various country fairs in Maine and small fee was charged to go in and witness the moose go through his ac- complishments. There came to the snowman one day poor farmer who explained that he only had seventy five cents but he wanted to take his twelve children into the tent to see the trained moose.
 Are all twelve of those children Unt n ho eI, terest. s.-..... .E. =:
 Yes. sir,"4 replied the farmer.
 Do you men to say that you feed, clothe and shoe all twelve of those children?"
 Yes, sir" answered the farmer. Then walk right in, my friend. It shan't cost you a cent. It will do the moose as much good to see you as it will you to see the moose" Benefit to University.
 Even so is there a mutual advantage | in the University summer school To 1t the University gives and from it the University receives. It helps the as- piring teacher and 1t has in the teach CT 1t has helped a friend and an ad- vocate, where friends and advocates may do 1t much good in the schools of the State. ..
 It may seem that the policy of Pres
 ident Abercrombie, which Is herein set
 forth at such length. is overemphasized. But this new work of this President Is
 of vital importance to the future of the University. It is the thing which in the next decade or the next two de- cades will more than anything else af- feet the life of the University. It is
 not intended that one of these series of
 letters shall treat of or represent but one phase of the many sides of the life of the University. It's rich and proud
 history, its array of accomplishment,
 the roster of its illustrious graduates, l It's ideals, its equipment, and the merit of It's thorough instructions are ma
 terial for other letters which are to follow. For the present the considera- ton Is to be given the administrative l work that is linking the common
 schools of the State indissolubly with
 the interest of the University and
 which in time. the prediction Is made,
 will make the University the recognized
 head of the State educational system of l Alabama.
 Its effect has already been felt. The
 attendance has been given Q spur, an
 impetus, that 1t has never felt before
 The young men in the wagon made the
 long journey from the hills of Jefferson
 as result of the convincing argument
 of some country school teacher who
 spent the summer studying under the | shadow of the walls of the University
 The Increased Attendance.
 The seventy fifth session of the Uni
 versity Is opening and 1t is attended by
 more golden promises than ever fol-
 lowed upon the opening days of any previous years. The year which closed
 last May attained the great ambition
 of many of the most ardent friends of
 the University. It was their ambition