The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29

hoping, and Infinite patience worked upwards through the years to these great achievements, Perhaps no sim gle man of Alabama contributed so much of the toll, 90 much of the labor SC much of the planning. so much of the hoping, so much of the Infinite pa tience as Dr. John w. Abercrombis, President of the State University. He did much and he did 1t well.
 He is Alabama born, reared and edu- cated. teacher. he was as a young man the head of the city schools of Anniston, one of the large places for a public school teacher In the State. The Anniston schools grew remarkable in efficiency and attendance. In their management Dr. Abercrombie achieved his first success. As fast as the An- niston schools grew, equally as fast teem and confidence of the people of Anniston. He was sent to the Alabama Legislature as a State Senator from the county of Calhoun.
 The 1eaven had already begun to work. Alabama was ready for an edu- cational reform. With other educators of the State, Dr. Abercrombie had writ ten and talked until the people were aroused to their educational needs and to sense Of humiliation at Alabama's s low standing in education. The time wase ripe.
 when Dr, Abercrombie took his. seat in the State Senate the occasion and the man had met He knew what Ala bama should do. His ideas had clar- flied. Bill after bill, he introduced. all for education. There were measures for larger appropriations, for better supervision and the new law regulat- ing the examination of teachers, which has done so much towards the i'm proyement of teaching In Alabama. And all the time the people were being edu. cated on education.
 Beginning. the Reform.
 Recognized as the leader of the forces of education, Dr. Abercronbie was elected Superintendent Of Educa- tion to administer the laws which he had drafted and assisted in passing. The Constitutional Convention assem- bled and after toll and iebor the friends of common school edueation had 1t put in the new constitution that a county had the privilege of voting it. self to pay special local tax for school purposes. which is one of the big achievements of the great educational reform.
 Before his term as State superinten- dent had expired Dr. Abercrornbie was called to the Presidency of the State University Successful in his efforts in the Legislature, successful in his ad- ministration of the reformatory meas ures, pr. Abercrombie has been no less successful In 1abors for the University. The attendance has been steadily in- creased, year by year, the efficiency of the University has shown an advance equally as steady. The University and the common schools have been drawn closer together in mutual helpfulness.
 Whatever Alabama has done for the University, the University has, more than repaid in its splendid contribution of educated citizenship. The trained minds which have gone forth from the University in its long life of seventy five years have planned and wrought for Alabama's welfare. In war and in peace the alumni of the University have served their State and served tt well. The college trained sons of the University of Alabama are accomplishments In which both the University and the State may feel a just pride. The University 8 standards have all been high and they will be maintained.
 Commencement of 1908.
 The commencement exercises of the wear just closed remarkable for many things were notable in particular for the presence of representatives of many of the great colleges of the United States. They were notable, too. for the presence at Tuscaloosa of the larg- est gathering of alumni that ever as- senbled at the University to pledge anew their loyalty to their alma mater They were notable. too, because of the manifestation of a new and peculiar in- terest. in the State University by the people of the State.
 The list of distinguished visitors to these exercises contained the names of such famous educators as Dr. W. H. Faunce. President of Brown Universi- ty; Dean J. H. Penniman of the Uni- yersity of Pennsylvania; President Brown Ayres of the University of Ten nessee; President Edmund J. James # the University of Illinois; President Francis P. Venable of the University of North Carolina Hon. Charles 4. Towne of New York; Professor Thomas