New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-25

A man with sweeping side whiskers turned
the knob Of the Office door Of a wealthy down
town business man. He had been invited 10
enter on the strength OF a letter Of introduction
from A wen known man The visitor was cord
tally urged 10 take seat As he DID so ne
handed the kindly featured business man ms
card. II indicated that be was the president oil
- College one Of the 400 colleges to be
found IN the United States. The college was
one whose name would joe as unfamiliar TO a.
10000 Of the 100000 people Of the United
states as il was 10 the business man. It was
situated i'm a Western state.
Il wish TO take only two orNhree minutes of
your valuable time" said the visitor. 1T is
in behalf Of my college that 7 want TO talk TO
YOU. We are greatly IN need OF "a gymnasium
and q dormitory. Unfortunately, at least from
The financial point Of view" he fastened to IN
terpolate. suddenly recalling that what he was
about 10 say required some modification we
are situated in an agricultural region where
we are able % Doe Of great service in giving
higher education 10 the sons and daughters Of
farmers. but cannot secure sufficient financial
support 10 enable us 10 take advantage OF all
the OPPORTUNITIES for service which are offered"
He went on telling ia detail of the valuable
work which could be- accomplished if the col
lege only had am endowment and additional
funds for the greatly needed buildings The
business man. who was of uhilauthr0pic dispo-
sition and thoroughly believed in higher edu-
cation for every one. was favorably impressed
and said he would consider the appeal The Wis
tor thanked him for his consideration and With
drew
II wonder what sort Of institution mat Is.
and what II IS accomplishing" said the business
man 10 himself as he swung around to his lit
tered desk again. II wish knew where I could
get some accurate Information about il ana
what are the actual educational needs of the
locality where this college IS locared2'
Five years ago a group II wen known North
ern men interested iu Southern educational
problems. who were attending a conference on /
the subject IN a Southern city. sat i'm a hotel
apartment. discussing the situation. 1t was sug-
gested that an organization De- formed TO do for
education what charity organization society 1
does for miscellaneous henefcence. out Of that /
gathering grew the General Education Board, .
Of which Robert @. ogden is the chairman and I
the Office OF which is IN this city
John D. Rockefeller gave 10 the board an an
nuity Of 100000 10 continue for ten years. and {
last fan also provided a permanent fund of I
100000 Tor the development Of higher edu- +
cation throughout the United States. Other (
funds have also been given 10 the board. /
Through Dr. Wallace Buttrick Ole Of the mem !
bers Of the executive board. II has connection .
with the Slater Fund for the assistance Of co.'s
ored schools, which now amounts = Sl,Soo00O /
and Of which Dr. BUttrick IS general agent 1
As he is also the special representative Of the /
special committee in charge Of the Peabody /
Education Fund, the board has an influence Is I
the distribution Of this great sum.