Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-23
PAY TRIBUTE TO
Villas MEMORY
REGENTS, FACULTY AND STUDENTS
OF STATE UNIVERSITY JOIN
IN SERVICE.
VAN HISE EXPLAINS GIFT.
Ex-Gov. Hoard Speaks for the Regents
and Justice Winslow for the
State-at-Large
WAS TRUE FRIEND 10 UNIVERSITY

WAS TRUE FRIEND 10 UNIVERSITY.
MADISON. Wis, Oct. 2O.-MernorilI
exercises in honor Of ex-senator VIII
liam r. Villas were held in the armory
at the University Of Wisconsin today
The audience, which numbered nearly
FIVE thousand, consisted Of regents, fac
ulty, students and alumni Of the unyer-
sity and citizens Of Madison. Ex-G1y.
". j.. Hoard spoke on behalf of the
regents Chief Justice J. y. WinsIoW for
the state, Prof. b. W. Jones for the col
leGc Of law, and President 6. K. Van
Hise on behalf Of the university.
After reviewing Col. Villas almost
continuous connection with the uniVcr-
sity in ono capacity or another lroiu the
time lie entered as a preparatory stu
dent in 1852 until his death, hfty-siX
years later, and after pointing out the
great service which he rendered his alma
mater as professor Of law and as a re
gent, President Van Hisc explained the
provision for the endowment Of over
$3O.OO0,OOO
MOIC IMAM material ECDCUtS.
'"Thc benefits Of Col. Villas will are
likely to influence the development Of
the university long before financial ad-
vantagcs are received" said President
Van Hise. ''Those who have been strv-
ing for the construction Of the university
along the highest as well as the broad
est lines now have the powerful moral
support Of one Of the ahlest and most
distinguished citizens that have lived in
this state. Of the man who by long study
Of educational problems in the university
has the best right to speak as to its flu
ture.
The will of Col Villas is not merely a
deed Of gift of his property to the uni
ycTsity, it is a gift of his highest thought,
matmed through years of consideration
of the educational problems of the state.
i is indeed possible that this gift of his
mind may be even greater in its influence
upon the development of the university
than the gift of his property. Thus, Col.
Villas will is not merely a financial be-
quest, it is a profound state paper which
is certain to influence perpetually the de
yelopment of higher education in this
commonwealth.
Provisions of Endowment.
when the Villas estate passes to the
trustees for the university" continued
President Van Hise, there is provision,
first, for a theater, a memorial to the be
loved son, Henry Villas, who was gradu-
ated at the university in 1894. but who
died at a nearly age. After providing
for this memorial. half of the income
goes for scholarships and fellowships.
some of which may he travelling fellow
Ships second, for the support of art and
music; and, third, for the maintenance Of
ten research professorships with ade-
quate salaries and assistance.
"These research prOfessorships, while
not placed first in order, are placed first
in Importance among the purposes of the
trust " pointed out Dr. Van HiSe "'rhe
provisions for their support, including
liberal salaries, assistants, materials
limited amount Of Institutional work,
and relations with students, are an cpl
tome of the situation in the best Ger
man universities, which are admitted to
stand first among the institutions of the
world in the advancement of knowledge.
The accumulated university wisdom of
the pat century, Col. Villas has concen-
trated il this great state document for
the advancement of knowledge"
Believed in University.
"Public sentiment revOlts today, as it
never did before, at SelishneSS and hon
ors as it never did before, the giving of
life. fortune and great effort to the
nourshment of the souls of men, said
ex-Gov. w. d. Hoard, president of the
regents. THE man whose memory we
honor today has done great things for
his state. Although distinguished as
lawyer, soldier publicist and legislator,
in none did he lay deeper and broader
foundations for public esteem than in
his relations with this university.
Through it all from the day of his stu.
dentship to the browning act of his life,
every effort was marked by the spirit
of glad sacrifice in its behalf and for its
honor.
CAS- regent he was strong and mas
terful in his grasp of the full meaning
of the university iii all its many-sided
aspects. He was tower of strength to
the conscientious teacher and investi-
gator: an adviser of rare insight to the
student: Il vigilant guardian of its finan-
cial resources: profound believer in
its future and n staunch supporter of
its logical development in the halls of
legislation. As | contemplate the re-
lation that Col. Villas bore to the univer-
sity, | am deeply impressed with the re-
troactive effective which grew out of
that relation. Both came together in
their youth; both fostered and nourished
each other; both became great in human
estimation and usefulness; Il great school
and a great man welded in affectionate
regard for each other, to the final glory
and advancement of great common
wealth. There is much in this contem-
plation to inspire ambition, patriotism
and honorable effort on the part of the
noble youth of our state"
Most Representative Alumnus.
THE University of Wisconsin has sent
forth many great sons, but it has sent
forth none who more completely filled
the measure of true greatness than he
whom we commemorate today" said
Chief Justice j. B. Winslow, who spoke
on behalf of the state Great in learn
ing. great in the power Of his intellect
great in his grasp of affairs, great IN
his life work, but greatest of all in that
last act by which he dedicated the
bountiful fruits of busy and successful