Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-08
A Striking Example.


A Striking Example.
In our own country we have striking
examples Of the creative power and in
fiuence of great universities upon the
states of the Union. Take for example
| one Of the younger institutions. the Uni
Vers1ty of Wisconsin. Situated at the
capital Of that state, its faculties are
conducting work Of high order in the
arts and sciences, and at the same time
are actively assisting the state govern.
ment In all departments. Members Of its
faculties collect facts. draft bills at the
request OF committees and members of
! the legislature: they serve upon commits
sions under appointment by the executive
and the whole range of state policies and
action upon all matters are freely dis
cussed by its faculties Throughout the
state, agricultural and mechanic arts are
assisted by its scientific men, There is
not an industry in the state that may not
appeal to the university for the solution
or practical problems. The farmer with
unproductive soil. or finding his herds,
or his forests, or his fruit orchards at
tackled by insects or disease may apply
to the university and. without cost to
him, receive the aid of its scientific men.
who endeavor to discover the cause of the
trouble. and to prescribe remedies This
university Is making Itself so useful to
the people and it's work is so much ap-
preciated that the state is now appro-
rriating 100000 a month for its main
tenance and support and every industry
and community in the state is feeling the
impulse and uplift that comes from this
| institution with its 400 students.
What marvellous influences have been
eNerted by Harvard and Yale, Columbia
and Princeton and the other great in
situations of learning throughout this
land. Their services to the country can
no more be measured than can the sun
light, and the air, and the rains and the
dew. We know that seed times and har-
OF nature. but whose hand can put a
measuring rod upon these elements and
tell us their extent and power? And so
IL is with the spiritual influences that
now cut from these great centers of
learning. They hold the richest treasures
of the past and give to men heritage:
they throw a flood Of light upon the
problems of life and make higher civil
Zation. Who shall count their riches OF
number their benefits? How miserably
poor a naton would be without them!
The True National Field.
In the light Of these facts we may we'll
wonder why the National Capital Of this
republic Is not thoroughly enriched by a
iourishing university, amply endowed, or
maintained by the generous support of
Here is a field of educational endeavor
uneQualed in the nation and marvelously
rich in its stores of knowledge. There is
no other educational opportunity in the
world like it. There is no place where
there is greater need for free academic
| discussion of public questions. Nowhere
is there a city better fitted to be the
home of great schools. There is no city
that can be named that will give a finer
body OF students. No place in the Union
ttroD $n- 11sav- 90 ,<l
ars from the whole country and the
world, and there Is no place that has
more pressing need for the advantages
which higher education gives. This field
of endeavor should be no longer neglect
ed by Congress, the practice Of economy
in supporting education at the capital is
a political blunder, amounting almost to
q crime. The riches of America are not
in land, and houses. and gold, but in the
life blood, the intellectual strength and
moral fiber, of her sons and daughters;
in the thought. the aspiration, and the
conduct of the people. The schools and
the great institutions of learning create
| these spiritual forces: they give to the
body-politic the breath of life, an en-
hghtened conscience and immortal being.
These scholars and teachers are the
creators of ideals: they work In human
materials and make their ideals living
realities. The nation canOt live it's best
without the molding. constructive work
of these men. This beautiful city cannot
! become truly beautiful without them.
They constitute perpetual order labor
| ing. not for wealth, nor as the advocates
| OF special interests, but striving for
knowledge. and truth. and spiritual power.
| They search for truth with singleness OF
purpose; they stand for righteous conduct
| in public and civic affairs; they seek to
make the best ideals. the best laws and
| the best customs prevalent: they speak
| the truth without fear and they approve
the finest things In art and literature.
| All this they do with an abiding faith In
men. and with suspicious hope for still
| higher attachments In the intellectual.
the social and the political conditions of
mankind
After the presidents address, the de-
| Srees were presented. At the conclusion
| of the exercises President Needham was
presented with a gold-headed cane.
List Of Degrees.
| Dean Wilbur presented degrees in the
College Of Arts and Sciences as follows:
Bachelor Of arts-David AIphonse Baer.
District OF Columbia; Agnes McGrew Bal
| loch. District of Columbia with distinc-
tom; Corinne Elizabeth Bracket, Dis
trict of Columbia; Henry Culbertson
| Clark, District Of Columbia; Linda Lee
| Gift, District Of Columbia; David Ran
| som COvell, District of Columbia, Rena