The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-05
y1nGlNIus GREATEST SCHOOL.


s--
yIRGINI,'s GREATEST SCHOOL.
Last Saturday was "Convocation
Day" at the University of Virginia, the
beginning OF the eighty-dfth session.
II was an Impressive occasion. the
doctors in their gowns and caps and
the student body Of more than six hun
dred serious-minded young men from
thirty-siS of the states and Territories
OF the Nation. and from three foreign
intellectual purpose. Twenty thousand
men have been educated at this great
Institution since 1t was established by
Thomas Jefferson more than eighty
years ago, and here the principles and
structure of government have been
taught. and the interests of agricul-
ture. manufacturers and commerce have
.bcen guarded Here the individual
has been exalted to the discredit of
the mob, the moral outlook has not
been stunted by the intellectual, and
the elements of social progress. per-
,sonal freedom and the arts Of domestic
peace have been cultivated for the
welfare of the human race. Under
the administration of Dr. Alderman.
the University is growing in an alto
sother encouraging way. Since he be-
gan his work there. it's endowment mas
been increased by million dollars
ard its ability to render larger ser
vice to the Commonwealth greatly
promoted--as one of the Faculty ex-
pressed it the other day. he has lived
himself into the life of the uTniver-
5 sity," and while reaching forth after
greater things he has remained faith
full to his oath "to obey its statutes.
to respect its ancient spirit, to main
tain its lofty ideals, to seek with pa
thence the laws Of its growth
In his address on Saturday, DR.. AL
derman reported that the enrolment
at the University this session is CTS,
as compared with 7sS last year; fall
ing off in attendance of So. He re-
garded this slight disparity in num-
hers as indicating progress of very
substantial sort. as every one must
who is familiar with the facts. Last
session there were 200 students in the
College proper; tiis session there are
eli, gain of is, and that, too despite
the fact that the entrance require
n.ents have been raised $50 per cent
In the Graduate Department there is
the same number of students as last
scssion-2I. In the Department. of
Law there are 1T5 students as COM
pared with ESQ last session-a falling
off of 10. In the Department of Med
icine there are. 70 students. as COM
pared with 50 last session. falling
of of .. In the Department of En-
cheering there are Sc students as COM
pared with 105 last session. falling
off Of 10 The decrease of the at
tendance in the Department of Law
is readily explained. The University
has adopted ;,the three years course
In law. La:i s.assiot, there was a rush
of students to take advantage of the
AHo JSiiS course hereafter IL %ill
he necessary for the Law student TO
complete the full three years course
before graduation. ! The Department of
Medicine was never so well equipped
fer its work es it now is. and besides.
there are already more doctors than
there are patients. speaking in broad
terms and there are literally thousands
of lawyers in this country who have
never felt the thrill of fat fees or in
6ulged in the luxury of ponderons
pleadiags about nothing In particular.
The growth of the University is IN
d!cated not b. the number OF students
in law and medicine and engineering
but by the attendance in the College
where nan are educated for all round
good citizenship. and in this Depart
ment, Notwithstanding the bars that
have been raised against tie admission
of ill-prepared students, the gain mas
been noteworthy and most en-
rouraging. With admirable material
equipment for its work in all The
branches Of liberal education, superb
corps of devoted teachers, and a long
and honorable history of.great achieve
ment the University OF virginia never
80 web deserved the confidence and
support Of this Commonwealth as in
the broadening life Upon which 1T has
now entered.