The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-24
NEEDS OF STATE ALWAYS MET
BY WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE,
Until 1861 Majority Of Public
Men Of Virginia Trained
There.
MODERN PROBLEMS FACED
First to Form Connection With
Public School Sys-
PROBLEMS FACED
MODERN PR
LYON @. TYLER.

LYON @. TYLER,
Tho secret OF tho success Of WtlliArn
and Mary College has consisted in1tx
meeting the wants Of the people.
Down to the year 1851, q. large majority
of tho public mon OF Virginia. had
their training at this ancient instttu-
ton Of learning. The State held
position OF greatness and pre-euauencs
in the public councils. and the mission
OF the college was to train the sons OF
the wealthy planters for political sta
ton and Office. The strength OF Its
teachings during this long period from
Its foundation In 1893 to the outbraak
OF the War for Southern Independence,
lay In Its classical and literary
COURSES and Its powerful moral and
social forces. Long before any other
college dreamt OF such thing. wll-
liam and Mary taught by lectures.
permitted the student to select his own
line Of study, and inculcated the spirit
OF honor throughout the whole ool-
lege environment. Thus our states
mon were famous for their general
culture; their freedom OF thought and
their proud, generous and lofty char
acter.
The result OF tho great struggle for
Southern independence was to reduce
| Virginia from her proud pre-eminence
Her social system was overturned, her
| people are Impoverished, and tho
public councils have been practically
closed to her aspiring young mon.
William and Mary College was for
some years after the war sad Illus
/ tration of the general desolatton OF
the State. Fire and rapino had held
high carnival in this peaceful and ven
cradle abode of the muses., and it's en-
dowment fund had almost persisted in
the general wreck OF private fortunes
and public credit.
New Mission OF College.
4 AS the first settlers OF this country
We're for a hundred years engaged In
laying the foundations of the State
and We're scarcely known to the world
. at large. so upon the survivors OF the
war was Sdevolved a similar work Of
re-establishing the framework OF So
4 ciety and restoring the wealth which
had been destroyed. The old mission
OF the college terminated with tho
war. which lost to Virginia Its high
4 position in the councils of the nation
and the world. but 1t has assumed a
new mission which, though Of hum
bier scale. is OF no less Importance to
the well-being OF the State. The pro.
j blem Is to make Virginia prosperous
and rich again, and then we may con-
Germ ourselves about dominating
tho public councils and directing
the dcstinies of the world. Charity
and every other moving power must
I begin at home.
), Work OF Restoration.
Il In this great work OF restoration
!, the public school system has played an
important part. Education Is one of
the most potent means OF acquiring
!, wealth. William and Mary College
!, was the first college in the State to
form q connection with this system,
, and in 1883. when It's buildings were
, still hardly capable OF sheltering Its
, students 1t Started out to train teach
ers and superintendent. How we'll
it has performed this function is at
/ tested by the public records. In the
, spirit which distinguished 1t in the
! past OF meeting the needs Of the pub
i lie, the practical sides of the college
!, curriculum We're emphasized. Wa
, developed our normal and scientific
courses. We built up an observation
J and practice school. which has few.
t equals. We introduced department
! OF manual arts and drawing. and one
|, OF biology. We looked more to use and
: less to glory. And yet we have kept
n the old college courses intact. and
+ we have cherished the spirit Of its
e past We believe In imparting in
!. struction as we'll by lectures as by
: text books. We like to encourage the
t manhood Of the student by giving him
y advice In the selection of his courses.
j, and we try to keep up that standard
y of honor which made William and
: Mary and our Commonwealth so re-
: markable before the war. We have
lplain substantial buildings comforta-
bly, furnished with all the modern
= conveniences. an attractive library
s we'll provided with books. portraits
q and manuscripts, and a hard working,
Il energetic corps Of twenty-siS instruc-
q tors of all grades. We have raised
/. our standard from time to time till our
h bachelor of arts degree stands for
II all that the same degree stands for
/. in the most famous universities.