The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-06-30


requirements OF the university do
manded The original building thus
aispiciously started is still standing,
but having outlived Its usefulness for
its original function IA now utilized as
residence by one OF the instructors
at the university. This building was
designed BY Jefferson. who formulated
the whole architectural scheme which
IL In itself sufficient to render the
University Of Virginia notable.
Indeed, the circumstance that Thorn.
as Jefferson was the architect OF the
beautiful home of the University of
Virginia, as we'll as the founder of this
seat OF learning. renders 1t particular.
ly fitting that II should, In accordance
With his wish, bo regarded as his en-.
during monument. Although the fact
may not be so well known the versa
tile Thomas Jefferson was as much a
genius in architectural work as he
was In literary expression, as EVIL
deneed by the Declaration of Indepen.
dence He designed his home, the
mansion Monticello, which remains to
this day masterpiece of Colonial ar
chitecture, and his influence had much
to do with the formulation of the plan
for the white house at Washington
building which embodles some OF
the features found also at Monticello
Always the Leading Spirit.
Like other great men. jefferson did
not always have his own way, even
with his nelghbors and fellow-Virgln.
ians. He had hard struggle to have
his university. which was known at
first simply as Central college. formal.
ly accepted as the state university,
but he continued his missionary work
In behalf OF this cause for years, and
finally In 1919 the legislature passed
formal act making tho new instltu.
ton state university I'm name and In
TACT Even after this the undertaking
proceeded slowly, and II was not until
the spring Of 1895 that the institution
was open to students. At the first
meeting OF the board of the university
Mr., Jefferson was elected rector and
until the time OF his death in 1926 he
directed and dominated the university.
not only evolving the entire system OF
education introduced but actually de.
wishing to the minutest details every
feature OF construction and organiza.
ton.
In formulating tho plan and policy
OF this seat of learning Jefferson dis,
played that same rare judgment which
we see reflected in the Declaration OF
Independence. As originally organ.
lied. the University OF Virginia con.
sisted Of eight Independent schools
ancient languages, modern languages,
mathematics, natural philosophy,
chemistry, medicine, law, etc. Yet the
system presented an organization OF
perfect elasticity. A new realm of
knowledge, opened by the advance of
thought, could ut any time be admitted
to the academic statehood with as
much ease as new state is admitted
to the Union, Or, on the other hand.
Steady Growth Of University.
That this has worked out In prac.
tiCe just as 1t promised In theory Is
evidenced by the fact that the whole
NAAhhNAe VI NhI AhAN NAHANl 1t virginia
has been u continual record OF add
ton and expansion until now there are
more than two dozen schools. grouped
under six different departments.
There is much OF historic interesN
on every hand within the uniyorsit,
grounds. The original Office OF Thorn
rs Jefferson is standing at one sid,
of the court. and not far distant is the
room where Or, McGuny wrote tie
school readers which are so well
known TO every boy and girl who ever
attended the primary or grammar
grades Of our public schools. The Ii.
bFary building Is, as has been men,
toned. replica OF the Pantheon. one
third the size Of its Grecian model.
Among the relies OF interest in the
rotunda Of this Library are autograph
letters OF Phillips Brooks and Madi,
son and much of the private CORE
spondenee OF jefferson. Among these
Jefferson letters are some written du.
ring the closing years of his life in
which he described the monument he
desired to have erected over his
grave. even to giving the dimensions
and specifying the epttaph that was to
be chiseled thereon, and which, by the
way. enumerate the founding of this
University of Virginia and the author.
ship OF the Declaration of Indepen-
deEce as the public services for which
he Is commended to the memory Of
posterity. The University OF Virginia
has been referred to as "the child OF
Jefrerson's old age" but certainly no
man with the enthusiasm OF youth
could labor more energetically than
he did to realize his ideal OF a great
| democratic institution OF learning.