The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-06-30

tract was, of course, added TO as the
requirements of the university de-
manded. The original building thus
auspiciously started Is still standing.
but having outliyed it's usefulness for
its original function is now utilized as
a residence by one OF the instructors
at the university. This building was
designed by Jefferson, who formulated
the whole architectural scheme which
is 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 well as the founder of this
seat of learning, renders it particular
ly fitting that it should, in accordance
with his wish. be regarded as his en-
during monument. Although the fact
may not be so we'll known the versa
tile Thomas Jefferson was as much a
genius in architectural work as he
was in literary expression, as evil
denced by the Declaration Of Indepen-
dence He designed his home, the
mansion Monticello, which remains to
this day a masterpiece Of Colonial ar
chitecture, and his influence had much
to do with the formulation of the plan
for the white house at Washington 49,
a building which embodies 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 neighbors and fellow-Virgin-
ians. He had a 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
a formal act making the new institu-
ton a state university in name and in
fact. Even aft, this the undertaking
proceeded slowl and It was not until
the spring of 1925 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
vising to the minutest details every
feature of construction and organiza-
ton.
In formulating the plan and policy
Of this seat of learning jefferson dis
played that same rare judgment which
we see reflected i'm 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 at any time be admitted
to the academic statehood with as
much ease as a new state is admitted
to the Union. Or, on the other hand,
Steady Growth Of University.
That this has worked out In prac-
uce just as it promised in theory is
evidenced by the fact. that the whole
history Of the University OF Virginia
has been a continual record of addi-
ton and expansion until now there are
more than two dozen schools grouped
under six different departments.
There is much Of historic interest
on every hand within the university
grounds The original Office of Thorn
as Jefferson is standing at one side
of the court, and not far distant is the
room where Or. McGuffy wrote the
school reader which are so we'll
known to every boy and girl who ever
attended the primary or grammar
grades of our public schools. The Ii
brary building is, as has been men.
toned, a replica of the Pantheon. one
third the size of its Grecian model.
Among the relics Of interest in the
rotunda Of this Library are autograph
letters of Phillips Brooks and Madi-
son and much of the private corre-
spondence 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 epltaph 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-
dence as the public services for which
he is commended TO the memory OF
posterity The University of Virginia
has been referred 10 as the child OF
Jefferson's old age" but certainly no
man with the enthusiasm Of youth
could labor more energetically than
he did to realize his ideal OF great
democratic institution of learning.