Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-06-29

highlands Of Albemarle," but this
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 outlived Its usefulness for
its original function is 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 well known the versa
tile Thomas Jefferson was as much q
genius in architectural work as he
was in literary expression, as evi-
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
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 after this the undertaking
proceeded slowly, and 1t was not until
the spring of 1926 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 1925 he
directed and dominated the university,
not only evolving the entire system Of
location introduced but actually de-
ling to the minutest details every
ature of construction and organiza-
IN.
IN formulating the plan and policy
Ct this seat Of learning Jefferson dis
played that same rare judgment which
We see reflected in the Declaration Of
independence. AS originally organ.
ed, the University of Virginia con,
isted Of eight independent schools
encient 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
t 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,
' tice just as 1t promised in theory lie
evidenced by the fact that the whole
history of the University of Virginia
e has been a 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 interes'
e on every hand within the universit,
{ grounds. The original office Of Thorn
= as Jefferson is standing at one sid
u Of the court, and not far distant is tn,
u room where DR.. McGuffy wrote tn,
school readers which are so wei
known to every boy and girl who eve
9 attended the primary or gramma
g grades of our public schools, The l.
q brary building Is, as has been mer
lAOlChi q lClIAta vi bhC hLlhCOhj OhS
re third the size OF its Grecian mode.
T. Among the relics of interest in tn
q rotunda Of this Library are autograp
Is letters of Phillips Brooks and Mad
"a son and much of the private CORE
70 spondence of Jefferson. Among thes
10 Jefferson letters are some written d,
N ring the closing years Of his life |
n which he described the monument h
e. desired to have erected over hi
lie grave, even to giving the dimension
IS and specifying the epitaph that was I
In be chiseled thereon, and which, by tn
d. way, enumerate the founding of tn.
re University of Virginia and the autho
ship of the Declaration Of IndepeI
dence as the public services for whiC
he is commended to the memory
as posterity. The University of Virgin.
has been referred to as the child
Jefferson's old age" but certainly I
man with the enthusiasm Of yout
ty could labor more energetically tina
he did to realize his ideal of a gr2,
he democratic institution OF learning.