American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-06-29

tract was, of course. added tn as the
requirements Of the university de-
manded The original building thus
auspiciously started Is still standing
out having outlived It's usefulness for
It's 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 well known the versa
tile Thomas Jefferson was as much a
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 it was not until
the spring of 1925 hat 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
and dominated the university
only evolving the entire system OF
education introduced but actually de-
to the minutest details every
Of construction and organiza-
ton.
In formulating the plan and policy
Of this seat of learning Jefferson dis.
played that same rare judgment which
see reflected in the Declaration of
AS originally organ
zed, the University of Virginia con.
of eight independent schools
lncient languages. modern languages,
natural philosophy,
chemistry, medicine, law. etc. Yet the
system presented an organization of
elasticity. A new realm Of
opened by the advance of
bought. could at any time be admitted
o the academic statehood with as
much ease as a new state is admitted
o the Union. Or. on the other hand,
steady Growth Of University.
That this has worked out in prac
ice Just as IT promised in theory is
videnced by the fact that the whole
istory Of the University of Virginia
as been a continual record of add
and expansion until now there are
lore than two dozen schools. grouped
nder six different departments.
There Is much of historic interest
n every hand within the ~universit,
rounds. The original office of Thorn
Jefferson is standing at one side
{ the court. and not far distant Is the
where DR.. McGufy wrote the
chool readers which are so well
to every boy and girl who ever
the primary or grammar
of our public schools. The Ii
rary building is, as has been men.
oned, a replica of the Pantheon, one
lird the size OF its Grecian model. D.,
mong the relics of interest in the
'tunda of this Library are autograph J,
tiers of Phillips Brooks and Madi- 6
IN and much OF the private CORE }
,ondence of jefferson. Among these :
letters are some written du- 7
ng the closing years of his life in :
hich he described the monument he :
sired to have erected over his
ave, even to giving the dimensions
ID specifying the epitaph that was to
chiseled thereon. and which. by the -.
ly, enumerate the founding of this !.
diversity of Virginia and the author !
ip of the Declaration OF Indepen-
nee as the public services for which '
is commended t the memory Of !.
The University of Virginia ="
S been referred to as the child of
fferson's old age" but certainly no
IN with the enthusiasm of youth
uld labor more energetically than y
did to realize his ideal of a great c.
mccratic institution of learning.