Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-05

every family in Aledo was represented
and now feels that il has financial /
interest in the school This was one I
OF the objects sought 10 be obtained by !
the board of trustees, as II was thought !
that no firmer or more lasting friends (
could be secured for the institution |
than those who had contributed to this |
fund The board OF trustees at once /
inaugurated a campaign to raise the
remaining 100000 in Mercer county !
outside of the city of Aledo, and con- !
siderable progress has been made to-
ward that end
great deal of credit is due to Pres
ident English for the success of the
endowment campaign and for the fine
spirit which prevails not only among
those closely connected with the school
but among the citizens generally Of
Mercer county. Dr. English was en-
ployed in the spring OF 1911, coming
from the city of Cincinnati, where he
had been president Of the Cincinnati
training school. Prior TO that time he
was president of Moore's Hill college,
Indiana. He is a graduate Of Baldwin
degree. later receiving his masters de-
gree from Ohio Wesleyan university.
He is a graduate also OF the Univer-
sity of Cincinnati where he received
his degree Of doctor of divinity.
Since the opening Of the school the
trustees have acquired building for
the conservatory Of music, and during
the coming GUNNER II is proposed to
erect a girls dormitory, the plans for
/ its erection being now under way.
/ Carrying out the idea of Mr.. Drury,
/ in addition to the regular college
! course, which is equal to that found in
any small college, there has been es-
tablished a department of music, a
business department. a department Of
agriculture and a normal department.
In addition 10 these there will be in
stitU'ed next year a course in domes-
tic science.
STEADY INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE.
The attendance has steadily increas-
ed since the opening of the school I'M
til now there are about 500 students
enrolled in all departments. A pre-
paratory course is offered in Drury
academy which is run in connection
with the college and under the same
management
Perhaps no better conception can be
given of what this school has accom-
plished than TO use the language of
Dr.. Nathaniel Butler OF Chicago uni
yersity. when he visited the instiUI-
, ton little over year ago in response
TO a request for recognition of the
. school on the part of Chicago univer
Sity. After having visited the school
, and becoming familiar with the situa
ton DR. Butter said Il came here ex
peCting to find a feeble school asking
for recognition as a last resort, but in
, stead OF that ] have found a new, Wig
: OrOus up-to-date institution asking for
recognition because il feels it would
thus secure a larger sphere of useful
! ness. There IS no question, al the rate
! it is going. but that it will continue tc
be recognized, because people mus
and will recognize hat which is being
done well. will state frankly thai
- the personnel of the student BODY ant
=, the character of the institution is fal
ahead Of an ,Fnng | had expected tC
see"
Anyone who had simply heard Of the
institution and knew that il had begun
! operations as recently as 1908. and tina
without any endowment fund WA,
r. ever, would naturally feel as DIR. But
Ter did before he went TO Aledo. bu
,I,a moe. ,oe,,,J ;r,.or, ;o,r;-,, ,,.;Il o-,
9 vince anyone of the correctness Of Dr.
8 Buffers statement.
The students of the COllega are pro
= vided with all that goes to make ,oi
loge life desirable and profitable. Thu
customary literary societies flourish, ;
Young Mems and Young Women
i Christian association, the glee club
the oratorical societies and the pres
T. club are all well attended and excit,
0 a lively interest.
i The institution is justly proud O
i the record it has made in athletics, no
I only because of the victories il ha
9 won. but because of the fact that il
T athletics have always been conductet
J. on the highest possible plane, and III
- SidLiudLu VI tilSlDLllNN III pdIllCl tlOl
5 in athletic contests is of the highest
0 IN order to participate in any interco
e legiate contest a student must carr,
: at least u hours of college work an
J. be in good standing in all the worI
II carried. From the first, athletics hav
~ been encouraged and the faculty ha
D. had close oversight and supervision c
r all the teams, one Of the professor
n having charge OF football, one of base
e ball and track and one of basketball
D. Athletic relations have been sustaine
with such schools as Augustana, HeC
ding. Lombard, Knox, Monmouth, BraC
lev, Illinois Wesleyan, Iowa Wesleyan
Mllikin, Illinois college, Shurtlef
Lake Forest, Armour institute, etc
and the showing which has been mad
is one in which every friend Of III
school may take pride. The success
Of the school on the athletic field
particularly gratifying to the peopl
of Mercer county for the reason ths
many of the best athletes who hav
represented the school have been boy
who were born and raised in MERGE