Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-07-05
Chi Omega Lodge,

Cnl OmeQa LOOEe,
Madison. Wis, June 22. 1918,
My hastily formed plans have materi.
allied: I am in Madison In time to reg.
ister on opening day.
My trip from Memphis vas a very
pleasant one. took a Pullman at eight
O'Clock Thursday night. Friday morn.
ing at six O'Clock I was looking out up.
on that wonderful corn belt of Illinois.
The level black land is striking like
the Mississippi prairie. But the fea-
lures of the landscape are 30 very differ
ent. The small farms with every
square foot in cultivation. have very
small, neat dwellings. but no lawns,
shade trees. flower gardens. The cot
tages are in calling distance; and fire.
quently there are no turn rows OF
hedges to indicate q dividing line.
There are no pastures and cattle, no Or
chards and what we southerners call
premises s"-only miles and miles OF
corn, corn, corn.
l passed through Chicago, transfer
ing by bus from the Illinois Central to
the North Western. I got birds eye
view of the Lake Shore, and some OF
the large plants. And l purpose to
stop over on my way home, take boat
trip to Milwaukee, and visit the Art
Gallery and Chicago University.
The five hours ride out to Madison
on an accommodation was not bit tedi-
GUS because was doing some interest
ing sightseeing. Soon after leaving
Chicago saw Madison--not the town.
for though Madison IL the capital Of the
State, to the people of Wisconsin Mad
ison means the University. saw this
great school thousands Of times before
reaching here, for the wonderful farms
all along the way tell the story of things
Madison has done for her State (be-
cause, might add, the State has been
good to Madison.)
The land 10 rolling and not 90 lblack
and rich as that of Illinois, but much
more beautiful, more prosperous are
the farms. Instead of the one crop Of
corn one sees in Illinois there are fields
of red clover, small grain. some corn,
and pastures. The doctrine Of diversi-
cation has been effectively carried 70
these farmers. Tde farms areiargef-
160 to 200 acres, / should think. consti.
tute the average farm. Invariably the
homes are large two story houses with
orchards-and my how good those red
cherries did look! Some shade trees
and a lawn added beauty and comfort
to these homes. In other words, the
practical and the aesthetic both are evil
denced in this landscape. Practically
every farm has asherd Of dairy cattle,
silo and windmill,
/ saw no smoke-stacks in this coun-
try. The plants in sight were creame-
ries and ice-cream factories. felt that
l had met an old friend when passed
large factory placarded ''Borden's
Milk" for manv time in the days of
dormitory lite have / been thankful for
can of condensed milk that made pos
sible cup of hot chocolate t bedtime.
/ find Madison delightful place. 1t
1t is townlof about 40, 900 inhabitants,
which, has grown up around the State
House and the University. and lies be-
tween two lakes. the campus touching
one and the capitol overlooking the 9TH
er. The largest of the two lakes is
seven miles in length Swimming and
rowing are dopular sports. The homes
stretched along the lakes have their
piers, just as they co on the coast; and
there are numbers of gasoline launches
and row boats out every day. Il is so
cool that I have found a wool sweater
entirely comfortable.
The University meets my expecta-
tions. 1t comprises in lone institution
all the many forces of education that
Mississippi operates in her several state
institutions. No matter what citizen
of Wisconsin wishes to learn to do-to
practice medicine. teach, cook, farm,
make watches, play the piano, or do
anything else his heart may desire, be
did or young-he comes to Madison.
The many colleges in this large univer-
sity are wonderfully equipped. There
are 1000 acres occupied by its many
schools. And the plant is maintained
and constantly improved in an unstinted
way by land grants, special state ap-
preparations, regular levy of 3-8 mills,
and by endowment. There are some
700 members of the faculty and 5000
students during the regular session
This summer session will enroll between
1000 and 5000.
Nearly 2000-stars on the service flag,
representing students, not alumni, tell
the story of the war and the university.
And the t. amp Of the 500 men, stationed
on the campus in one of the buildings
used as cantonment, reminds one con-
stantly of this terrible war These feI-
lows are taking special courses in the
mechanics of aviation and navigation.
Besides these soldiers there are three
classes of students here this summer;
Undergraduates who are making extra
credits 30 as to finish school earlier and
get into some form of war work: medi-
cal students who have been urged by
the government to continue their stud
les; and graduate students. most of
them teachers, who feel az | do, that
they need "recharging" IN order to do
the more efficient and more intensive
work which the times demand.
The Graduate School in the several
colleges is 30 well known for its splend-
id facilities for research that it draws
college people from everywhere-th
nearby state of Illinois, the faraway
California, even Norway and Japan.
The great philosopher.poet Of India,
n m hidra uath TaOnra aant hia ao, have