Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-07-10
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
ON TOPICS OF THE DAY
Correspondent Discusses Another
Phase OF Medical College
Removal,
To The Editor of The Times-Dispa,ch

TO the Editor OF The Times Disnatch.
Sir-Thcre in one aspect of the
pehoihS question OF removing the
medical school to Richmond which M
yet has not been taken into sufficient
consideration All persons Informed
ABOUT the history OF the University
iiospitai know that IL was largely
nuit through tho generous gifts OF
Mr.. Charles Steele. Of New York. nm
alumnus. who. undoubtedly. wa.
principally actuated in making these
sitts by grateful feeling for hi.
alma mater. Mr. Stccle's bcnefartion
was Intended for the university jusi
as II now stands on the one spot
associated with all his memories Of
the institution. Would IL not be a
breach OF faith on the part Of the
state practically 10 destroy all thesc
gifts by transferring the hospital 10
Iuchmond,
what liz trnc OF Mr.. Steeic's bene-
faction la true OF every other that
has been bestowed on the university
Take the school OF arts recently
erected by Paul Goodloe McIntire. IL
could be said very plausibly that this
school would enjoy more advantages
In Alexandria that IL does at the un,-
Versity, for there ii would be near
the Corcoran Art Gallery and the
splendid groups OF buildings which
now adorn the city OF Washington
No doubt there can be found in Alex
andria public-spirited citizens who
would glSdly furnish the school with
appropriate quarters. should the State
only remove Il thithcr. But does any
one really believe that Mr.. ScIntire
would have set UP this school any
where but here Mt the university, his
alma mater. for which he has shown
NO enlightened an affection on so
many occasions? Let the notion get
abroad that the principle has been
established that any school Of the
university can upon some plausible
pretensc be replanted elsewhere. and
how many pople Will be found who
would be willing TO give large en-.
downments TO special schools?
/, Is not generally known that in
the course OF years an enormous.
amount OF money has been given TO
the university by its alumni and ad-
nircrs. Down to 1917. the State had
bestowed on II. from start To finish.
only $4,000. while about four timex
that sum. namely. s2.47l. 900. had been
presented by private bencfactors
most OF WHOM were alumni who could
never forget their sojourn in JEFF
ferson's academic village, and who
were influenced chiefly by recolIec-
tons OF that sojourn to show such
generosity. Since 1917, these dona-
tons have been vastly increased by
the addition Of the new endowment
and other funds. 1t would be breach
of faith with all these noble minded
men for the State to take a step
which would amount practically 10
the partial Acknowledgement OF the in
stitution, for II was with the tacit
understanding that the Institution
would be kept intact that the large
majority of these benefactions were
made. The proposed removal would,
In my judgment. he certain to cast
damper upon the generosity OF
future alumni. not only by rendering
the retention of the other schools prc-
carious, but also by diminishing, il
not destroying. the prestige OF this
great seat Of learning
PHILIP ALEXANDER BRUCE.
Charlottesville. Va. June %. 1921.