The Coolidge examiner., 1935-12-20

Washington. d. C.-WNU Service.
\ A ANY forces make Washing
MI ton, the nations capital,
a cultural center. They
flow from the government itself.
as it is with broad
cultural problems and developing
within its departments educational
resources of great value; from the
many scientific, industrial, and
other associations located here
from the work of the diplomatic
and from five great uni
yersities.
Among the worlds great store
houses of knowledge is the Library of
Congress-. 1t has more than 4,000.-
300 books and pamphlets, accumu-
lated from the ends of the earth
nearly every book printed
in America and the most priced of
foreign publications. The most
complete collection Of Russian and
Chinese literature is preserved
here.
Then there is the Smithsonian
collection of the pro-
reedings of learned societies, con-
stituting the most complete scipn-
life library in America, and the
famous Folger collection of Shake
speareana housed in a marble pile
near the Library of Congress.
Other libraries have become pre-
eminent in special subjects, such
as those of the State department,
the patent office, the Army Medical
the bureau of standards,
the geological survey, etc.
There are in all more than 200
libraries In Washington. where stu
dents are always welcome.
American education finds a focal
point in the Interior department.
Its office of education gathers data
from all parts of the nation.
Through experiment and expert
ence, it converts its information
into aid and advice given back to
state, county and municipal school
Think what it means to students
10 have access to the researches of
the American Council of Education,
The National Academy of Sciences,
the National Research council, the
National Geographic society, the
Carnegie Institution of Washington,
the Carnegie Institution for the Ad-
of Peace, and many
others.
Great Art Galleries
OF art galleries besides the Ma
tional, there is the COrcoran, ex-
hibiting the work of prominent
artists and sculptors. 1t
also houses the famous Clark col
lection of old masters and other
items of European art. The Freer
gallery also illuminateS this COM
with works of James Nc
Neill Whistler and oriental sculp-
lures. paintings, bronzes and jades.
There are also In Washington pri-
vate galleries open to students of
the arts.
In such an atmosphere it is nat
ural that seats of higher learning
should develop. Five universities
now give to Washington the largest
student population OF
any city In the country.
In 1901 Georgetown university
opened its doors under the jurisdic,
ton of the Jesuit order. Second
In date of founding is the George
university (then Co,
lumbian college), chartered by act of
congress in 1921. The Catholic Uni
versity of America was authorized
by Pope Leo XIII in 1889, and is
by the Roman Catholic
1t has a program of ex-
pansion to eliminate in 1939-40
when the university celebrates its
fftieth anniversary. Fifteen build
ings Of the university already erect
ed and 40 religious houses accom-
modate several thousand students.
American university, under the
patronage of the Methodist EpiscO-
pal church, was chartered in 1893
Seven Of its marble halls are al
ready built and in use. Howard
for the colOred race,
was chartered by congress in 1861
Founding of Washington University.
George Washington wished a ma
tional university built here. In his
will he left 80 shares of stock in
the Potomac (CanaD company for
its endowment "to which the youth
of fortune and talent might be
sent for the completion Of their
education and by forming
friendships in juvenile years, be
enabled to free themselves
from those local prejudices and
habitual jealousies which when
carried to excess are never-failing
sources of disquietude to the pub
lie mind and pregnant of mis-
chievous consequences to this coun-
try"
Pursuant to that project Of the