Indiana University - Arbutus Yearbook (Bloomington, IN)

Page 13 text:

The friends of the institution had long felt the importf ance of some permanent provision for its maintenance, and in the fall of 1882, the Board of Trustees, thinking that the time was propitious for legislative action, had a bill in- troduced for the permanent endowment of the University. The Alumni all over the State gave the weight of their influence to the measure, while those of their number who were members of the 53d Assembly were active in its sup- port. The bill became a law on the gd of March, 1883. It was hoped by the projectors that this fund would reach a million dollars, but it will probably fall short of that amount. In 1885, during Dr. Iorclan's administration, the elective system was substituted for the old curriculum, sectarian control, which had, for over fifty years, impeded the progress of the institution, was forever abolished, freedom of thought and speech were encouraged, and the students were made aself-governing body. The students are per- mitted the freest choice in all things concerning their own welfare. That this change has met with popular approval is evident from the fact that the attendance in all the college classes has been more than tripled. Still more marked is the improvement in the discipline of the school, and the general character and thoroughness of the work done in the diiferent departments. The University now has, in addition to its other buildings, a large library build- ing and a gymnasium. A new laboratory building is in course of construction. We have taken a brief retrospect of the development of our great institution from the time when beneath the shad- ows of the unbroken forest she was nurtured by rough frontiersmen, down to the present, when our State and Nation are looking to her for their leaders.

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With the change from seminary to college came re- newed prosperity, the attendance increased, the curriculum was enlarged, new buildings were erected and additional professors were employed. The college soon became widely and favorably known for the signal ability of its professors. They were all scholarly and earnest men. Students from remote States were drawn to the institution, and in point of thoroughness and eiiiciency Indiana stood in the front rank of VVestern colleges of the day. In 1838 the growing importance of Indiana College led the Legislature to grant it a third charter, this time increas- ing its facilities for work and giving it its present title of The Indiana Universityf' For many years the scope of the work in the University was adapted to a small income. Mathematics, Ancient Languages and Philosophy constituted the chief courses of study, while the Modern Languages, the Sciences, Litera- ture and History received but scanty notice. Owing to nig- gardly legislative support, for thirty years almost entirely withheld, there was constant need of most careful financier- ing and the strictest economy. The growing demand for a broadening of the curriculum, resulted in a gradual increase in the expenses. Two courses were open to the common-V wealth: to meet this demand, or to hamper the growth and usefulness of the University by withholding pecuniary aid. In 1867, women were, for the first time, admitted to the University. This added to the attendance, and likewise to the cost of maintenance. In this year the Legislature appropriated to the use of the University the sum of 88,000 annually. This beneiicent act of the State, the first of its kind in the history of the institution, was followed by such an increase in attendance that in 1873 it was found neces- sary to make an annual appropriation of the additional sum 0f315,o00. ' This increased appropriation made it pos- sible for the work of the University to go on with a steady advance in breadth and thoroughness. A new building was erected, extensive additions were made to the labora- tories, museum and library, and the teaching force was increased and strengthened. During a heavy thunder storm on the night of the 12th of July, 1883, the new Science Hall, in which were the library, the laboratories, the Owen cabinet, and extensive Zoological collections, went up in flame and smoke. The Board of Trustees met at once and decided to begin the work of rebuilding without delay. It was decided to abandon the campus as too small for future expansion and too near the railroad for quiet work. The Board selected as the new site that high, rolling tract of woodland, on the east side of town, known as Dunnis Woods. With a donation of 550,000 from Monroe county and the funds received from the insurance companies, the buildings were erected, These 'buildings were named in honor of men who have contributed much to the success of Indiana University-Andrew Wylie, Richard Owen and james D. Maxwell. The General Assembly of 1886 appropriated 343,000 for the purpose of providing the books, apparatus and furniture needed in the new buildings.

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Old Vlemorlies. One morning at prayers, as Dr. Theophilus VVylie, Act- ing President of the University, was lifting the lid of the desk to take out the Bible, he caught a glimpse of a large red rooster 'which the boys had placed there to surprise him. The Doctor slipped in his hand cautiously and removed the Bible, but the rooster made no disturbance. After prayers the chapel was cleared and his roosterness lib- erated, the boys decided that Dr. Wylie was exceedingly sly. Q G Q Even before girls were admitted to the College the boys had strings to their hearts. Courting was carried on quite as extensively in proportion to the number of stu- dents in attendance as it is now. Many of the boys got their wives here. I C9 Q GD On the morning of May 1, 1824, the opening day of the Seminary, the aspiring young Hoosiers who presented themselves for admission, probably made an interesting picture. They came from their cabin homes arrayed in the proverbial linsey-woolsey shirts, home-spun jeans pants and coon-skin caps. Their feet, as a rule, were bare, except for a generous coating of honest red clay mud. To this day that red clay color in footgear is very fashionable among I. U. students. In the Hrst days of the Seminary the boys persisted in coming to school without their coats on the plea that it was too Warm to wear them. One day the professor sug- gested that when the weather got warmer he wouldn't ex- pect them to wear anything. History records that they ever after wore their coats. GGG The Reverend Baynard R. Hall was the first, and for two years, the only Professor of Indiana University. He was educated at Union College and at Princeton, and was, as he says, The nrst man since the creation of the world to read Greek in the 'New Purchasef l' I GD C9 C9 In the College campus are two trees wound so closely together that it requires careful observation to see that there are two. Standing together thus, they have weath- ered the storms and rains that have beaten down upon them for a half century, Thereby hangs a tail,-a romance of the forties which might furnish material for an excel- lent QQ novel. The trees were Wound together by a maiden fair and her Southern lover, who there made vows that were ne'er to be broken. He thought of her tenderly when he was at home for vacation, and afterwards mar- ried-another girl.