Miami University - Recensio Yearbook (Oxford, OH)

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w w awn: puma. x-wwnwuqu-r 5g;,.;fjm'f:w5hvrjar g?nyfjm, M .9 am mum, l m. , alkali.w-gsAg-gf.:Hssanammgzmmmhe i11:4.;;.i..;,..m:-.re;;:w ;:'1wr my ad, um;- I 1 Vi ' 7 k-f ' r l 1 l e 78381:; L 1 i . 1. 1.11 ' l 7.11:; LL; U .1 i l..h.;.;$ - ' l: '8 r r ,3, k nshuwa... - .4 w. 0 1d M . . HE T reaty of Paris in 1783 brought peace and independence to the thirteen colonies, but as a result of the war the whole country was in the throes of a severe economic depression. In these darkened hours, the eyes of the sturdy young colonists were turned toward the great territories across the Alle- ghenies, and, following the beckoning call of opportunity, they came in constant streams to settle in the fertile lands of the west. The Ohio valley was settled hrst, and the tide of immigration was then turned into the rich valleys of the tributary streams. Marietta, at the mouth of the Muskingum, was the first settlement, and at this Village, General St. Claire, the first governor of the N orthwest T erritory, 8 established his frontier capital. Cincinnati was settled soon after, and from this post on the Ohio, llMad Anthony Wayne pushed northward into the country of the Miamis and established Ft. Hamilton on the Great M iami River. From Ft. Hamilton, an ancient trail led westward to the wooded hills, but the present Vicinity of Oxford was Virgin forest. By the dawn of the new century, the population had so increased that the territorial government established in 1787 had become inad- equate, and the State of Ohio was formally constituted and admitted to the Union in 1803. Life was indeed strenuous in the new state. The Indians were savage and hostile; the country was wild, and clearings had to be made before the land could be cultivated. Against the rigors of climate, the hardships of frontier life, and the stealthy inroads of malaria, did the early settlers have to fight-for the necessities of existence. But in spite of their environment the hardy pioneers of Ohio were not completely engrossed in the competition for bare necessities, for even in the most strenuous struggles of frontier life they realized that education was destined 7 to play a great part in the commonwealth they were building, a factor without which progress would be impossible. Accordingly, in 1809 the Legislature of the new state, acting under the Federal Land. Grant of 1787, formally founded and named Miami University, an institution of higher learning to be located in the center of the township set apart for educational purposes in a Village to be called Oxford. One year after the founding of Oxford a schoolhouse of rough-hewn logs was erected on what is now the Miami campus. The site is marked by the granite boulder which rests near the northeast corner of Brice Hall. James Dorsey, the master, moved into one side of the small building. Because of the draw-backs of pioneer conditions, however, few students attended, and the Select School, as it was called, did not flourish. The Indians had by this time mainly vacated this district, but until after Perry,s Victory in 1814, there was a constant menace of uprisings all along the frontier. A second school house, built of bricks, planks, and clapboards, was erected in 1817, and the Reverend James Hughes, a missionary to the Wyandotte Indians, was appointed master. In 1820 the construction of the central portion of the present main building was begun. -By this time Oxford was a flourishing Village, and boasted two taverns, a post ofice, three stores, besides furnishing employment for a llnumber of useful mechanics. Because of the lack of funds, actual collegiate instruction was delayed for several years, but on N ovember 1, 1824, the University threw open its doors to a small but nevertheless enthusiastic group of students. Student life in the early days was indeed rugged. The advertisement announc- ing the opening of the college estimated the total cost of a years study here at ninety- three dollars; this included not only tuition, room, board, and books, but also live dollars for lire-wood and candles and an equal amount for llincidentals and 20 , a ' 19.;qu mhbmmvmum MW A bow ' 'mmainG-mr , rgsmf fiian-I'.W :inwrkkxmkj mm-ya-rwh 1: ! t M, mhm e r ,, w . 2., 7., ' 4; y; , 'ftlFPV-wwwgyhaq wy-wu w ;me,i--iv-;:;,:z: winch -,.; wagrur414mmwm-HELVQ4MUW'W31-55051-fo WQ'F'H W WW5: i i - ii; '7

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22-min 2 gymnmajf, . 2-. 2.2,. 2mg. .2 ; mv .a nwwg-r W14, , mmgya wu.2n.wlmrw- -22: 2, mr.-2F.,nr . . A little rippling echo of the years . The campus sends abroad on certain nights, 2 2 When Winds are hushed, and moon mist drifting lies 2:2 2 Der grass and trees, and every sleeping thing 22 With all the tender magic of the night Faint and afar, and seeming westernward - Of serenades and moonlight wanderings When I made one among the strolling band ... And now the time of parting was at hand. 2 2 Next spring would bring another such a night Of breathless beauty .2 Winds on tip-tiptoe, The plashing fountain singing to itself, And making little love songs to the moon It held imprisoned floating in its depths, Whose twin was floating upward through the sky. And somewhere in the night would sound the call That called me forth this night a the silent call '2 2 . . t . 2 2 2 Q t t gngwxmgzaww-smaw. 2.2 2h.m.2:......-21.2 2.2-.2 , 22222.2. . . 2 y . 2333'? 2.222.222.2222: 'I2!I'2H2i' 23.222.57.122 22.2: -2 :22 , 3 2 . t i 1 1 ' 1 I 2 :2 , r , 2 2 2 2 2 2. I 2 3 I 1 1 z : 2 2 ' 2 22 . 2 2 2 2 2 2 ' 3 . t . 2 ' 2 t 2 t 2 2 2 2 - 1 LmEL' LumrusgmmX-axkyz m. .2222 A em: , Steals softly to the hearts of them that watch, Bringing a sudden flood of wistful love For everything they see : a longing love That leaves a little ache within the heart, A little aehin g throb akin to pain. 3 And When Within the circle of the halls The serenaders gather, and the moon Looks down and smiles as she has smiled for years On other serenades on other nights, I wonder if she211 see that one is gone - 2 One more has slipped into the years that were. 2 19

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$.?fo7rx. A vvu-mrwvrfmaoqu wngswryg rwaghav-zium. -w.-1..i1,...:- ,$.v 7.1:, ,1; n: .,, 1 1 1 1 J 1 1 1 1 .1 1 . 1 , 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 , 1 . 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 1 1 . 1 r 1 1 1 1 J-e-nrvsv T : . 1 1 1 1 71-71mm eWW WW .nwf-Twysgw raw, moat. :2: mm m 1 , 1 1 1 1 1 1 V 1 1 1 1 .1 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ; 1 1 1 1 , 1 4 1 1 1 1 'wmlnAg2v-cx'r 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 whirls. 15,2 11.; -1 :2: ' ii; 1,2 .. ;:i-. 134-1 1141:1111 1', s 1 1. 4 1 ; a ; E 1 1 . u 1 . , m .221 .mmmwzdn .a.. r -..-2.1i.. . a . ... - 1 A 1 4;.LLLLA : Li a 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1:1 1 1 1 V 1 1 1 111i 1 '1 1 4 1.11. 1 M.:.i,s.l.J.,ta.-1 1 i .1 ' 111, ML; Mw- .1-, mg, giswmyara . v wmywq . 4, mun 4- 1: mo .w-umsuav- am! a V 1 11'11 1 1- .' A x -....;M.-.1'1,I1.1.V ushers 1-4 , extrasY While a measure of self government was soon granted, severe regulations covered conduct. And they were necessary, for the early annals are full of refer- ences to brawls, duels, and shooting frays. N ote the following rule, 2N0 student shall wear about his person pistol, dirk, stiletto, or other dangerous weapon. The students day was a long one - the hours of classes and study were minutely prescribed, and interspersed at frequent intervals with prayers. The student had to supply his own wood, do his own cooking, and care for his abode himself. Idle- ness was the best possible reason for dismissal, and a reason often operative. President Bishop, educated at the University of Edinburgh, piloted the Uni- versity during the period of its inception. He retained office for seventeen years, and at the close of his administration the University had increased its equipment to four brick structures, three of which, the Main Building, North and South Dormitories, are still standing, and possessed the largest permanent income of any college in the country. Another interesting figure of these early days was William H. McGuffey, the author of the famous readers and spellers. For ten years, 1826 to 1836, he taught philosophy and languages here, and it was during this period that the readers were prepared. At this time the extra-curricula interests of the students were turned to liter- ary pursuits, to debating and oratory. Within two months after the opening of the University, were founded two literary societies which until the time of the Civil War were the most Vital forces in the life of the University. Miami Union was founded in December, 1824, and Erodelphian in January, 1825, and from the rivalries between these two societies, and from struggles of the leaders within the societies, the three fraternities composing the famous Miami T riad, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta T heta and Sigma Chi, were sprung. T hese organizations now ' total over seventy thousand members, and two hundred and forty-Iive collegiate chapters. Slow but steady was the growth of the college. Students came from all over the central West, the South, and even the sophisticated East, and Miami stood forth as the greatest institution of higher learning in the West. Student life was wholesome and stimulating, and among these sons of pioneers were future presidents, great diplomats, eminent jurists, governors, senators, congressmen, authors, divines, as well as leaders in business and industry. The Civil War brought hard times to Old Miami. A large percentage of her students were from the south and, with the outbreak of hostilities, the adherents of both sides rushed to the defense of their homelands. Many are the stories of youthful heroism and of knightly gallantry told of Miami boys in the war, and this period forms one of the most brilliant in the long century of Miami his- tory. After the close of the war, the country was terribly depressed. Few stu- dents sought the halls of learning, and with revenues reduced to an insufficiency, the university had to suspend operation in 1873. This brought to a close the 1101d Miami , and the period of the frontier school was ended. The University was re-opened in' 1885. 11New Miami has in breadth of inhuence, and also in attendenee and standards of scholarship grown steadily. Two years after the second opening women were admitted to the College of Liberal Arts. In 1902 the Ohio State T eachers College was established at Miami, and in 1914 the trustees inaugurated four year courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Education for the training of high school teachers. The University,s recent growth has been phenomenal, both in the number of students enrolled and in material equipment, until she can now claim a position second to no institution of her size and character in the country. 21 1 21143;...m i 111:.'1111 -111 - .1 1: 1 1 1 1 I I : 1 1 1 Q 1 1 1 , 11311'111111i11g '1 1'111 .akgMe..L,$xm1wz-wraggamxwmmmk i J; em; 12 2111151 1;.151111 11111151131 , hiatams-mia ?'fvzqwfvui; r1131 2-? 271' ? Vta-gxim 131 1 e 77.1 g- 1 : 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ire? 1 1H .. .11, 111M; nrmyww 51115111 13111;11l:1111. wgbim 1! fr 1, r.. .1f surrg 1 1. 1. :1 i 1 . : i 1 : . 1 1 1 1 1 , 1 . w 1 1 i . u 2 ,MA meramm Main. Jar 3-.