Ohio University - Athena Yearbook (Athens, OH)

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modate twenty students. The Art department is swelling its present dimensions. Thirty-five students are registered there, and the art-culture sentiment is growing. I re])arations are under con - sideration to eidarge the e(|uii)ment. Then the Gymnasium has been thoroughly letitted and supplied with apparatus. The systematized physical drill introduced by Professor Le Rossiguol enal)les the students to realize better results than through their former non-directed ))ractice. Then there is the Lil)rary of which we are justly proud. Other institutions may have large and costly buildings and a collection of worthless books ; some may boast of rare editions and costly bindings, bric-a-brac, ornamental only: our Library is the working students ' library. The historian, Freeman, when congratulated upon the library facilities that be could enjoy in London, remarked that his stu ly shelves held all the books he used for historical reference. Sucii is the Library of the O. U to the student. It is a well selected students ' lil)rary of twelve thousand volumes. A decade ago it contained barely half that number. Since Ur. Super ' s administration began, annual addi- tions have been made; new j)ublications have been procured; old sets have been completed, until as a reference library it is most complete. Within the past year eleven hundred dollars have been expended for books. As much more will l)e used another year. Then to make this collection still more valual)le, Pro- fessor Dunkle has furnished it with a card catalogue. It is rapidly becoming one of the most unique and valuable student libraries in the State. Of course we are still proud of that first graduating class because it contained Thomas Ewing. He was twice a LTnited States Senator, and twice a Cabinet Minister; but this may not

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y, Chemistry, and Physics. The department of Mental and Moral Science has become a school of Philosophy and Pedagogy with two fnll professors and one instructor. Nor has })rogress ceased. The department of Mathematics is attracting students of an ad- vanced grade. Ten Scholarships have been established in order to encourage post-graduate work, and several of these have been tilled during the year just past. In this line a greater future is open. In its infancy the Ohio University was guarded and guided by graduates of Harvard, Vale, Princeton, and Dartmouth. Years have not materially changed the personnel of the Faculty. Dick- inson has given the institution two presidents — her first and her last. Other new elements have been introduced. The tirst gener- ation of O. U ' s. children, coming to maturity, entered upon lier estates and became her staff and her protection. In 18.24 A. G. Brown, class of ' 22, became Principal of the Preparatory Depart- ment. Ever since the alumni have had representatives in the Fac- ulty ; to-day six membeis are graduates of the Ohio University. There is, however, a powerful leaven from other institutions. Dickinson is represented by two men; Wooster, Wesleyan, Bnchtel, Massachusetts Agricultural, McGill, and Michigan have each one such representative. Several of these ])rofessors have studied at Vale, Johns Hopkins, (. ' lark, and Boston, while five have studied abroad at Leipsic, Tuebingen, and Sarboune. Nor is the Ohio University behind in her e(iuipmcnl. The Electrical Engineering department is drawing students from other Ohio colleges, because they are given lal»oratory practice as well as theory. Twenty students may thus receive instruction at a time. The Biological department has a practical aim: it offers a Preparatory Medical Course wherel)V those students who purpose studying medicine may save one year at the medical coUege. The newly e(juip] etl lal)oratory is a model of its kind and will accom-

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have been because he was the first man to receive a diploma from a college situated in the Northwest ; it may not have been because he was obliged to work in the Kanawha salt mines in order to save money to pay his college expenses. All things seemed to conspire together for his good. He graduated at the age of twenty-six. Fifteen years later he was a United States Senator. We are proud of him. And there was David Read, class of ' 24, whose father made one hundred and thirty journeys from Urbana to Athens to carry his seven sons to and from college. What a record Dr. Read has left — fifty years a college professor and president I None of these were ever ashamed of their alma mater, but were al- ways loyal to her. Few indeed are the children of the O. U. who desi)ise their parent. Great men are never guilty of such an act. John Sherman does not hesitate to bear witness: My father was a trustee of the Ohio University and took great interest in the institution. His eldest son, Charles T. Sherman, U. S. District Judge, was educated and graduated at Athens. But those are bygone days. How is it to-day? A class of eighteen graduated last year. Three of them were retained as instructors in the Ohio University; two others were elected to scholarships there; four went into business; three became principals of high schools; two college professors; three superintendents in public schools in vil- lages; and one is a student at Harvard. Surely the material froiu which our students are made is enduring. Our generation is not degenerate when our graduates at once fill acceptably such positions of trust and honor. We are proud of these loyal sons. They are patriotic. They realize what the Ohio University has done for them. They go forth to sound her praises and to recommend her to the youth who are looking toward college. Yea when others in(juire the secret of success, they point to their alma mater. Such is patriot- ism and loyalty. So long as her graduates remain thus loyal, their alma mater need have no fears for her future. 10