Bucknell University - L Agenda Yearbook (Lewisburg, PA)

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of the athletes, if this success goes to show that Bucknell is sending out men fit to take their places in the world today, the report of the athletic year, putting Bucknell third in the list of colleges ranked with Columbia, is one to inspire great hope and enthusiasm for the future; for this report is compiled by men capable of judging. While the fact that we have met our Yale and lived — with exceeding credit — to fight another day is an event of great promise. Athletic success is, of course, the most apparent. But this, the outer, the evident success stands for a more las ' .ing but less easily summed up inner success. A college that is steadily adding new courses, increasing the faculty, con- structing new buildings; that has raised within three years two hundred thousand dollars endowment — is a college to be relied upon. Distance — in this case being time — will give better powers of discrimination as to our college, if it does not lend en- chantment. We are apt now to see things in wrong proportions — both faults and virtues. There are many things that might well be otherwise. Of college spirit, as the college world has known Bucknell heretofore, she has not a great amount; of politics, there is much — and not scrupulous. And what shall not come to pass in the ne.xt ten years? Materially, a million and a quarter dollars will accomplish a great many things; a new main building, a recitation hall, a convocation hall, a science building, a college womens ' building, dormitories for the men, a new athletic field will come, — not for the sake of beauty, alas! And the putting up of buildings will be only a small part — only an indication of the progress made. Bucknell is striving for first place in the rank of colleges and, to quote, What we long for, that we are. May the years pass ' swiftly! 18

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Bucknell As It Was in the Beginning, Is Now and Ever Shall Be. WE should like to claim for Bucknell the right of a bicentennial celebration, —of such great weight is age in the estimation of a school. But there is much on the other hand, in the feeling that history is making— and of that feeling we at Bucknell have a large share. It was in 1845 that the Northumberland Association appointed a committee, who reported after some deliberation a resolution that there should be established in Central Pennsylvania a high school for males, another for females, a college, and also a Theological Institute. In February, 1846, the charter was signed by the Governor, and, in the succeeding fall, the school was started in the basement of the Baptist church, Lewisburg. In 1847 college classes were organized and in 1849 a one hundred thousand dollar endowment was raised, according to the agreement in the charter. By 1850 the University at Lewisburg— for so it was called— was fairly started on its way. ' For the first decade, the average attendance at the college was only sixty-four. So that, between the lines of statistics even can be read the history of a brave struggle. By 187 ' s, two endowments had been raised while the average attendance for the second decade had been si.xty-six. During this time there had been identified with the school such men as Dr. Robt. Lowry, Dr. Larison, George Ripley Bliss, David J. Hill and Dr. Loomis. Courses were being added to the curriculum steadily. In 1881, the Universitv was reorganized, a new Board of Trustees twenty- five in number taking the place of a Board of Trustees twenty in number, and a Board of Curators fortv in number. In 1884, about thirty-five years after the or. ganization of the college, the first woman was graduated. The years from ' 84 to ' 87 were indeed important ones, for it was in 1886 that the University at Lewisburg became Bucknell; in this year, also, ' 86- ' 87, the Commencement News first appeared. In 1887 the L ' Agenda was founded. In May, 1889, Dr. John Howard Harris became President of Bucknell, and we pass into modern history. During the college year of 1889-90, the attendance at college was only seventv-one. The following year it was one-hundred and three; the year following that, one hundred and twenty-eight. The next college year, ' 92- ' 93, the attendance had gone up to one hundred and forty-four. So it went, there being a steady increase from year to year and so it still goes on. The attend- ance in all departments, is now about six hundred and fifty. There have been some who have raised a protest against the enthusiasm through- out the country for athletics. Even at Bucknell there have been those who share not in the great pride we have in our athletic prowess. But, if phenomenal success in athletics-phenomenal, taking into consideration the size of the college and the necessarily limited number of men available— is looked upon as significant of great pride in Bucknell, and love for her on the part 17 ' -♦• •♦• ■♦•

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Hiicknell Hall West College aiStia Main College President ' s House