Emmerich Manual High School - Ivian Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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The beautiful hills and the pleasant climate are indeed inviting to the foot tourists, and even now one may see many of the un- dergraduates start out Sunday mornings for a tramp through the country. In short, the University of Wisconsin offers many advantages and has but few failings. Certainly we find lazy students and uncultured ones, but for the most part the students are earnest workers. I sincerely hope that my fellow schoolmates at the Manual Training High School will take advantage of this institution of learning which has so recently been opened to them; they can now enter the University of Wisconsin without examination and the authorities here desire a large number of students from In- dianapolis. If you will pardon me for saying so, I may add that my reception here has been very satisfactory to myself, and cer- tainly very complimentary to the Manual Training High School. Yours respectfully, University of Wisconsin, May I, 1899. WILL CASTENHOLTZ. AMAr - To the Editor of the Annual : We had no idea of the special treat awaiting us in Amster- dam. I believe we were informed at the hotel of the Rembrandt collection, which owed its existence to the loan of Rembrandt pictures from the best art galleries of all Europe, not mentioning private collections. It was in honor of the coronation of Wilhel- mina that the public was afforded such a rare opportunity of see- ing at one time (and so, having the advantage of being able to compare them with each other) pictures which it would otherwise have taken months to reach, to say nothing of those unattainable because belonging to private collections.

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CORRESPONDENCE To the Editor of the Manual Training High School Annual : Since the Manual Training High School has now been ac- credited by the University of Wisconsin, it will certainly be of some interest to my former schoolmates to know a few facts re- garding this university. The University of Wisconsin probably owes its greatest suc- cess to the liberality of the state. Besides its regular yearly in- come, derived chiefly from taxation, it has always received large special appropriations from the state. This year the legislature voted $151,000 to the institution for the erection of several new buildings. A bill is now before the legislature which provides for a permanent annual state appropriation of $268,000 instead of the former yearly tax revenue. Next to the excellent faculty the library is the best part of the University. We have over 50,000 volumes and 12,000 pam- phlets. The State Historical Society ' s collection comprises over 100,000 volumes and 90,000 pamphlets. By next autumn these two libraries will be one and will occupy the spacious and beau- tiful new library building which is now rapidly nearing its com- pletion. Then the library will stand without a rival in the West. Certain studies in the University are required of all students. One year of English, one year of mathematics (three hours per week), and one year of science work is demanded from every- body no matter what course one may take. Certainly the various courses have their additional requirements for graduation. For instance, the English course requires two years of German, one year of French and one year of History. Of course English is generally chosen as the major subject in this course ; just as civics is generally selected as the major subject by students of the civic-historical course. Nor is the physical man forgotten. All able-bodied students must take gymnastics and military drill during their Freshman and Sophomore years. The country about Madison and the four lakes surrounding the city offers many opportunities for pleasant recreation. The University has erected a boat house for the use of the students, and, I need hardly add, the boats therein do not generally supply the wants of the student pleasure seekers and the summer girls.

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Even then, for my part, I had not the slightest idea of what it could amount to to one who loved the gentle art of making pict- ures, but who knew very little about it. I believe, now, that I learned more in that one fag end of a day than I had ever learned when studying systematically under a good teacher. But it was all owing to a very delightful encounter. My sister and I were wandering around, looking at things pell mell, and suffice it to say without understanding. We had lingered long over the sketches and studies of some of Rem- brandt ' s best pictures, noticing his wonderful use of the line, al- though we didn ' t know then just what it was that made his figures look so mobile. In looking at those rough yet masterly sketches one felt a surety that they would never pall, that one could never really become familiar so as to have a contempt for them. As we were sitting in one of the alcoves which contained, perhaps, the most noted of Rembrandt ' s work and an insignifi- cant anatomical study, comparing them, we noticed an elderly gentleman doing the same thing that we were. In this country, where one only expects to hear one tongue, one is a little more careful about the tone of voice in which one makes remarks in public places. I do not think we were talking loudly, however, and it was a great surprise to us when we noticed that we were attracting the man ' s attention. It never occurred to us that he might understand what we were saying, for he was so strictly and uncompromisingly a German type. He came and seated himself on the divan beside us and be- gan pointing out the beauties of the masterpiece in faultless English, quite as if we had been properly and regularly made known to each other. He directed our attention to the golden light for which Rembrandt is so famous, and then to the drawing and character that each of the faces contained. He also discov- ered to us a place where Rembrandt ' s name had been signed and then painted over for some reason. He seemed to know a little anecdote or trick to each picture, and as we coaxed him back through the gallery, asking him about this head and that vast ox hung up in the cooling room of some butcher shop — he showed us something we had missed in each one. He encouraged us to express our likes and dislikes, confirming what was good in what we said and showing us where we were wrong. He took us down to see The Night Watch, another very