Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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DR. RICHARD EDWARDS

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The Index XVe had carried the Normal School Bill 'by the skin of our teeth,' and who knew but that the opposition might rally and repeal the law, armed with such failure to carp at what was to be tlonCf ' After many ingenious schemes and after much hard work: after many failures, money was at last secured to finish the building, and on .Tune lv, 'oU, the first graduating exercises in the Normal University were held in the assembly room, the windows being filled with pine boughs. through which one might look out upon the stubbles of a corn field. l34r2+l?7tr. The Normal School life was a strenuous life. It was a struggle for existence. Very few of the people of Illinois had been converted to the normal idea. Most of them regarded the institution as a product of mere wild theorizing. The money expended upon it was looked upon as a dead loss to the commonwealth. Now. to live down all this opposition required tremendous energy, unceasing persistence and an inspiring faith. But we had some coinpensations, or rather relaxations from the intensity. Occasionally there was a little fun. Once upon a time. as I sat at my table in the assembly room. I took a survey of the large company of students before me, and was highly pleased to observe the evidences of intense application to work. About three days before this, observing what seemed to me in the same room a little too much of a disposition to carry on a mixed conver- sation during study hours, I had made an appeal for better things, and in as inwardly rejoic- ing at the indications that the appeal had been successful. All at once a demure looking young lady. who had been sitting not far from my table, and whose industry seemed to be unexceptionable. left her seat and approached me. I knew her very well and had a high respect for her. for she had good capacities and a genial, kindly nature. But I also knew that she had no objection to a little stirring amusement. She approached me with a little mischievous smile upon her face, and in response to my inquiry as to what she would like, responded somewhat as follows: Do you remember that about three days ago you were very insistent in inquiring that we should preserve guufl order in this room? tbl' course the

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The Index truth of her suggestion was acknowledged. Well, she added. have we not been good for three days? This was also very heartily conceded. Well, said she, I wish to sav that I am tired of being good. XVe had a little additional conversation, and she returned to her seat and continued her commendable good behavior. Since leaving the school she has per- formed very creditable work as a teacher in important positions. It is pleasant to think that the Normal University has now passed out of its season of trial. For some time before the close of my own connection with the school, I felt strength- ened bythe conviction that the public sentiment of the state had undergone a radical change in respect to us. The attendance of students had increased from 232 in all departments to TWP. Our annual appropriations had gone up from 512,500 a year to about S3o,HtlU. The people of the state were showing in many ways that they had come to be believers in the necessity of normal schools. and in the duty ol' the state to give them an adequate support. llic. IQICIIXRIJ I'llJW.-XRIUS. SCENE:WAsse1nbly room. Mchlackin standing at the dictionary table looking up a word: no member of the faculty in the foolll. Frank Searles going out to reading table meets a greenhorn just in to enter school, who inquires, Say, mister, where can l tind the president? I want to come to school. Searles directs him to that man standing by the table. point- ing to MclXIackin. Ile walks through the room and approaches Mc. with, Say: er you the president? Mc. tvery coolly andcoinplacentlyj, Yes, sir: what can I do for you? I want to come to school. Mc. looks at him a moment in a dignitied manner. Uh eaheayesi well, Inever attend to matters of those kind mysellg you'll have to see my private secretary. flinter Dr. Edwardsj There he comes now: that bald headed man. You just step to his desk: he will tell you what to do. ISTM- IHUU, Having been asked to write lor rllllli INDEX some reminiscences of the Normal l'niver- sity. I take it that something respecting the days of long ago maybe most acceptable.