Stanford University - Quad Yearbook (Palo Alto, CA)

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Iceland Hanford, Jr. E library door is thrown open, and a party of stylishly dressed tourists enters. A few steps inside the room; a glance round to gain a general impression; then with one accord the visitors advance to the most striking feature of the room,—a portrait on the east wall. Not one of the usual array of Doctors Dry-as-dust which such places reveal: but the picture of a boy, a beautiful child face, is inclosed in the massive gilt frame. “ Lki.and Stanford, Jr., Aged 15 Years. “ PAINTRD BY FBV.IX CHARY, PARIS.” is the simple inscription ; and the careless travelers pause reverently before the painting, for in those words they read the whole story. Sitting beside an old ruin on the far-away Mediterranean, his steady brown eyes gazing thoughtfully out on the blue water, did the boy see any vision of this great institution which, because of him, was to spring up a few years later in his native California ? Did he dream that his name would be on hundreds of lips? Did he fancy that his memory — alas, that the thought of him is only a memory! — would bring a flood of gratitude to hundreds of hearts ? Leland Stanford, Jr., was born at Sacramento, California, May 14, 1869. From his early youth he seems to have shown a desire for information, although he never attended any school beyond the kindergarten. His collections made while abroad and his interest in educational enterprises give evidence of this. It is told that one day his teacher showed the children some pebbles, explaining that the flat ones had probably lain in the bed of a stream and so been worn flat; whereas another which was round must have been rolled to become such a shape. The young Leland came home and reported the story in delight; from that day dates his investigating spirit. During his eleventh year he made a European collection, which is now placed in the Leland Stanford Junior Museum. One of his earliest 12

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ambitions was to found a museum; and it is in view of this fact that the building bearing his name is held one of the most important of the whole University. In it is a room modeled exactly from his own room in the San Francisco home, and here we find his own collection. A recent article says, “ His taste for arms and trophies of war and the chase, at this period of his life, is apparent.” Weapons of all kinds reveal his tastes, as like those of many another bright boy of today. In addition to brilliant promises intellectually, young Leland possessed a remarkably generous and loving disposition. Unspoiled by wealth and by the advantages following in its train, he remained unaffected. ” Mamma, that is the best thing you ever did in your life,” he said one day when Mrs. Stanford entered upon the first of her now extensive charitable enterprises; and from that time on he was her constant co-worker, so far as a child could be, in her philanthropic labors. So for sixteen bright, happy years the boy, with his loving nature, more than rewarded the tender care of Mr. and Mrs. Stanford. And then — Senator Mitchell has said : 44 First came the remorseless reaper, and beneath the sunny skies of Italy, far away from home, snatched from loving parents the sole child, the idolized son on whom so many high hopes were centred, and, without request or consent, bore him away.” Just how much the University owes to the boy who died so young, it is hard to tell. Perhaps his desire some day to found such an institution was, in a measure, reflected from his father. At any rate the deed of foundation says: “Since the idea of establishing an institution of this kind for the benefit of mankind came directly and largely from our son and only child, Leland, and in the belief that if he had been spared to advise as to the disposition of our estate he would have advised the devotion of a large portion thereof to this purpose, we will that for all time to come the institution hereby founded shall bear his name, and shall be known as the Leland Stanford Junior University.” 3 S. C.