University of California Berkeley - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

Page 13 text:

THE BLUE AND GOLD ' HE Class of ' 84 has beamed from beneath its dainty blue cap ; it has swaggered under the mystic power of the Mortar-board ; and it now raises the traditional White Plug, and greets the College World with the tenth volume of the BLUE AND GOLD. No unusual chain of events has distinguished the year just drawing to a close. The Instructor has imposed his condition with routine regularity, and the Professor has remanded the unfortunate with wonted severity. No violent eruption has belched forth from the Regents, and no mighty earthquake has shaken the Faculty. The advocate of sectarian schools, the pulpit orator, and the temperance lecturer have seemingly forgotten us, and even the volcanic press of the State has ceased for a time its gutteral grumblings. Change in the administration of its various departments seems to be the distinguishing feature of our institution. No Blue and Gold has failed to show new names in the Faculty, and a glance at our own tells us that the past year has, in this respect, followed its predecessors. Professor Edward R. Sill ' s resignation from the chair of English Language and Literature took effect on the first of June. Mr. John M. Stillman, Instructor in Chemistry, resigned his position and re- moved to the East at the close of the last collegiate year. Josiah Royce, Instructor in English Language and Literature, left us in September to accept an assistant professorship in Harvard University ; and we regret to say that illness has deprived us of our esteemed Instructor in Surveying, Mr. John W. Bice. The chair of Mathematics, left vacant for one year by the removal of Professor Welcker, has been occupied since August last by Professor W. I. Stringham. Professor Albert S. Cook has occupied the chair vacated by Professor Sill, since October 1st. These gentlemen, although comparatively young in life, have already distinguished themselves in their particular branches of study, and during their brief residence among us they have gained the respect and confidence of the students. Mr. C. B. Bradley, for several years favorably known from his connection

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c UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - BOARD OF EDITORS. CHARLES S. WHEELER, CHIEF. JAMES H. POND, JOHN L. CHASE, FRANK H. POWERS, STERLING WALLACE. BOARD OF MANAGERS. - EUGENE HOEFER, CHIEF. AL. BRA VERM AN, VVM. F. BRADFORD, HARRY S. BADGER, CHARLES O. BOSSE.

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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA with the Oakland High School, has taken the placo of Mr. Royce. Mr. E. C. O ' Neil, a graduate of ' 79, holds the position vacated by Mr. Still- man; and Mr. David Barcroft, ' 82, is the present Instructor in Survey- ing. Our institution is peculiarly fortunate in having secured the services of men whose researches in the fields of Science and Letters will, we have every reason to believe, eventually draw to it the attention of the world. The Mills chair of Mental and Moral Philosophy and Civil Polity is not yet filled. It is understood that the Regents intend that it shall remain vacant until they can secure the services of a man of national reputation. Instruction in Spanish, which was discontinued two years ago, will be renewed in a short time. The attitude of the last Legislature toward the University created no small amount of comment. Governor Perkins had appointed Messrs. Stanford, Hellman and Curtiss to the Board of Regents shortly before the expiration of his term of office. The Senate showed so decided an inclin- ation to refuse to confirm these nominees, that they either judiciously re- signed, or caused their names to be withdrawn. In more than one respect this action ' has injured the University. Mr. Stanford, we have every reason to believe, intended to remember the needs of our College handsomely. But aside from this fact, such a hostile attitude as was assumed by the ruling body of the State toward our institution cannot but give rise to dark conjectures concerning its future. It would be difficult, however, to find a more striking illustration than all this affords of the need of a college like our own. It is to be hoped that California will yet see the day when she will be guided by men of refine- ment and education, and not by the votaries of ignorance and prejudice. Governor Stoneman has reappointed Mr. Hellman, and Messrs. Mayre and Rogers occupy the positions vacated by Messrs. Stanford and Curtiss. Mr. Rogers is a graduate of our University, and bears a warm personal interest in its welfare. The other gentlemen are widely known, and their appointment reflects credit upon the administration. The Legislature made a partial atonement for the damage done the University, by appropriating sixty-five thousand dollars for its use. A considerable part of this sum will be expended on the grounds, and in furnishing the Library and Art Gallery. The Managers of the University have not slumbered. The College of Mechanics ' Arts has been vastly improved within the past year. Ma- chinery to the value of many thousands of dollars has been placed in position, and its busy hum tells plainly that theory and practice walk hand in hand with the Scientific student. The Library has received numerous valuable additions. It now con- tains upwards of twenty-five thousand volumes, and gives promise of be- coming ere long one of the largest collections of its kind in the country.