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

Page 15 text:

THE BLUE AND GOLD The Class of ' 83 has voted one hundred dollars for the purchase of books to be presented to the University. Succeeding classes will doubt- less imitate this good example, and to ' 83 will belong the credit of having established a worthy custom. Our grounds are undergoing a metamorphosis slow but sure. It therefore follows that when we press the soil o ' our Alma Mater with the tottering step of age, the pleasing lawns, the smiling flowers, and the sparkling fountains will tell us that it has at length become the paradise that Nature designed it to be. The Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton is nearing completion. In addition to this, we are to have a smaller structure within easy reach of the college grounds, five thousand dollars having been appropriated for that purpose by the last Legislature. The gala days of the University have been celebrated in their regular order. ' 82, after a very successful Class Day and Commencement, made room for the mild-mannered Freshmen. Junior Ex passed off with its usual eclat, and Charter Day elicited well-merited praise. The large audiences that greeted the speakers on each of these occasions show that a deeper interest in the University is being aroused among the people. Athletics have been more vigorous than for several years past. Our Cinder Track, which will ever stand as a monument to the kindly and un- tiring efforts of Colonel Edwards, was dedicated on last Field Day. It was constructed at an expense of something over six hundred dollars. The comfortable Grand Stand that overlooks the course was erected through the liberality of the young ladies of the University. Field Day excited unusual interest. Many visitors witnessed the events, and nu- merous excellent records were made. Inter-class games of Base-Ball have regularly occurred. The playing, although enthusiastic, has, however, been poor. Football attracted much attention during the winter months. The University team contended successfully with the most prominent clubs of San Francisco. Class teams were organized, and the Campus re-echoed with yells of touchdown and foul. The Literary Societies have been improved in many ways. The interest in them has certainly not decreased during the past year, and their meet- ings have usually been well attended. The College Papers have maintained their high standard. The BerJce- leyan has been ably edited and well conducted. The Occident has been enlarged, and has presented much readable matter. In October last, a bright meteor made its appearance in our journalistic sky. This was the Eighty-Five. After a brief but lively existence of something over five months, it found repose in the bosom of the Berkeleyan. A volume of College Verses was issued under the auspices of the Berkeleyan Stock Company, shortly before Christmas. It contained the

Page 14 text:

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.

Page 16 text:

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA most meritorious poems that have appeared in the various college papers since their establishment in the University. It received favorable com- ment from competent critics. But one course of Assembly Lectures has been delivered since the Blue and Gold last appeared. Dr. Sternberg, of the United States Army, favored us on several occasions during the first half of the present col- legiate year. His addresses were exceedingly instructive. These are, in brief, the most important doings of the past year. And now, a word as to the Blue and Gold. It is needless to tell those who are familiar with the University that our annual is in no way intended as a literary production. It is supposed to mirror the brighter scenes of student life, and to record the principal events of what we are told are the happiest days we shall ever know. With this end in view, the editors have compiled the following pages. Our work has not been entirely satisfactory. We have been disappointed in many ways. Our Miscellany department is far from what we had hoped to make it. Overwork in English, combined with the oft-deplored apathy existing among the students, has prevented us from securing the outside assistance that has been so great a boon to the editors of previous issues. With a full realization, therefore, of the faults of the Blue, and Gold, and asking indulgence for its shortcomings, we present it to the kindly consideration of the Students, the Faculty, and so much of the General Public as is interested in our Alma Mater.