University of Kentucky - Kentuckian Yearbook (Lexington, KY)

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 yv{r a half-cent tax on ever}' hundred dollars of taxable property as additional income for the college. It was at this juncture where the greatest fight of his life came which bespoke the future of State College, and a fight for which he may jusly feel proud. In 1882 the tax was assailed by the denominational colleges of the state and one could only conjecture as to the future of State College. However, President Pat- terson, by his characteristic vigilance for his purpose, discovered their aim too soon and succeeded, single-handed and alone, in defeating their combined efforts. This great legal battle was primarily composed of two parts. The first attack of the denominational colleges upon President Patterson was when he was trying to secure the passage of the bill in the Legislature. His speech and lengthy argu- ment before the legislative committee on that memorable night evoked the applause and admiration of almost all the Senators and Representatives and of men from the bench, all of whom listened with admiration to the eloquence of the speaker. The second and last part of the battle was in the state courts, where the con- stitutionality of the bill was tested. The denominational colleges had employed the best lawyers to be had, but again President Patterson represented State College, and won. In 188? he took a prominent part in the passage of the Hatch Act by Congress, for the endowment of Experiment Stations, and in 1890 for an additional appro- priation of $25,000 a year by Congress for the further endowment of the State College. In 1904 he obtained from the State Legislature an additional annual appropriation of $15,000. The most recent things accomplished by President Patterson was his securing about $30,000 from Mr. Carnegie for a library for Kentucky State College, and also the co-operation of Senators and Representatives from Kentucky for the support of the Knute-Nelson Bill for an additional endowment of State College. Thus we have some idea of what has been the work of President Patterson. He has kept steadily on his way, his strength proving equal to the beating heat of the noon-day’s sun. This feat is the highest proof of his mind’s elasticity and sanity. His career has attested the truth of the maxim, “There is nothing so con- servative as progress.” President Patterson is a brilliant converser and an eloquent speaker. In every discourse one feels the glow of his personality, rich in human interest, enkindling in enthusiasm and mellowed by intense spirituality. When his powers are excited in speech there appears upon his face a light which is not accounted for by mere intelligence, however superior ; it is the radiance of something higher, genius we may call it, though it is without the wayward element too often characteristic of men who share in this quality. His eloquence is due not alone to a passionate earnestness in the pursuit of truth, not alone to his happy sympathy with youthful minds striving to enter the mysteries of nature and life, but also to a certain poetic faculty which makes itself felt in the spirit and structure of his discourses. In listening to President Patterson’s conversation I have always thought that here is a man whom purpose and circumstances must have led into the deepest experiences in human life, yet through it all, knowledge has only chastened his mind and intelligence has won for him admiration. He is gentle, because he is great, like Robert E. Lee. He has a wisdom that is born of application to duty and study. He has the faith of a seer because he knows the inherent potency of truth and has confidence in man’s response to Divine Love. You cannot but feel that this man has the vision of God because lie is pure of heart. In closing, may we note that the monument he has established at Kentucky State College is and will be more lasting than brass, more influential and whole- some than anything that the hand and head of genius has been able to achieve, a Jiving character close to the realization of one’s ideal of energy and love of purpose. He has shone as one of the brightest jewels to light the pathway of Kentucky youths striving for enlightment and excellence. He has been a most real and true conception of ideal democracy and general knowledge. A. M. K. 8

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President James K. Patterson AMES K FXNEDY PATTERSON was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on the 26th day of March, 1833. With his parents he came to Amer- ica when lie was but 9 years of age and settled in the southeastern part of Indiana, which was sparsely inhabited and where school facil- ities at that time were very meagre. He had no educational oppor- tunities until 1849, when for two years he attended a school in Madison, Ind. During 1850-51 he taught school near this place, and in the latter year, entered the preparatory department of Hanover College. The four years following he taught school and attended college alternately, and in 1856 graduated. For three years after his graduation from college he held the position of Prin- cipal of the Greenville Presbyteria! Academy at Greenville, Ivy., but in 1859 accepted the chair of Latin and Greek in Stewart College, Clarksville, Tenn. In 1861 lie was called to Lexington to accept the principalship of the Transylvania High School, which he held for four years. He was also Professor of Latin in Morrison College from ’66-’69 and of History and Metaphysics in the Agricultural College of Kentucky University from ’66-’69. From 1869 until 1.878 we find him President of the Agricultural College of Kentucky University, and in 1878 he became President of the State College of Kentucky, which position he has so ably filled to the present time. From the year 1878 dates the existence of Kentucky’s onlv University, and the history of its grand old President’s life is the history of its evolution into the position is so justly occupies at the present time. Its ever eloquent supporter in time of peace and prosperity, its ever ready defender in times of attack from its enemies, President Patterson, by his interest in this his life’s work, by his unlimited energy in making his school what he had so long dreamed it should be, has won a place in the heart of,every student in the college, of every graduate who knows the history of his Alma Mater, and of every true citizen of the grand old Commonwealth who can appreciate the effort and energy of a great man in attempting to attain his ideal. President Patterson received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Han- over College, Indiana, in 1875, and that of Doctor of Laws from Lafayette Col- lege, Pennsylvania, in 1896. Governor Leslie, in 1875, in canvassing the state to find the man who would best represent Kentucky at the International Congress of Geographical Sciences, held in Paris, France, naturally selected President Patterson, as did also Governor Buckner in 1890, when lie must select a man to best voice the grand old common- wealth’s representation at the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Other distinguished honors which have fallen to President Patterson are: Fellow of Royal Historical Society of Great Britain , 1879: Fellow of Society of Antiquaries in Scotland, 1880; Member and President of American Association of Land Grant Colleges and Universities, 1903. A few words here concerning the birth and perpetuation of State College would not be out of place, for it was the success of President Patterson’s efforts in this direction that stamped him as a man of ability, of undeviating tenacity and one whose conviction was not to be shaken by the many obstacles that beset his path. In 1880 he obtained appropriations from the city of Lexington and Fayette County for the erection of buildings upon the College grounds; was principally instrumental in retaining the Agricultural and Mechanical College, which has sub- sequently developed into the State College of Kentucky, at Lexington in 1880, and in obtaining from the Legislature a perpetual appropriation for the proceedings of

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Editor’s Page i w W ELDEKS of the ‘hammer;'' arise! Peruse these pages and knock. Unless you do we shall be sadly disappointed. We shall have mithridated ourselves against your bitter pills of unfavor- able criticism, your accusations of “graft 7 your deadly doses of “I told you so’s” and your injections of ex post facto advice in vain. We have little apprehension, however, that you will disap- point us, for there seem to be two inviolable laws of a college annual: First, that it will not be published on schedule time; second, that when it does appear, it were better for the reputation of the editors had it not done so. Long ago we were told of the existence of these laws by one who had found them out by experiment, and who kindly advised us “never to have nothing to do with no col- lege annual.” Twice since we have been -told the same thing by others of equally good authority. With too little respect for the wisdom that age and experience brings we resolved to show the world that even if such laws existed they had ex- ceptions. Vain conceit! Our opinions have changed. We realize that our efforts have been feeble, and were about to say that we would try to do better next time. But, thanks to custom, there is no next time for us. We wish to thank those who have so kindly and patiently helped us get this work ready to pan off on the public, pray for those who are to come after us, and sympathize with those who have gone before. Tun Staff.