University of Maryland College Park - Terrapin / Reveille Yearbook (College Park, MD)

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The TasijT ji li m w ]jv Prf.sidicnt Patterson. S the time for publishing the 1915 RKvKiLLr: approaches, it reminds us that another College year is about completed, and that it would be well to make a survey and inventory of the year ' s accomplishments. A very few hopes have been realized ; many ambitious and promising plans have failed so far, to either flower, or fruit, and only a limited number of the many needed changes have been accomplished. The Graduating Class of 1915 and the total enrollment for the year, is the largest in the history of the M. A. C. Unfortunately larger numbers bring a demand for enlarged accommodations, and additional equipment. The funds to supply these have not been available ; consequently, many departments are much crowded. The com])letion of Calvert Hall has in i)art, overcome one of the disasters of the fire. of 1912, and provides a first class dormitory for the accoirmodation of a portion of the students. The new range of ten green houses with laboratories attached has provided for the expansion of the horticultural work, and, at the same time, has relieved the crowded condition of Morrill Science Hall. The work of the College has been organized into five separate divisions, namely: 1, Division of Agronomy and Aniiral Husbandry; 2, Division of Horti- culture; 3, Division of A])i)lied Sciences; 4. Division of Rural Economics and Sociology, and 5, Division of Engineering. While some of these divisions are small, yet they should ultimately bring a development that would raise them to the dignity of schools. This step should also set clearly before the public the scope of the work of M. A. C, and .show that this institution stands for a type of education not given at any other institution in Maryland. Two new four-year courses have been added ; namely, the course in Agricul- tural Education for training agricultural teachers, and a course in Canning, for the purpose of training m.en as experts in the sciences as they apply to that important industry. A short, or one week ' s course in Road Making has been inaugurated by tlie Engineering Division. A summer school for teachers of rural schools was begun this year; it was attended by forty-three students representing sixteen counties in Maryland, and the District of Columbia. In the summier school work, particularly emjihasis was given to the correlation of agriculture, domestic science and ' nature study, 14

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ij;:£iTi£j£iji]; iL ' ' d ' H ' ij HE past scholastic year witnessed the departure from us of one of our most trusted and valued friends. Mr. Herschel Ford, for five years Treasurer of our College, passed away on March 3rd, 1915, his death being due to heart and kidney trouble. Mr. Ford was 43 years old and a native of Fairmount, Som erset County, Maryland. After graduating from the public school of his native town, he entered Wilmington Academy at Dover, Delaware. From there he entered Dickinson College and received his degree of Doctor of Philosophy. After receiving his degree he, for a time, taught school in his native State. Later he studied law at the University of Maryland, and in due course was elected to the State Legislature from Somerset County. After serving a term in the Maryland State Legislature he was appointed as Treasurer of M. A. C. Throughout his term as Treasurer of the College, Mr. Ford has time and again proven his worth. At many critical moments in the history of our College he showed his remarkable ability to steer us clear of financial difficulties. Too much credit cannot be given him for his straightforward and upright business methods. Mr. Ford was a true hearted and a whole hearted gentleman. He always had a thought for the welfare of others. Thus he soon found a place in the hearts of the students, a place which he will still continue to occupy even though he has gone to rest. That Mr. Ford was a very religious man we all know well. When, on the bed of death, he could say, and did say, that in all his life he endeavored to do his Maker ' s will. Not once was he known to utter a word disrespectful to religion and often had he stood up in its defense. Mr. Ford had become steadfastly intrenched in the hearts of all the stu- dents of M. A. C. and it was a sad blow to see our beloved friend leave us. By his kindness and consideration for others he had become generally known as a friend to all. And although Mr. Ford had been seriously ill for weeks, and the doctors had entertained little hope for his recovery, yet the shock of his death caused many an eye to be dimmed as the body of our dear friend was carried from the chapel. He was buried at Fairmount, Somerset County, Maryland. The entire student body Ri a battalion formation escorted his remains to the station and there with bowed heads they saw their most trusted friend depart. 13

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witli the subjects usually taught in the rural schools. The 1915 summer school will offer three grades of work, viz.. Elementary, Vocational and College Credit courses. The Department of Agricultural Education, in co-operation with the State Board of Education, and the U. S. Department of Agriculture, has in prepara- tion a series of personal lessons in agriculture, to be issued in nine parts, corre- sponding to the nine months of school. The lessons show how agriculture can be correlated with the teaching of composition, history, physical geography and arithmetic. Our professor of Agricultural Education has been appointed by the State Board of Education, Supervisor of Agricultural Instruction in the high schools of the State. This will co-ordinate the work of the high schools with the work at this institution. The year has been marked by the organization of a College and Exi)eriment Station Extension Service, whose duty will be to take the work of these institu- tions out, and deironstrate them to the i)eople of the State. The activities of the Athletic Dei)artment have been crowned with signal success. This department stands in great need of a building for its full develop- ment, and to enable it to give the i)hysical training that will insure a strong body for the trained mind. The religious life of the College during the twelve months has shown a marked activity. The triumphant canvass of the Y. M. C. A. for membership, which placed this institution at the head of the list in Maryland, should be counted of no less importance than the victories on the Athletic field. This association should be encouraged, and given every opportunity to keep pace with the growth of the College in the future, and thus be made the factor for carrying out the desire of the College as set forth in that part of the preamble of the original charter which states : That in addition to the usual courses of scholastic training, particularly indoctrinate, the youth of Maryland, theoreti cally, and practically, in those arts and sciences which, with good manners and morals, shall enable them to subdue the earth, and elevate their State to the lofty position its advantages of soil, cliniate. etc., and the moral and mental capacities of its citizens entitles it to attain. In August there was held under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A. a Country Life Conference for rural ministers. This was attended by 140 ministers, and 50 or 60 laymen. The ministers were the guests of the College for three days. They roomed in the dormitory and ate in the mess hall, which enabled them tn renew the spirit of their college days. Those in attendance manifested much interest and enthusiasm in the conference, and they carried away with them not only the visit of a broader field of work for the rural church, but also a better knowledge of the acti vities of the V. M. C. A., which should be mutually hel])ful for vears to come. 15