University of Wisconsin Madison - Badger Yearbook (Madison, WI)

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JL J- HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY. 19 time to the present, it has steadily gained ground. The distrust and criticism to which it had been exposed have almost wholly disappeared. Most of the citizens of the state are justly proud of it, and all accept it as a settled fact. The state has adopted it as its own, and has met its growing wants with great liberality. In this particular I think the State of Wisconsin has surpassed every other state in the Northwest, and has become to these states a deserved object of emulation. There are some features of the university, now so firmly established, that deserve specific notice. In the natural beauty of its grounds, and the desirableness of its location on Lake Mendota, it stands almost unrivaled among the colleges and universities of the United States. When this beauty shall be fully developed, it will be a constant source of inspiration, and an ever renewed invitation to the student to a thorough delight in the natural world. Adding itself to the enthusiasm of youth and the enthusiasm of inquiry it makes the morning hours of knowledge bright in reality and glorious in memory. The university, when the buildings now in process of erection shall be completed, and the appliances they call for fully provided, will be one of the very best equipped institutions in the entire country for an extended pursuit of the natural sciences. Though considerable work remains to be done in the provision of apparatus, cabinets and books, the goal seems within easy reach, and when reached, it will be one in which a great state may justly take pride both on the basis of absolute and relative excellence. The University of Wisconsin has given full and free extension to co-education, and is distinguished above other similaf r

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18 THE TROCHOS. west in the character of its work, or in its command of the educational interests of the state to which it belongs. The University of Wisconsin has had two very distinct periods in its history; one of adversity and one of prosperity. The first period extends from its organization in 1849, to reor ganization in 1866; the second extends from 1866 to the present time. The first portion of its history was one of many embarrassments and of feeble attainments. It had graduated in its college course in—'66 but fifty-eight students, not so many as now compose a single class. Though its numbers at times were very considerable, the collegiate work was overwhelmed by preparatory work,' normal work, and various forms of subsidiary instruction. It can hardly be said that in this period a university life had emerged in distinct and visible form. The corps of instructors was weak in numbers, burdened with work, and exposed to arbitrary changes. The lands and finances of the institution were badly managed, and but little over half a million was secured from resources that should have yielded several millions. Much hostility was manifested toward the university by various educational interests in the state, and rival institutions at one time came quite near capturing the university and dividing its spoils among themselves. The largest class in this period of its history was that of —'6i, made up at graduation of nine members. Even the small number of collegiate students previously secured was much reduced during the war, and not till— 68, did so many as nine again appear on commencement day. The university was reorganized in —'66, and in —'67, placed under the direction of Dr. Chadbourne. From that

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20 THE TROCHOS. institutions in the number of young women whom it graduates. This portion of its history has been very successful. This fact, in years to come, will be recognized as chief among its claims to be a great social power. The students of the university—though we would speak modestly on this point when comparing ourselves with the institutions just about us—are a remarkable body of young women and young men in their devotion to their work, in the good order they maintain, and in the economy which prevails among them. They have abundantly justified the liberty that has been granted them and the confidence that has been reposed in them by their instructors. Rarely has a more kindly, more just, or more wise temper in the relation of students to each other, to the faculty and to their pursuits, prevailed in any educational institution than that found in the University of Wisconsin. A single other point is of great interest, the relation of the university to the general education of the state. Few institutions have as many collegiate students from the states to which they belong as has this university. By means of a large accredited list, it stands in close connection with the high schools of the state, stimulating them to improved work, aiding them in their own field and also enlarging upward that field. It sends out a large number of its own students to take part in the instruction of the state. It helps to give a united and commanding force to the educational interests of the entire state. The colleges disconnected from the system of public instruction are quickened to generous rivalry by the university, and are, in turn, fitted to bring to it needed criticism. We believe the strength of educational work in the state, in all depart-.