VIRGINIA. The colleges of Virginia stand deservedly high for the scholarly attainments of their professors and the high standards of their literary and ethical courses. The University of Virginia may claim to have taken the lead in this country in according full recoguition to the physical sciences, but the colleges of the State have been less favored than those of other States in respect to funds for the development of scientific departments. The general failure of the colleges of Virginia to report the value of their scientific apparatus (see Table 49, Column 31) is calculated, however, to give an exaggerated idea of their deficiency in this respect. The scientific equipment of the University of Virginia is very complete and valuable. Since 1866 the following schools have been established: The School of Applied Mathematics, created first as an adjunct to the School of Mathematics, and subsequently as an independent school; the School of Analytical Industrial and Agricultural Chemistry; the School of Agriculture, Zoology, and Botany; the School of Practical Astronomy, in connection with the Leander McCormick Observatory; the School of Natural History and Geology, and the School of English Language and Literature. The School of Agriculture, Zoology, and Botany has an endowment of one hundred thousand dollars derived from the liberality of Samuel Miller, Esq. The endowment of the School of Natural History and Geology, amounting to fifty thousand dollars, was the gift of Mr. W. W. Corcoran. From this brief outline it will be seen that the university is well prepared to meet the requirements imposed by the advance in scientific knowledge and in the application of science to the industrial arts. Emory and Henry College, Emory, reports that funds are being raised for the erection of a science hall, which will probably be completed during the present year. It will contain a laboratory, chemical and philosophical lecture rooms, and cabinet of minerals, and will greatly increase the facilities for science instruction. A gymnasium is also being erected in the college campus. The gifts and bequests of Cyrus H. McCormick, Esq., to Washington and Lee University, amounting to forty thousand dollars, have been applied to the endowment of the "McCormick" professorship of natural philosophy. The professorship of applied chemistry is established upon a fund of $42.600, the bequest of Robert H. Bayley, Esq., of New Orleans, La., who died in 1872. The university has a fine museum of natural history and an excellent collection of scientific works in its library. Substantial additions have lately been made to the scientific apparatus. Richmond College, Richmond, celebrated, September 22, 1887, the formal opening of the new museum and art hall, a memorial of James Thomas, Jr., the constant friend and benefactor of the college. Mr. Thomas's family have given ten thousand dollars to found "The Thomas Museum Lecture Endowment," the income of which is to be used annually in securing a course of lectures on subjects relating to science, to philosophy, or to art. WEST VIRGINIA. The University of West Virginia, Morgantown, includes a preparatory school, the usual courses of collegiate study, the classical and scientific, a military department, a law school, leading to the degree of bachelor of laws; a school of civil engineering. The current catalogue reports a school of engineering established by the board of regents June, 1887. WISCONSIN. Dr. Thomas Chowder Chamberlin entered upon the presidency of the University of Wisconsin at the beginning of the scholastic year 1887-88. Notwithstanding an advance in the entrance requirements the attendance exceeded that of 1886-87. The president's report presents comparative statistics of the attendance upon the different colleges and courses, as shown by the classification of students for 1886-87 and 1887-88 and for the first term of 1888-89, with the design of showing the intellectual tendencies of the university. From this analysis it appears that the humanity courses take precedence of the physical science course. On the basis of unit exercises a week their relative position is as follows: Among other indications of the growth and vigor of the university must be noted the establishment of new courses and departments. -- Pre-medical course. At the request of the Wisconsin State Medical Society a course in science, with collateral branches, is arranged especially for those contemplating the study of medicine and surgery. Normal graduate course.-To bring the university into better working relationship with the State normal schools and to offer their graduates facilities for extending their studies advantageously, two special courses, admitting of a large measure of modification by election, have been framed and offered by the university, and have already been selected by a sufficient number of normal school graduates to indicate that the provision meets a real educational want. Pre-legal and pre-journalistic courses.-A two years' course of study had previously been offered for the accommodation of those contemplating the study of law or journalism. This has been developed into a group of courses, intended to constitute the work of the Junior and Senior years and to be based upon the work of the Freshman and Sophomore years of the classical and English courses. The courses thus contemplate a higher and broader culture than before, and are intended to enable students to secure the chief objects sought in a college course while at the same time they are definitely preparing the way for their future professional study. Additional languages.-Three additional languages have been offered, namely, Sanscrit, Italian, and Spanish, and classes have been formed in all. New departments.—A chair of experimental and comparative psychology has been established, and a laboratory is being fitted up for this new and important line of research. The gymnasium building of Racine College, Racine, an ample structure containing all necessary apparatus for healthful exercise, as well as a thoroughly furnished laboratory and art studio, was unfortunately destroyed by fire on the night of February 14, 1888. The friends of the college immediately rallied for its relief, and funds are being rapidly supplied for the restoration of the building. The loss to the college, it is stated, could not be replaced by twenty thousand dollars, although the commercial value would not permit a greater than five thousand five hundred dollars insurance on the building and contents. The prospect for a complete restoration of the building, with enlargements, is already so flattering that the trustees of the college have begun the work of securing material, and it is expected to have the new building in readiness for occupancy by the opening of the Christmas term. |