| |
| |
Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
This is a reduced-resolution page image for fast online browsing.
EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:
884 History University of Illinois to the possessor than an axe in the garret or a ship rotting upon the stocks. Nor am I unmindful of the efforts of the monarchs and aristocrats of the old world in founding schools for the "fifteenth cousins'' of their order, in hopes of training them into a sort of genteel farmers, or rather overseers of farmers; nor yet, of the several "back fires'' (as the Prairie Parmer significantly designates them) set by some of our older professional institutions, to keep the rising and blazing thought of the industrial masses from burning too furiously. They have hauled a canoe alongside of their huge professional steamships and invited all the farmers and mechanics of the State to jump on board and sail with them; but the difficulty is, they will not embark. But we thank them even for this pains and courtesy. It shows that their hearts are yearning toward us, notwithstanding the ludicrous awkwardness of their first endeavors to save us. But an answer to two simple questions will perhaps sufficiently indicate our ideas of the whole subject, though that answer, on the present occasion, must necessarily be confined to a bare outline. The first question, then, is this: I. II. WHAT DO THE INDUSTRIAL CLASSES WANT? HOW CAN THAT WANT BE SUPPLIED? The first question may be answered in few words. They want, and they ought to have, the same facilities for understanding the true philosophy—the science and the art of their several pursuits, (their life-business,) and of efficiently applying existing knowledge thereto and widening its domain, which the professional classes have long enjoyed in their pursuits.—Their first labor is therefore, to supply a vacuum from fountains already full, and bring the living waters of knowledge within their own reach. Their second is, to help fill the fountains with still greater supplies. They desire to depress no institution, no class whatever I they only wish to elevate themselves and their pursuits to a position in society to which all men acknowledge they are justly entitled, and to which they also desire to see them aspire. II. HOW THEN CAN THAT WANT BE SUPPLIED? In answering this question, I shall endeavor to present, with
| |
