NEWS OF 150 YEARS AGO
September/October 1860
From The Missouri Democrat, Wednesday, September 12, 1860.
Washington University
The fall term of this flourishing institution opened on Monday, in its several departments, in accordance with the notice in our advertising columns. We have heretofore borne witness to its eminent advantages, of which it would seem that our citizens are showing their increasing appreciation. We learn that thirty new pupils have entered the several classes for boys, in addition to those resuming their studies there. In the Collegiate Department, the Junior class have entered upon their studies in regular course.
We are gratified to learn that the Directors have wisely recognized and provided for a want peculiarly felt in a commercial city like this, but seldom met in any of the higher institutions of learning, by organizing a Commercial class, under the special charge of a gentleman both accomplished and experienced as a teacher. This class receives those who desire to prepare either for a business life, or for the higher studies of the Scientific Department; and includes, in its course of two years’ study, besides the ordinary branches of English, the elements of mathematics, the French language, the practical study of book keeping and business correspondence, &c.
The entire corps of professors and teachers in charge of the departments above mentioned, including the new and additional appointments made since the last term, now numbers fourteen. Among the latter are Professor Sc[h]ofield, occupying the new chair of physics, who comes to Washington University from a similar position at the United States (West Point) Military Academy, which he has held with distinguished credit for five years past; Professor Tafel, late of St. John’s College, Maryland, instructor in modern language—a gentleman whose general philological attainments are spoken of as more than usually extensive; Messrs. Crehor, (in charge of the commercial class,) and Paten, in the academic department. Of the qualifications of the gentlemen heretofore members of the faculty it is unnecessary to speak. The remarkable success of the institution is the practical test of these. The spirit of the whole enterprise is shown by the new and important features which each year adds to it. We understand that the total of salaries paid to professors and teachers this year, by the University, will be upwards of twenty-five thousand dollars.
The “Mary Institute”, for young ladies, a separate department of the University, shows an equally flattering promise. The number of pupils already entered, reaches the maximum of the past year, and the prospect is of a large increase. To the corps of instructors in that Department, also, fortunate additions have been made.
Those who may have their arrangements yet [to] make for the instruction of either sons or daughters, cannot do more wisely than to acquaint themselves personally with the admirable advantages afforded by this institution.
