USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Bloomington > Historic treasures: true tales of deeds with interesting data in the life of Bloomington, Indiana University and Monroe County--written in simple language and about real people, with other important things and illustrations > Part 34
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Bloomington). William H., and El- leanor Caroline (Reddick) Buskirk were blessed in their wedded union by the birth of five sons and four daughters: Thomas, James, David W. William H., Ulesses Grant, and Nan- cy E., Harriet C., Amanda, and Ella C. Buskirk. Two of these children are the only survivors with the moth- er of this pioneer family of sons and daughters. Harriet C. (Buskirk) Hughes, of North Washington street, Bloomington, widow of the late Cap- tain W. B. Hughes; and Amanda (Buskirk) Tourner, wife of Dr. J. P. Tourner, of Bloomington, are the daughters who live to honor their mother on the occasion of her ninety- eighth birthday anniversary.
Having seen Monroe county and Bloomington develop from the hard- ships and privations of pioneer life into its present-day proportions of comfort of the city of higher learning gives Mrs. Buskirk, our pioneer mother, a great deal of satisfaction, as she has taken an active and helpful part in every stage of the commun- ity's growth, along with rearing her family in the Christian teachings of her faith.
She still keeps in active touch with the affairs of the Methodist church life, of which she has been so much a part in her capacity as daughter. wife, mother, neighbor or friend, and has ever been loved by those asso-
ciated with her, who in part share her triumph in reaching the prime age of ninety-eight profitable years.
Perhaps the most trying period of Elleanor Buskirk's useful life was during the years of the terrible civil war, when her husband answered his country's call to colors, leaving her with six children on a big, lonely farm, where she kept the sacred home fires ever burning, never losing faith in her prayer that the Great God would see that right would tri- umph, and bless her family with the return of her husband with honor to his country.
While her husband, Lieutenant William H. Buskirk was serving his country, in this war, the wife, with the help of her son, David H., who was but a small lad at the time, man- aged not alone to keep the farm go- ing, but paid off a mortgage and turned the farm over to her husband cleared of debt as a present upon his return from service.
Mrs. Buskirk recalls vividly inci- dents of impressive moment in the Mexican war, the Civil war, the Spanish-American, and the World war. She gathers much satisfaction from the fact that she has lived to vote, and see the abolishment of slavery, the winning of prohibition and suffrage for women in the great United States, all of which were thought improbable in the days of her youth, nearly a century ago.
The only surviving acquaintance, relative, friend or neighbor who was in any way associated with Mrs. Bus- kirk in her youthful days, is the Rev. George Puett, of Stinesville, who is ninety-four years of age.
CLASS IN UNIVERSITY HEARS GALLI-CURCI BY WIRELESS TELEPHONE.
A novel method of education in music has been introduced at Indiana University in the form of grand op- era by wireless for students in the course in modern opera. Amplifying instruments have ben installed at the Indiana University wireless station for receiving nightly concerts of the Chicago Grand Opera Company, and students are here shown listening to
Galli Curci in a recent performance of "Lakme.'
The evening concert opened with a lecture on wireless by Dr. R. R. Ramsey, Professor of Physics, auth- or of scientific treatises on electric- ity, inventor of laboratory apparatus numerous scientific societies. Dr.
Ramsey is shown in the photograph standing to the left of the receiving instruments have been installed at the
instrument. So far as known, Indi- ana University is the only educational institution to make this use of the wireless.
The Indiana University station picks up not only the concerts by Mary Garden's opera company in Chicago, but also wireless concerts sent out from Pittsburgh, Newark, N. J., Denver, Oklahoma City, and Wichita. Kansas.
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INDIANA UNIVERSARY CELEBRATES 102d ANNI- VERSARY OF FOUNDATION OF SCHOOL, JANUARY 20, 1922
Students, faculty and alumni of In- diana University, January 20, cele- brated the 102d anniversary of the founding of the institution here with appropriate exercises, including a processional march through the cam- pus, and all-university convocation in' the men's gymnasium which was ad- dressed by Dr. Henry W. Ballanthine, of the University of Minnesota, and an oratorcial contest for the Bryan prize. All classes were dismissed and there was a general holiday on the campus.
The day's program opened with the . gigantic Foundation Day procession, made up of various groups of the student body and faculty. The parade was led by the band, closely followed by the facutly members attired in academic robes. Alumni, post-grad- uates, Laws, Medics, and undergrad- uates followed in the order named. The gymnasium was filled to capacity, with practically every student and faculty member of Indiana University present to honor the one hundred second anniversary of the founding of the state institution.
President Bryan Presides.
President William Lowe Bryan pre- sided. After the invocation was de- livered by Dr. J. Frank Young, Prof. Paul McNutt addressed the assem- blage on "The Significance of Foun- dation Day." He recounted the early history of the University, how in 1820, a law was passed providnig for a state seminary here, which developed into Indiana College and later into Indiana University.
Professor Ballantine, a grandson of the late Elisha Ballantine, formerly professor of Greek in the University, spoke on "The Supremacy of Law." In the opening words of his address, he said, "Those who founded these institutions of learning, if they could revisit us and view the modern col- lege life, might be surprised, not to say dismayed. They might feel that in place of the three R's had been substituted the three L's, living, lov- ing and loafing. But there is one place in the University where it is alleged, students really work, and that is the Law School."
The address of Prof. Paul McNutt was of historic value, filled with important data of the University's life in earlier years, which we are fortunate in being able to print in full, as follows:
Address by Prof. Paul McNutt.
We celebrate today the one hundred and second anniversary of the found- ing of Indiana University. I wish to make a brief statement on the history and significance of Foundation Day, January 20.
Many other dates might have been selected with reason. The legal his- tory of the University may be traced through the laws for the organization and government of the Northwest
Territory, the Indiana Territory and the State of Indiana. The Ordinance of 1785, passed May 20, 1785, pro- vided "There shall be reserved from sale the lot No. 16, of every township for the maintenance of public schools within the said township." The Or- diance of 1787, passed July 13, 1787, declared that "Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged" and provided that lot No. 16 be given perpetually to the maintenance of schools and two townships near the center for the support of a literary institution, to be applied to the in- tended object by the Legislature of the State.
The act of March 26, 1804, for the disposal of public lands in the Indiana Territory established three land dis- tricts, Detroit, Kaskaskia and Vin- cennes and made provisions that cer- tain lands "shall, with the exception of the section numbered sixteen, which shall be reserved in each township for the support of schools within the same; also of an entire township in each of the three described tracts of country or districts, to be located by the Secretary of the Treasury, for the use of a seminary of learning, * * * be offered for sale." Albert Galle- tin, then Secretary of the Treasury, located township No. 2, range 11 east, now in Gibson County, Indiana, for the use of a seminary of learning as requried by the act.
The act of April 19, 1816, for the admission of Indiana as a state pro- vided "that one entire township, which shall be designated by the President of the United States, in ad- dition to the one heretofore reserved for that purpose, shall be reserved for the use of a Seminary of learn- ing, and vested in the Legislature of said State, to be appropriated solely to the use of such Seminary by the said Legislature."
The constitutional convention met at Corydon, June 10, 1816, and on June 19 appointed a committee to se- lect a township for designation by the President. On the same day the committee designated township eight, range one west. The township was located in what afterwards became Monroe County and was named Perry Township. The location was ap- proved by President Madison July 10, 1816.
The constitutional conventoin was in session until June 29, 1816. On June 27, 1816, it passed the constitutional article on education which provided, "It shall be the duty of the General Assembly, as soon as circumstances will permit, to provide by law for a general system of education ascend- ing in a regular gradation from town- ship schools to a State University, wherein tuition shall be gratis and equally open to all." Dr. David H. Maxwell, who has been called. the
founder of Indiana University, was a member of this convention.
All of these dates which I have mentioned would have appeared in the history of any Indiana State Univer- sity, so it is not possible to fix any one of them as the date of the found- ing of the Indiana University.
The constitution provided that no lands be sold for school purposes be- fore 1820. The General Assembly met the first Monday in December, 1819, and Governor Jennings' message contained this paragraph: "The con- vention has made it the duty of the General Assembly, as soon as the cir- cumstances will permit, to provide by law for a general system of educa- tion. The lands received for the use of the seminary of learning are vested in the Legislature to be appropriated solely for that purpose, and it is sub- mitted to your consideration whether the location of such institution upon or near such lands would not greatly enhance their value and enlarge the funds for a purpose so important. It is believed that the Seminary township situated in Monroe county would afford a site combining the ad- vantages of fertility of soil with a healthy climate, as well as a position sufficiently central to the various sections of the state. To authorize the sale of a portion of these lands under judicious regulations would in- crease the value of the residue, and the sooner enable us to lay the foun- dations of an institution so desirable."
This was referred to a committee December 11, 1819, and the committee reported a bill to establish a seminary December 31, 1819. The bill, with amendments, passed the House Janu- ary 11, 1820. It was passed by the Senate with other amendments Janu- ary 17, 1820. The vote was five af- firmative and five negative, and the deciding vote was cast by Lieut. Gov- ernor Ratcliffe Boone. The next day the bill in final form was passed by the House and returned to the Senate. On January 20, 1820, the day we cele- brate, the bill, which provided for the organization of a State Seminary at Bloomington, was signed by Governor Jennings and became law. This was the definite beginning of the Indiana University at Bloomington, although the seminary thus provided did not open its doors to students until May 1, 1824. This was the State Semin- ary which grew into Indiana College and then into Indiana University.
Although January 20 is a logical date for Foundation Day its selec- tion may have been a matter of chance. During the sixty-eight years after January 20, 1820, there is no record of any celebration in com- memoration of the founding of the University. That there should be such a celebration. was the idea of our beloved David Starr Jordan.
The first record appears in the minutes of the faculty for October 5, 1888, which contain this statement, "At the suggestion of the President a committee of three was appointed, consisting of Profs. Atwater, Dab- ney, and Boone, to report on the ex- pediency of establishing an annual university festival day in commem-
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oration of the founding of the Uni- versity.
Under date of December 4, 1888, the secretary records that "on behalf of the special committee appointed October 5 to report on the selection and observance of an annual day in commemoration of the establishment of the University Prof. Atwater pre- sented a report. On motion of Prof. Clark the report was recommitted." No reason is given for the failure to adopt the report.
Then follows an example of Dr. Jordan's skill as an executive. The next entry in the minutes is that "At the suggestion of the President it was voted that Judge D. D. Bante, Presi- dent of the Board of Trustees, be in- vited to deliver a commemorative ad- dress on the evening of January 21, 1889."
The minutes of January 4, 1889, contain this statement, "The President reported the acceptance by Judge Banta of the invitation to deliver a commemorative address January 21, '89.">
For the meeting of January 17, 1889, there is this entry, "The Sec- retary read a letter from the Indiana- polis Literary Club announcing that the club would be represented by three delegates at the commemorative ex- ercises of the University January 21, and the President suggested that an informal reception be given the guests of the occasion. Pres. Jordan and Prof. Clark were appointed to arrange for such reception. * * * Prof. At- water was added to the committee on reception to be given January 21, '89."
It was evident that this was to be a celebration of Foundation Day de- spite the failure of the committee re- port. So the first Foundation Day exercises were held Monday evening, January 21, 1889, in the old college chapel and consisted of an address by Judge David D. Banta, of Franklin, then president of the board of trus- tees and later dean of the Law School, followed by a reception by the faculty members.
In the manuscript of his address, which was the first of a series of six on the History of Indiana University delivered on successive Foundation Days, Judge Banta used the heading January 20, and followed it with the phrase, "January 20, 1820, the day we celebrate."
The first use of the term "Foun- dation Day" is found in the report of the celebration printed in the Bloomington Telephone, January 25, 1889, which is as follows: " 'Founda- tion day' of Indiana University was celebrated Monday evening at the chapel for the first time. Exercises of this nature were decided upon at the meeting of the board of trustees, the intention being to make the oc- casion a permanent feature of the institution to be equaled only in im- portance by Commencement Week."
Despite this statement the minutes of the Board of Trustees contain no record of any action concerning Foun- dation Day.
So whether the date was selected by Dr. Jordan or by Judge Banta or by both, January 20th became the
day to be celebrated as Foundation Day. Among the standing commit- tees of the faculty appointed for the school year 1889-1890 is a Foundation Day committee. This established a precedent which has been followed since that time. The first academic procession was a part of the celebra- tion in 1890. The first University catalogue, which lists Foundation Day is that for 1889-1890. Since that time the day has had a regular place on the published University calender. It was first listed as a holiday in the catalogue for 1897-1898.
The University celebration has been held on January 20th except in 1889, which was the first year, 1906, when it was held on Friday the 19th, and 1907, when it was held Monday the 21st. Since the inauguration of the custom only two years have passed without a university celebration. One · of these was 1918, when the day fell on "heatless Monday" and Dr. Henry Van Dyke was unable to keep his en- gagement to make the address. . The other was 1919 when the celebration was cancelled on account of the epi- demic of influenza.
However on both these dates the alumni in other parts of the state and nation observed the day. So this is the thirty-fourth annual Foundation Day celebration.
The custom of a state and nation- wide celebration by alumni was in- augurated in 1913 when over thirty meetings were held. The movement grew rapidly and today Foundation Day is celebrated in all parts of the world where the Indiana University people gather together. The day has become the occasion for a family re- union of the children of the Univer- sity, who listen to a message from the President and pledge again their allegience to the Mother, who gave them intellectual life.
That the University has lived for one hundred and two years is an in- teresting, but not an especially note- worthy fact. Other institutions are much older than that. Man has no control over the passage of time. We acquire age in spite of ourselves.
The significant fact is that these one hundred and two years have been years of growth. Where ten pupils gathered the University now has forty-two hundred. Where there was one member of the faculty there are now almost two hundred. Where there was one building, costing twen- ty-four hundred dollars, there is a small city, representing an expendi- ture of over one million and a quarter dollars. Where only Latin and Greek were taught there are the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Law, the School of Medicine, the School of Commerce and Finance, the School
of Journalism, the School of
Music, the School of Education, the Graduate School and the Extension Division. Where there was a small seminary there is a great university.
A fact of even greater significance is that these one hundred and two years have been years of service to the people, a justification of the faitlı of the framers of the first state cons- titution. Every county in the state is represented in the student body.
Through these students the University has given the best that she could of- fer without stint. A University must be judged by what she produces, the quality of her children. The sons and daughters of Indiana University oc- cupy positions of honor and trust in all parts of the world. The Univer- sity has received the deserved name of "The Mother of College Presi- dents." In times of national stress the University has offered her entire resources for the common good. In memory of the men and women who gave their lives in the World War the University is raising a great Memorial Fund. Today the unsolicit- ed subscriptions to that fund passed one hundred and six thousand dollars. That is the significant fact of this Foundation Day and it is compelling evidence that the children and friends of the University love her and appre- ciate her service.
Let us mark this day by renewing our allegience to the University and pledging that the future year shall be years of service, service through "Light and Truth."
Bryan Prize Awarded.
A feature of the afternoon exer- cises was the oratorical contest held in the auditorium of the student build- ing which resulted in awarding the Bryan prize to Arthur L. Miller, a senior, whose home is at Frankfort, Ind. The subject discussed was. "The Duty of the State Toward the Un- employed." Mr. Miller is president of the Acacia fraternity, president of Tau Kappa, national debating fra- ternity, and president of the Univer- sity Y.M.C.A. He is also a member of Sigma Delta Chi, honorary jour- nalistic fraternity. The other con- testants were Donald Simon, a senior of Huntington, Earl Defur, a senior of Stewartsville, and Mrs. D. E. Swain, a senior of Bloomington. The judges were Prof. Stith Thompson, of the English department, Prof. T. L. Luck, of the economics department, and Prof. W. O. Lynch of the history department. The prize was the in- terest on $250 left to the University by William Jennings Bryan in 1898 to stimulate interest among under- graduate students in public speaking.
It was announced that the Bloom- ington branch of the Collegiate Alumnae Association had awarded a $50 cash prize to Miss Ruth Bourne, a senior student, of Evansville for excellence in scholarship. Miss Bourne, who is earning a part of her expenses while attending the uni- versity, has been elected to Phi Beta Kappa, the national scholarship so- ciety.
In connection with the Foundation Day program, Director William A. Alexander announced that the $1,000,- 000 memorial fund has reached $106,- 000, practically all of which has been subscribed by citizens of Bloomington, members of the faculty and campus organizations. Several $1,000 sub- scriptions were announced.
Unlike the sun, moon and planets, each star rises always at practically the same point in the heavens.
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CIRCUS DAY ALWAYS FRESH IN MEMORY OF MOST MEN-EXPERIENCE THAT REMAINS IN HEART OF BOY
The old, old excuse made by grown- ups: "I thought I'd go to the circus so the children could see it," still seems popular.
But, we recall the time when no excuse was even hinted at in our little world, when we would lay awake nights many times, trying to picture ourselves as famous acrobats, contortionists, bare-back riders or brave lion tamers, such as the blazing posters showed on the side walls of barns and billboards in the neighborhood.
That was the period of life when we had real poetry in our soul, when adventure was dreamed of as the prime ambition of our existence-and the thought of a great circus coming right there to our very town was enough to occupy our mentality, our dreams, and control our aspirations for that grand occasion.
Then, the night before the circus was to "pull in" we persuaded our parents to allow us to stay all night with another boy who lived close to the show ground, in order that we could be up early enough to see the show unload-and then, we got a job carrying stakes-then another man put us to work carrying water, then some other fellow took us in hand and gave us a job carrying boards for the seats.
All at once we discovered that it was long past the dinner hour, and the circus people were lining up for the grand street parade which the posters said would be a mile long. We
wanted to see that parade, but the man kept us working-and the parade left the grounds and returned-still we were working as we had never be- fore worked.
Then, it was time for the big show to start-we asked the man for our ticket in our most humble tone, only to receive a blow which broke our timid heart; crushed our ambition- made us want to cry, oh, so hard. He told us: "Get out o' here, you ain't been workin'-what do ye think this is ? Go on, git out o' here."
"That rough fellow made us old men -cunning, revengful young maniacs for the time being-made us "see red."
Yes, we saw the show, though we were physically worn out, hungry and clown-hearted.
We awaited an opportunity, and silently "slipped" under the tent, climbed to the very topmost seat in the tent and watched the show-we took in the menagery on our way out.
At supper, our fond parent chided us merrily for not coming home to dinner and "go to the show with the rest of the family". Father was so worked up over our "wayward" be- havior, and the worry we had caused our dear mother that he made us go to bed without any supper.
Can any real boy, grown to man- hood, forget "Circus Days"?
"Hold your horses, ladies and gen- tlemen-here comes the elephants. A free exhibition will be given-etc."
MARION TOWNSHIP HAS MAGNIFICENT SCENERY AND TRACES OF GOLD IN CREEKS
Beautiful Specimens of Sienite, Greenstone, Quartzite and Flesh-Colored Feld-
spar Abound-Knobstone 100 Feet Thick East of Monroe's Mill-Granite Boulders, Rare Fossils and Pretty Geodes Found.
Marion township, in Monroe coun- ty, has no organized village or town but is rich in being populated by good people of the county's average mental and moral make-up. The town- ship was a part of Benton township until the forties, when it was organ- ized and named for the heroic figure of revolutionary times, Francis Marion.
The township is notable for its su- perior scenic splendor, and one-fourth mile southwest of Monroe's mill, on Hacker's creek the bed and banks are thickly strewn with granite boulders.
Some beautiful specimens of sienite, greenstone, quartzite and flesh-col- ored feldspar also abound. One mile east of Monroe's mill the knobstone is 100 feet thick.
On Honey Creek, black sand (mag- netic iron ore), similar to the gold- bearing sand of Bear Creek, in Browıl county, may be seen. Granite boul- ders also strew the ground, and beautiful geodes and fossils are
found.
Black sand, containing gold traces is also found in Wolf Creek, which has its head in Brown county.
INDIANA'S RECENT AWAKENING FROM NEGLECT OF HER HISTORY
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