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THE WISCONSIN ALUMNI MAGAZINE
pends upon your individual effort.
The alumni are capable of accom-
plishing great things for the uni-
versity. Will they open the way
so that' the light may shine into
every home, and brighten the life
and work of every citizen to the
largest extent and thus enable the
university to attain its highest
ideals?
THE UNIVERSITY IN THE 50's
        BY JUDGE ELBERT O. HAND, '59
the class of 1859 were
graduated twelve stu-
lents, the largest class
5aaduated in any class
previous to that time.
['he North and South
          halls, used for dormi-
tories and recitation rooms, were
the only buildings on the campus.
Chancellor -Lathrop, the head of
the university  until 1859, was
fruly one of nature's noblemen,
courteous, affable and  dignified
and deeply interested in the prog-
ress and welfare of every stu-
dent, known to them all and each
student well known to him. His
cordial greetings  were   always
sought for and ever granted with
the utmost pleasure and gratifica-
tion. He was a model of a per-
fect gentleman. In teaching, his
style was very clear and persua-
sive. He taught a class in politi-
cal economy, and his presentation
of the subject of Trade was so
logical and reasonable that the
student who entered the class as
a high protectionist rarely failed
to leave it as a free trader or mod-
erate protectionist.
  In those early days it was very
difficult to get from the legislat-
ure sufficient money to pay the
expenses of the university. At
each session, some member from
some far off rural district,- desir-
ing to air his oratorical abilities,
considered it perfectly safe to
make a raid on the university, as
it had   few  defenders. It was
sneeringly called the "Madison
High School,"-and the question
was asked with a good deal of
ore rotundo, why should the state
of Wisconsin be taxed to educate
the youths of the City of Madi-
son?
  Chancellor Lathrop   found   it
necessary to keep close watch of
the legislature at each annual ses-
sion, to secure the sums neces-
sary to keep the university alive;
and he and his good wife, who
was the better politician of the
two, were frequently seen at the
capitol begging and beseeching
for more funds.
  During the 50's the necessary
expenses of the student were very
much less than at present. A
boarding establishment was es-
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