ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 220 



^nces a microscope of limited powers and a few rocks. How different 

 this morning — the old building to which we have referred has disap- 

 j)eared and in its place is Illinois Field; at the south end of the old cam- 

 pus is Military hall; as we proceed southward on Burrill Avenue to the 

 right and left are the electrical and mechanical engineering shops, the 

 -engineering building proper, the greenhouses, the President's house, the 

 natural history building, the che nical building, which has outlived its 

 usefulness and is to be succeeded by a more modern one, the handsome 

 library building to the right and what is now known as the old main 

 iall or building directly in our path. As we circle this latter to the 

 right or left we come into full visw of the Experiment Station buildings 

 and barns, the astromical observatory,, and last but by no means least, 

 this grand structure which we are here today to dedicate to the uses of 

 Illinois agriculture. In addition to the buildings enumerated each of 

 them is filled with apparatus and equipped for instruction and investi- 

 gation second to none in the United States. 



Now the student body is composed of 1700 students whose opportun- 

 itj'' for education before entering the university is almost as far in ad- 

 vance of the opportunity of the students of the early day as are the ad- 

 Tantages now offered by the University superior to those of the early 

 day. As my memory reverts to that olden time I recall that student body 

 as an earnest, rather poorly clad, enthusiastic, lively and mischief lov- 

 ing band of boys from the farm and village. Few were possessed of a 

 high school education and many minus even that of a good common 

 school. But they were earnest intelligent, and many have made their 

 nark in life since the old college days. This demonstrates to my mind 

 :hat if a student possesses capacity for an education it matters but little 

 -whether he is examined for entrance to the University or not. Previous 

 'Opportunity has much to do with whether he can leap a pole set at a 

 certain height on the field of mental gymnastics, but it has but little to 

 do with his after success in University studies. Many good students eager 

 for knowledge are frightened away because of their inability to pass cer- 

 tain requirements of admission set forth in the catalogue. 



