10
THE BATTALION.
difficulties, she now completes the first twenty years of her
history, a recognized and indispensable factor in the growth,
prosperity and development of the state.
This college threw open her doors for the admission of
students the 2d day of October, 1876. The board of directors
under whose auspices she was thus offered to the people as a
means of education consisted of a list of distinguished Texans.
They were Governor Richard Coke, Lieutenant Governor R. B.
Hubbard, Hon. T. R. Bonner, speaker of the house, Hon. E. H.
Pickett, Hon. Charles D. Morse, Hon. B. F. Grover, Hon. B. H.
Davis, Judge C. S. West, and Hon. F. 18. Stockdale.
The college historian relates that upon the opening day six
students presented themselves for matriculation. Arriving at
a siding (there was no depot there) a student alighted, to see
but little to please him or inspire him. There was nothing
to throw around him that halo that encircles the school-boy
when he enters for the first time ancient and historic campus
walks, or treads halls made famous by great men or great oc
casions.
A noble, but tenantless building sat grimly before him in
the prairie about one-half mile away. A wide waste of brown
grass and broom intervened. It was unrelieved by walk or tree
or vine. To the left could be seen the mess hall, and the right
five residences for professors.
This constituted the college landscape, except somewhat in
the rear was seen an old fashioned white farm house with a
long gallery; a relic of the former owner. The writer entered
during the second year at which time two wooden barracks
for temporary use had been erected in the rear of the main
building.
These original six, however, reporting for matriculation
found a most kind, genial and accomplished president to wel
come them. This was .the lamented Thos. S. Gathright. They
also found a most able and excellent faculty of five members.
The number of students soon increased, and upon the 4th day
of November, 1876, the directors met at the college, Governor
Coke delivered an inaugural address, and the work of this
great institution fairly began.
It being the purpose of the Federal act of endowment, as