As the crown of the free school system, stands the state university at
Berkeley. Many an interesting story might be told of the noble men, who
as early as 1849 began their long struggle to gain for the youth of
California the chance for higher education. The Reverend Samuel Willey,
the American consul Mr. Larkin, and Mr. Sherman Day were leaders in this
enterprise. There was much against them; men's thoughts were almost
entirely given to the necessities of everyday life, and few seemed able
to see that a grand and beautiful future was coming to the new
territory. The university secured its charter in 1868, but it was not
until the adoption of the new constitution in 1879 that it was placed on
a firm basis which could not be changed by each new legislature.
The coming of Mr. Benjamin Ide Wheeler to the presidency was one of the
best strokes of fortune the institution has ever known. Under his
management it has taken a great stride forward. In the work it does, and
the high standard it demands, it takes its place side by side with the
best universities of the older Eastern states. The work of its college
of agriculture is becoming of great service to the farmer and fruit
grower.
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