and Louis L. Banks were alumni of Philomath College; and Thomas Nelson Strong was a student in Portland Academy. In later years the University of Oregon has turned out several writers of national reputation, but during its early period it did not send forth from its campus any important man of letters.
Oregon State College could not claim a writing alumnus of any renown until Dennis H. Stovall was graduated in 1899.
With the significant exceptions indicated, these rustic seats of learning did not foster regular authorship to an extensive degree, but they afforded a stimulating environment of a general nature, and their teachers of rhetoric, though their theme assignments may have been formal and unimaginative, had considerable effect on the standards of English composition in the commonwealth. Their graduates could deliver eloquent orations, and preach good sermons on Sundays, and could write fair prose on practical or philosophic subjects, even if it was somewhat thickly sprinkled with quotations in sign of learning. And in text at least their songs average much higher than other Oregon songs.
These are of much later vintage than would be looked for in institutions of such long histories. Willamette University is the oldest university west of the Rocky Mountains, and on the campus of Pacific University is the old Tualatin Academy building that has been in constant use since 1851. The beginnings of Albany, McMinnville, Oregon Normal School and Oregon State College date back to the 50's, but, with the exception of Pacific University, it has not been
