Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-06-30
Consider me Smith.
BY j. J. HOOPER.

There is a very good story 10 the papers
of the day, which is told of DIR. Maxey, of
the University of South Carolina, as l think
incorrectly. The trick in reality was play
ed by old DR.. Caldwell, formerly President
of the University of North Carolina. l
r~ecollect hearing it, when a child, from the
Doctors own lips /; and l we'll remember
how he chuckled at the recollection of the
CONSERVATION into which he threw the
students, who had hauled him two or three
miles in his own carriage, without know
ing it-by requesting them to draw him
back.
But whether Doctor Caldwell or Doctor
Maxey-or both are entitled to the cred
it of having reversed the sa0 of a parcel
of madcap collegians, in this particular
case, there is one feat which the North
Carolina President did perform-his right
to the credit is indisputable. The victim
would doubtless, if he lives-'qualify, to
the facts
The old Doctor was a small man, and
lean, but as hard and angular as the most
irregular of pine knots. He looked as il
he might be tough, but did not seem
strong. Nevertheless he was among the
knowing ones, reputed to be as agile 'as g
cat , and in addition, was by no means
deficient in knowledge ofthe noble science
of self-defence.' Besides he was as 'coo
as a cucumber" Well, in the Freshman
class of a certain year-and | believe the
story goes that the fellow never got out O
the Freshman, though the Doctor certain
ly did put him through in one sense o
the word-was a burly, bsefy mountainee
of eighteen or nineteen. This genius con
ceived a great contempt for old Bolus
physical dimensions, and his soul was hor
riied that one SO deficient in muscle
should be so potential in his rule. Poo
Jones-that's what we'll call him-had n
idea of moral force. At any rate he wa
not inclined to KNOCK uRder' to it, and b
controlled despotically by a man that h
imagined he could tie and whip. He a
length determined to give the old gentle
man a genteel private thrashing, som
night in the College Campus, pretendin
, to mistake him for some fellow student.
! Shortly after, ona dark and rainy nigh
{ Jones met the Doctor crossing the Campu
q, Walking up to him abruptly, "hello Smitl
: you rascal-is this you? And with tn
= he struck the old gentleman a blow on IL
h side of the face that had nearly felled hir
! Old Bolus said nothing, but squared hin
y SELF, and at it they went. Jones yout
IS weight and muscle made him an "ugly CT
J. TONER" but after a round or two, the Dc
y tors science began to tell and in a sht
y time he had knocked his beefy antagon
down, and was a straddle of his chest, wi
=: one hand on his throat, and the other de
10 ing vigorous cuffs on the side of his head
u 'Ah stop!- beg pardon Doctor
~ Doctor Caldwell-a mistake-for heaye
4 sake Doctor!' groaned Jones, who thouy
d he was about to be eaten up-I rea
~ thought it was Smith
The Doctor replied with a word an
eu blow alternately-'It makes DO diferer
" for all present purposes consiiderme Smi
And-it is said--that old Bolus g
70 Jones such a pounding, 'then and the
- as probably prevented his ever making
Nc other mistake as to personal indeutity
~ least on the College Campus Horn
Ie- Mirth.