Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-05-14


that breathes over 1t, OF left it without
pangs of regret What stndent of all it's
hundreds, has ever failed to cast Ion giDg.
lingering look back towards it, or has ever
ceased to think lovingly Of that g"!d,l: Il IT.,
when be trOd it's walk, or rerhnra uI.jler
the shade Of its oaks
The business of education Ia the Uni
versity was begun early in 1895, seventy
four years ago. Hinton James, Of New
Hanover, was the first student The first
instructors were the Rev. David Kerr, Il
graduate of Trinity College. Dublin, Pro-
lessor OF Languages Mr. Charles Harris
Mecklenburg, a graduate OF Princeton,
Professor of Mathematics, and Mr.. :. A.
Holmes, Teacher i'll the Preparatory De-
partment.
The two Liteary Societies, the Dialectic
and the Philanthropic, were organized that
year. The DiaIectic numbering twenty
seven members-the Philantrhopic twelve
Next year the PhIS numbered seventeen
and the DIS thirteen. Here it may be said
that these Societies have exerted IA marked
influence in the University, and have been
of the greatest service in stimulating the
literary ambition, and forming the tastes Of
the young men. A generous rivalry has
always existed between them, which DIR.
Hooper in the inimitable " Fifty Years
Since says was manifested in his day
abont 1904; in this way, that when one So
ciety got a new book the other was sure
to procure copy of the same, only if pos
sible, more handsomely bound.
IT'S FIRST PRESIDENT,
Joseph Caldwell, was O New Jersey man.
and a graduate of Princeton. In 1895 he
was Tutor at Princeton. He was appointed
Professor of Mathematics at Chapel Hill in
179G. in the place of Prof. Harris, who had
known him at Princeton, aud by whose re-
commentator he was chosen here.
DR.. Caldwell was singularly we'll fitted TO
be the first President of a new College.
NO. 9.
ITS FIRST PRESIDENT
A great literary festival was held at
Princeton last Fall on occasion of the inau
guration of their new and distinguished
President DIR. McCosh, and the Alumni of
the OLD College were gathered from all
parts 20 assist in the solemnities, and to
rejoice in the prosperity of their Alma
Mater. Two graduates of the class of 1895
were present Bending with years and
honOrs, these venerable men were saluted
by the vast assemblage with reverence and
enthusiasm. One would like to enquire
what are their recolleotions !of the young
and obscure man who was their Tutor at
Nassau Hall seventy-four years ago, who
became our first President, and who was
destined in the Providence of God to play
AL important part in our State, aud to have
his name handed down with reverence TO
distant generations. Whether or not he
impressed his associates at that early age
with any distinct sense of his superiority,
it is certain that DR.. Caldwell was a re-
markable man, and singuiarly well fitted
- H. L, TO.oo -
sity.
HIS APPEARANCE.
In IT, first place he Yves man to mag
Nifty his Office. He had high sense of the
dignity OF Letters, and never forgot what
was due to his position. Though not
above the middle j., light, his appearance
and manners were impressive, formed in
the old school of dignifed and formal
courtesy. His eyes were dark and pene-
trating, overhung by bushy eyebrows his
dress was always neat, precise and hand
some. He looked the President and
thorough gentleman.
He was perhaps something of a martinez
in his notions or authority and discipline,
though this was always tempered with be-
nightly and kindly allowance. No man
could be in DR.. CaldwelIs company with
out at once acknowledging that here was a
man to be respected and deferred to be-
yond ordinary limits. He was well known
to be an ardent and untiring student, his
tastes inclining him to the exact sciences,
though his classical attainments were also
extensive and accurate. He was an admi-
rable Latinist.
HIS CHARACTER.
A man however may be a gentleman and
fine scholar, and yet make very poor
presiding officer. We cannot look at what
DR.. Caldwell alone aud unaided did in the
early years of this century, for the strug
Cling infancy OF the University without
feeling that he possessed other qualifca-
tions more rare than those which mark the
close and successful student. He had
uery great administrative ability, and the
power to inspire unlimited confidence in
all who approached him. His integrity
was known to be infexible; he was utterly
fearless in the discharge Of duty; his bare
word had the authority of an oath. I can
scarcely imagine the indignant scorn with
which he would have repelled any sugges'
tion of underhand dealing or intrigue
more especially for his own interests. All
men felt instinctively that moan Or self
ish thought was never harbored in his
breast; that he was in the fullest sense of
the word what We in these later days would
call reliable.
Added to this power of impressing and
controlling others, DR.. Caldwell had great
intuitive sagacity in Judging of character,
and in operating on those around him. -
But what most distinguished him perhaps
in that day OF small things in North Caro-
lima, was his far-seeipg and liberal views
of internal i'm provement and plans for the
public good. He was il many things sim
gularly ahead of his generation. A man
who looked far beyond and over the mar
row agitations of the day, and thought for
posterity.
THE "CARLToN LETTERS.
1t has been now ten or fifteen years since
I saw Gov. Swain with copy of DR.. Cald.
wells s. Carlton Letters " in his hand-let-
ters written forty or fifty years ago to the
people of North Carolina on the impor
tance and advantages OF Railroads, and
now forgotten, but which would do good
if in circulation now. Gov. Swain loved
to speak of them and point out their ex-
| cellencies. There is a homely humor and
force of illustration, plain way Of putting
the argument, with such evidence Of keen
and sagacious observation of the common
people, their ways and their wants, as We
rarely see in close student and man OF
Tp f1N p{e