The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-07-11
For the Anderson Lntelligencer.
The University of the South.
SEWANEE, Tenn, June 26, 1872


will not prove uninteresting to the worthy
readers of the Lntezggencer. This time I pro-
pose to speak of Sewanee locally, and give
description of the internal affairs of our upper
world" Yes, Sewanee is unique little world
to itself We seldom have any communication
with the clover world" save prospective per-
spective from some of the Views; and thus we
spend peaceful, monotonous life, free from
the busy turmoil of the city, and yet in semi
rustic life, enjoy the most desirable features of
the metropolis.
The University of the South is church
school, under the authority of the Southern
Episcopal Dioceses; and naturally, the most
prominent object of the mountain is the Church.
Our Chapel-without, an edifce of humble ap-
pearance; within, a marvel of beauty and ar
rangement-is that around which centres the
life and action of the University. Its daily
morning and evening services are made attrac-
tive and impressive, while religion is exhibited
as living reality, and not mere sentiment
Here, Mr.. Editor, please allow me to state
for the benefit of your Episcopal readers, that
the reports which have been disseminated con-
cerning the extreme form of Ritualism in vogue
here are groundless. True, we have surpliced
choir and chant very much of the church SER
vice; but when it is remembered that our
chaplain is Rev. w. P. DuBose, late of Able
Vile, S. c., and whose conservative views are
so well known and reciprocated by many
churchmen in your State, there will remain
faint cause for clamor against Ritualism.
Passing from the central to the private edi-
fees of Sewanee, we find the latter of hand
some and tasteful architecture-usnally of
the Swiss-cottage style-and around many,
fower-yard or clover-plot lends additional
beauty. The University buildings are gener-
ally of unprepossessing aspect. Those already
erected are of temporary design-none of the
permanent colleges being yet in process of con-
struction.
| I have already mentioned the area of Sc
vance. Out of its ten thousand acres, one
hundred are held in reserve as the city limits,
and this is protected by corporation. A Mar
shal with five deputies and a Recorder sre in
charge of the civil Jurisdiction, and are all
sufficient to preserve order aud quiet. We have
no guard-house, but squad of cadets is enough
to bear the offender in custody until the law
dispeses of his offense.
Apropos of the guard-house, I may mention
that Sewanee has cadet corps. Like Rugby,
in England, the students have obtained per-
mission to organize military department;
and now we have full battalion, oficered by
the students, and with the Proctor of the Uni
yersity as Commandant The corps is COM
posed of students both from the University
Department and Grammar School-member-
ship being optional with the former, and with
the latter compulsory.
The discipline of the University is original
in design and excellent in practice. The stu
dents are domiciled in dormitories- which
Junior Proctor, who is entirely responsible
for the good order and care of the hall, pre-
sides. Of the latter there are about twelve
all chosen from among the students-and, with
the Senior Proctor, upon whom the highest re-
sponsibility of the University depends. The
discipline of the students is not difficult
duty, inasmuch as they are removed from temp
tations that present themselves in multiform
shapes at colleges less favored by location.
AS regards the ability of the administrative
heads of the University, one has only to exam
inc our calendar and be convinced. Scholars
from the Old as we'll as the New World stand
upon the roll of the Faculty, and which bears
testimony that the University of the South is
determined to make itself an Institution wor-
thy in every respect of Southern sympathy and
patronage.
In few weeks the present term will close.
Time has rapidly sped since March 10th, and
in retrospecting the intervening months, the
only event that has rufled the serenity of the
mountain was the appearance Of the locusts-
whether of the three, four or seventeen year
genus am not prepared to state. Their in
cessant din for the space of forty days made
the entire locust tribe host of enemies among
the students. But now they are gone, and by
their short-lived existence have told us a story
more suggestive than the writings of the sage.
The Board of Trustees meets on July 9th,
and as it is during Examination week, the
students are much exercised at the thought OF
of passing the ordeal before SO august and
grave an assemblage. The Board is composed
of one Bishop, two Clergymen and three Lay
men from each Southern Diocese, and meets
annually in July.
The summer vacation, which Immediately
follows the examinations, although never more
than ten days in length, it is gala season
here. There is grand ball given annually
by the students, and at which brilliant array
of Southern beauty and talent is invariably
present.
Sewanee is eminently adapted to win for it.
self fast friends, and nearly or quite all who