The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-10-16
Our CannOnsburg Letter.
A Visit to that Ancient Seat OfLearn.
ings.WhNI II was and What Il IL.

rising ground 1t takes It's name from
tho original owner, John Canon. We
cannot trace anything earlier In It's his
tory than l7sS, or 80 years ago. 1t was
constituted q borough about fourteen
years alter the town was laid of, and II
We mistake not, Is the
OLDEST BOROUGH IN TIKI COUNTY.
The prominent part OF It's history was
its College, and the men connected with
this ancient seat OF learning. And il was
said, and justly too, In 1917, by the Rev.
DR.. Matthew Brown, that il was then
THE principal nursery Of literature in the
West" II must be admitted no man de.
serves greater credit In the organization
Of the old College than Rev. DR.. John Nc.
MILAN. He was the leading founder Of
Jefferson College, and for fifty years
preached to the people Of the Charters
congregation. In 1907 propositions were
made by the people Of Washington to
consolidate the two colleges under one
name. The proposition was at tlrst re-
jected, and II would have been better for
this borough at least had they remained
80, but other overtures were made, and
the final result is too well known 10 be
here recited. Suffice ii to say, that noble
old building stands deserted place,
A MONUMENT OF OTHER DAYs,
and Of great and good men, many Of
whom have gone to their rest and re.
ward.
A portion Of the building Is occupied as
q Seminary, divine service is held regular
on Sabbath, and in connection win II
a large furnishing Sabbath School. But
the old building is becoming delapidated,
y reminds ono Of Goldsmith's deserted
Village" "The light of other days hos
faded, and oil It's glories past" Where
are tho hundreds and thousands of yonDg
men who have gone forth into the various
walks and positions in lie. Many OF them
have become hOnored names In the
Church, In the State and in the professions
they entered into on their departure
from this spot, aan1 r..
JEFFERSON COLLEGE AND ITS MEMORIES
will never be erased from their memories,
the struggles and difficulties, sometimes
pEivation and encouragement will be
remembered. The training OF a College
like that even in national point Is seen
in its people, 80 here-three great princi.
pies seem to have been instilied into the
youth, and has developed itself over this
whole region Of Country-Piety, learning
and loyalty. Oh, but some say they were
too sectarian, would God we had some
such in our day. These men, many Of
them, were descendants from those v no
knew the value Of civil and religious
liberty, who died on the alpine heights
and in the glens OF Scotland. They knew
what Il was to takGup the Cross. Society
around this very region is proVerbial for
family training and religious devotion.
And in no place have l ever seen the
meaning Of the Poet Burns in his "Cotter's
Saturday Night" more fully realized than
here.
THE cheerful supper done, wi serious face,
They, round tho inEle, form q circle Wide
The slrd turns DER, with ocular grace
The big ha-blble, once his fathers PRIDE
His bonnet reV'rently Is laid aside,
His lyhrt hatTsts wearing thin an bare;
ThoSe ttrl ns that once did hweet in Zion Rlido, |
lie wales apoai0n with JudIcOus care,
And let US worship GOd,' h0 Gays with solemn |
air.
Not only does the character and moral
habits OF people manifest the influence |
of its education, but the instructor, let |
him be the schOOlmaster or the country |
pastor, lives up to what is seen in those |
around him, Goldsmith describes such
a man:
The village preachers modest maution rose,
A man he wRs to all tho count y dear, |
And passing rich, with forty pounds year,
Remote iEomtowns, he ran his godly race
Nor meier had changed, nor wished 10 change his
Unsktllcd he to Glwn or seek for power
by doctrines f4'hton'd TO the va yinR hour'
He tried each art, reprOVcd each Gull delay
Alured 10 brighter worlds, and led the way"
On beautiful hill top, near by this old
historic place, stands a church, and tho
dead Of many years are buried in the
graveyard which surrounds it. What q
panoramic View-as far as the eye can
look there rises to the view
HERDS, FLooKs AND FRUITFUL FIELDS,
But we enter the old gateway, and like
"Old Mortality" pass through this city OF
the dead. Here rest the ashes Of that
great and good man Dr.. Mcmillan the
limbs OF an aged tree cast their shadows
over the stone which covers his grave
Many a tear has been shed over that
good mans grave, and while he rests
from his labOrs his works do follow him.
We turned and lett this spot, and when
about to leave by tho old gate through
which VIC entered, We met q well known
character, with two youthful attendants,
each one carrying his implement. The
poet Blair describes him
"See yonder maker Of the dead mans bed
Tho Sexton, h1Ary headed chronicle,
| oihard, unmeaning face, down which ne'er stole
| A R0ntlO tear, With TnattOCk In his hand;
Digs through whole rows OF kindred and &C.
| QuAintAnce
By lar his juniors. scMeea tculrs cA.tup
But we'll no kneW It's owner, and can toll
Some passage OF bis Ill., Poor wretch, he
minds not
| That soon some trIs'y brother Of tho trace
Shall do for MIN what no hiss done for thou
| BaRda-'
But l must come to cloSe-getting
poetic. . Truly yours, ID
ALBION