Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-09-09
william, and Mary College.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va, Sept. 5, lS7t

To the editor of the Aterandrta Gazette:
SIR: [ observed to-day in your Issue of the
Both ultimo an article headed Letter from the
Ola Virginia L1wlands," written from "ou the
York river" dated August 10Th, aud slgued
"Chasseur." deem it but jus. for you to
permit ue space 10 your paper to answer many
G! the statements made by this writer, who Is
apparently ignorant Of his subject. and has
therefore nisrcpreseulcd this section, and VIII
nam AID Mary College particularly. AS am
| especially interested 10 the vlod'cauoD OF Will
ian and May, | will state few facts that
| relate 10 The William aud Mary Of today,
| as her past is too we'll assured aud known TO
need any mention, that the public may judge If
"Chasseur" is right when h. characterizes her
as practically dead, and "as nothing more
than > large day school" The faculty of Will
au aud Mary consists ct live gentlemen OF
| ejuca,ioD. graduates Of some OF the highest
institutions 10 the land, who w3re selected by
= Boari Of Visitors unequaied by any IN Viz
ripia, among whom Eay be mentioned lion.
Hugh Blair Grigsby, Gen. H. A. Wise, Hon.
James L Gus. Hon. John Code, jr., Rev.
| Drs. Miurercdo and " oodbrldge, Gen. W Vi.
| B. ral.a:trro, Judge ". NJ. Crump and nine
other high toned gentlemen OF honor whose
COZ. 6degce ia tha faculty is sufficient guaran
zee Of their WORT: aud fitness Tor their POSITIONS
Besides these from thrcc 10 four first class men
rssis eac! year in the preparatory department
H.; TIE Colicge, jus as they do al every other
college Il. Virginia. The subjects taught en-
brac, Greek, La;iu, Mathematics, Bellies Let
ter, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, French
and 6 rman. These dcpartmeu!s arc divided
int. JUNIOR Intermediate and Senior classes,
aud siudents ale advanced TO very high degree
ia each. The best evidences Of this. and OF the
thorough training to be obtained non at the
Co2lrge If William and Mary is TO DC icund 10
= ic,tDf wrilteG by The chat msn Of the faculty
Of the University oi Virginia, Col, Z. s. Ven
iabl.. to Col. Benz s. Ewell, President of
" illiau an! Mary in which COL Venable says,
after uluGng 10 the progress made ty several
students from William and Mary, who have
beeo at tn University since tile 0ar, these
fac 5 speak aetter than any mcrc ASSERTIONS as
I, Tho high standing OF William and Mary stu.
d.nts III the University ri Virginia. SHE can
chaLenge any other College to shoa0 q better
record eau Gt-h.r praise &c gwen? DOGS
TINS lack as though she, 'od William aud
Mary" was dead ? No, her numbers sluce the
sar have surpa>s d her average before the war.
"uha>scur" says VT was the most u0wlse step
the Legislature ever took when it gave az ap.
6 cropr,arion to this college. Here again he
evaccs great lgroraDce. The Legislature has
ntvcr gi7on cent TO William and Mary. A
sna graft was given her By the House Of
EurRess@s Of Virginia in $50 '6l; noue sloce.
She is independent OF all State uid Her en-
,iywrucnt was given hci III COLONIAL days, oue
: bundfed and cighty-thre" years ago, 1883, and
i. O. i.pr!vate character, free from all Stale or
! church, iuuniy. By The revolution OF l1I6 she
los vast AMOUNT OF wealth 10 rev, Cues, a
| tri;uto to the Freedom OF America, tor which
she has never been repaid dime. She has
educated free more young men than any college
j.. F,ryiui;., over two huudred slucc the WEI
Last year she was amuog the very few colleges
IL the State tnat had an increase IN the pumber
Of their students. Nlue graduates went forth
from her halls last session, who will compare
favorably wi!h those from any Institution III the
couotTy. She Cap never be abolished as a
Stale Cal,ege." Tor she never Was one and it
is absurd to speak OF hc l. ,glslature' taking
, some decided steps to do So The Legislature
cauoct touch her, snc Is private corporation,
fc" from church and State.
/ Farther 0r Mr.. "Chasscur' says speaking
!, of Williamsburg "ln this town OF many hun
dred inhabitants there i, no bar roonl no tailor
snnp no Lccr III barber saloons, DO insurance
offic. 40 Iumocr yard, no photograph gallery,
Dor fire. crs,:e. noihing that cirtl'zes q man
or rejiaes til burburtan DC, dc " hat say
you Iatncrs and nJtntrsi iOu you think the
abscuce OF bar ronrus and beer saloons help ITO
c9lizs uau" and ''to rc6oe barbarian =
IS rot their absence also recommend vii.
ltaloSburg aud William aud Mlry es q very
proper place TO send your sops to ? Would you
nave tham there to 'clvlliza" and refine than
a IL "ChaSscur p Ii is said that fools and
vain people support photograph galleries. Is
it necessary 10 your sou's education to be eth
er? Surely "Chass:urs" ideas Of refinement
mus have been yoiieu outside OF the ''od Vlr-
GINA inwIauCls." more rehucd Town society
cannot De fouod 10 the State than 10 Williams
burg, and her chain consists IN the fact that
:ytbi x is simple, plain aud old fashioned.
Hare students are taken into the family circle
OF the Inhabitants and treated like gentlemen
and made to feel at home. 4 more refining
sncla; hunuce does not surround another COL
ege il Virginia. Mr.. "Cnasscur" also CON-
plains of the health of this locality Here again
lie is at fault. Being progressive man lie
will, 10 doubt, accept statistics as conclusive
evidence. We'll. William and Mary has been
gong on Dow for 1873 Sessions, Averaging 10
this time (lncuing toe time she Vas closed
during the wars Ut he counry,) 80 students
ycar-ln ali say 5000 Her carefully kept
records show ouly seven deaths rom this DULL
Der ia nearly two bucdred years; and four
Of thc<4 Were from accidental drowning! Can
any community surpaSS this? Only l-30ln OF
one per cent oi deaths 10 lS3 years The re-
cords 81 the Ea>tcrn Luuatc Asylum here also
s!vw smaller per cealage OF deaths than at
Stauutou from endemic diseases. Yet our sec
ton is charact rized a chilly one No Que
ever hears of typhoid fever here. Scarlateoa
auu dipthcrla are ALMOST as rare, and never
rage as az epidemic. ChilIs can be avoided by
at;cuiiou t. diet and clothing; are readily cur
ed and do ppt prevail DUNG the college SEES
SOD, from O4tobcr TO July. William aud Mary
Ia, aoy,r yet been closed by the existence of
sucn cpldclpic. as have compelled tie closing
! OF other cducati,ual instiu; 10 Virginia.
| Williamsburg was a battle field aud camp dur
ing the war. Her best houses were either toru