The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-09

Mr.. Corcoran of Washington, and which
is adorned with his portrait as well as
with those of several distinguished pro-
fessors and scholars of past and present
times. Mr.. Wertenbaker, the venerable
Librarian, who received his appointment
from the hands of Mr.. Jefferson himself,
is still able to attend, and, on public oc-
casions is, Ito use the words of his assist
ant, Mr.. Page), quite belle, being al
ways surrounded by pleasant young la
dies who delight in paying him attention.
We went next to the reading room, which
is bountifully supplied with the best
magazines and periodicals, and on whose
reading shelves we noticed nearly every
good newspaper, secular or religious. with
which we have any acquaintance, as well
as a very carefully selected library of
Christian literature supplied by the exer-
tions of the professors and students who
have thus far so we'll maintained the life,
internal and external, of the Y M. G. As
soclation. Our next visit was to the la
boratory, of which more anon Here |
met, for the first time, the well-known
Professor of Chemistry, DIR. Mallet, of
whom something more will be said herein.
During the evening we had the pleasure
of receiving visits from Rev DR.. Vaughan
the chaplain of the University, Rev. Mr.
Petrie of the Presbyterian church in
Charlottesville, and Prof Staige Davis of
the Medical and Surgical Department.
all of whom contributed, each in his own
special and excellent way" to the in
terest of the evening.
The services of the next day, Sunday
Of LII Al
chapel of the University at IL in the
morning and in the evening. Though
these services had for me special inter
est arising from the principle of "pars
tm. yet grave and controlling reasons
forbid me to do more than deal with some
of their objective elements. The morn
ing service was attended by the usual
University congregation, consisting of
most of the professors with their families
and some of the students. This service
had drawn to itself more solemn and
perhaps sadly thoughtful aspect than it
might otherwise havD worn, because of the
recent and unexpected death of young
lady well known and much loved in all
the region including and surrounding the
University.
The service at night was under the
special care of the Y. M. c. Association,
and was attended by the great body Of
the students, with some of the professors
and their families. The chapel was
crowded, and some who could not con-
veniently obtain seats were obliged to
withdraw. No congregation could have
been more decorous or more profoundly
attentive.
The next day we had an opportunity
of seeing number of the professors and
their families, and enjoying the special
hospitality of Prof. John B. Minor and
his interesting household He has long
been eminent in his department of Law
and his published " Institutes" entitled
his name to place on the roll which in
cludes those of Justinian and Sir Ed
ward Coke. And as useful and dill
gent Christian teacher he is scarcely less
eminent than as law professor. Neither
is he alone In this respect. In fact one
of the most attractive features of the
University of Virginia now is, its
thoroughly Christian aspect. The pro-
fessors and teachers with few exception.
throw their active weight into this scale.
Out of $50 students, more than 60 are
professors of religion, and this is rather
a smaller proportion than usual
Among the lectures of Monday, found
it most convenient to attend that de-
livered to his large class by Prof Mallet.
His class embraces all the Medical stu
dents, besides many in the academic de-
partments. He has altogether about
III. He subject was "Sulphuric Acid,
with remarks upon few elements
cognate to Sulphur" 1 retained in
memory just enough of former chemical
studies to make this lecture highly in
teresting. 1t occupied an hour and
half, and was delivered in easy, per-
spicuous English, without any unneces-
sary use of technical terms. 1t comes
from mind evidently master of its sub
ject and was illustrated, from time to
time, by experiments conducted with
singular manual dexterity and with per- I
feet success. In commenting on the
charring" or charcoal making properties
of sulphuric acid, he illustrated, by pour
ing a moderate quantity Of pure white
granulated sugar into a tall glass tum-
bier, and adding a small quantity of per-
fectly clear water Into this, he then /
poured sulphuric acid, which is a perfect
ly clear and colorless liquid. 1t was
strange and interesting to note the i'm
mediate blackening of the compound /
apJ ,ybon Prof Mo11ot ,,.oJ - H. .,.a..1 I