The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-18
TIE ST re uNIyEasnY.
Chairman Berkeley Comes Ont In Card
OfCOmPlAiuI.


OrComplaiut.
To he Edttor0 Of he Re0tSt~.
, MoRoAS1owS, July 14.-In the Ssats
Journal, Of Parkenburg, Of the 18th inst,
there is very abusive article attacking the
Board Of Regents Of the West Virginia
University and myself. A. L. Purinton, Of
PGkersburg, a brother Of Professor D. B.
Purinton OF the University, Is the author
OF this article. have confronted him to-
day, have charged him with 1t, and he has
confessed 1t.
have been advised by several members
OF the Faculty 10 give you these. facts, ana
ask that you publish them. A. L. Purin-
ton ia now staying at the house Of his
brother, and it Is fair to suppose that he is
aided and abetted in this matter by his
brother. ....,
II the abuse wers confined to me alone,
would say nothing, but when my VIE IS
also lugged in, think 1t is time LOT me
Your obedient servant,
r. G. BERKELEY,
.tr Chairman OF the Faculty.
RI ia due 10 Prof. D. B. Purinton, Of the
University, to say that he, sometime since,
desired US u state that he was in nowlse
responsible for the articles in question and
does not influence aud cannot control his
brother in the matter.-Ed. Register
And Here 1. the abusive Article
Editor STATE Journal: sa
| come this week to speak Of the faculty:
Ii must always bepainiul to any one OF
right mind TO enter upon an adverse per-
sonal criticism In the public prints. AC'
cordingly while have spoken regrettulIy
and yet freely ofsome other features oil the
University, l must acknowledge, great
disinclination 10 call attention thus pub
licly to the bad personal character OF GER
tain members OF the Faculty. But, the
facts in the case are disgraceful and the
Regents are plainly determined that no
improvement shall be wrought. So it
seems to me necessary that the people oil
the State know what kind OF characters oc-
cupy some OF the chairs in their University,
that they may intelligently decide whether
they will send their sons thither for train
ing. :,
the Faculty; Prof. r. G. Berkeley. And let it
be understood at the outset that be is not one
against whose moral character have any,
thing to say. shall speak Of others in
due time, but Prof. Berkeley is gentle.
man OF fine character and naturally hon
orable instincts. iii were not for the sor.
~ set with which he trainS, should have
no question OF his unvarying disposition
10 do right intend no criticism Of the
regular members OF the Faculty as to their
fitness from the mere standpoint OF schol-
arship and teaching ability, because so far
as can learn no great objection can rea-
sonably be filed against any OF them in
this respect. But Prof Berkeley has al
lowed himself to be put into place which
lays him Justly open to peculiar criti-
cism. The Regents, as ! have already
said, abolished the Presidency and
Vice Presidency, and devolved the ex-
ecutiye duties OF these offices upon the
chairman Of the Faculty" To this
position they elected Professor Berkeley.
Il ia fair to enquire: What are his quail.
fications for such placer We have right
10 expect OF him that he be q man OF ex-
ecutiye power, Of sympathetic nature, Of
progressive ideas, OF versatile and practical
Intellect, and especially that he be enthu.
siastic in his friendship for the institution
over which he has come to preside. But
unfortunately the Chairman" is nothing Of
the sort. Mr.. Hart, OF the ISTELLlGESCRE,
has aptly styled him bourbon OF the
Bourbens."
he knows nothing but the stagnant ideas
Of the University Of Virginia, and seems
utterly incapable Of even adapting one Of
his old togy notions to new surroundings
and circumstances. With him the meas-
ure oil error is the amount OF divergence
from old Virginia, and all he wants to
know Of any proposed change in our State
institution is whether it will be an aping
OF the great University" II so he is in IA.
vor Of il. Consequently he is about fifty
years behind this age. Personally he is
devoid Of magnetism, utterly destitute Of
executive ability, and about as full OF en-
thusiasm as an alligator. I.have heard
but one verdict from students and alumni.
"The worst man in the faculty for that
place. That he is not even in sympa-
thy with the University seems perfectly
plain. ! have never been able by tho most
intelligent effort to discover one thing he
has said or done TO build up the University
until he was elected chairman" Last
year his own son was sent to the Univer-
sity Of Virginia in order, as the boys
mother significantly remarked, that he
might be educated with ''gentlemen's
soas." 1t is whispered, however, that the
Professor was sufficiently practical to buy
the youths books at our own University,
which furnishes books 10 lis OGDn students at
whosesale cost. .r..
Notwithstanding, Professor Berkeley is
very far from being the most Objectionable
member Of the faculty. But see must
leave the Others until next week. u
a..,o ...., N.n.pv p.... ~