The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1883-11-17
THE UNIVERSITY.
PRESIDENT Battle.-IIis Method of Cow
erning and his Mode of Teaching.
Speciat CorreSpondence Of the CHronicie.

lpec1ut COTreSoondence Of the Chronicle.
CHAPEL HILL, Nov. - y The condition Of
the University must give profound satisfac-
ton to all It's friends and indeed, to all
lends Of education in our State In every
University the general mana cement is the
most difficult and dangerous task to per
form. The University Of North Carolina
has been and is most fortunate in this re-
gard. Founded by scholors and statesmen,
hberallZed by leaning and travel, and inn
bued with ii patriotism superior to the
j'alousies of sects and parties, it was guided
through half century q! usefulness and
honor bv two remark able men. Dr. Cald-
well at the very start imhued the University
with a spirit of leaning aud scholarship
that has nourished 10 North Carolina an in
tellectual life, independently scholarly and
catholic, in remarkable contrast to the ma
terial poverty of the State. DR.. Caldwell
cast the intellectual molds of the University
But, while his reputation dlsc plinarian
vas great, he was not emirently successful
IS a manager of youth. Gov. Swain was
minently gifted with natural power and
was a man Of learning, but he was deficient
in scholarship al scholastic training.
Above al else he knew the emotions and
passions of the human heart His task was
to attract to the University the patronage Of
the people and to control by admirable tact
and extraordinary personal Influence large
and turbulent (often reckiess) BODY of
Caldwell established a standard of scholar
ship hardly inferior to any in America al
that day Swain created an esprit du corps
among the students and pride in the Uni
versity among the educated people of the
State, not surpassed anywhere on the globe.
The University to-day is fully as for,u-
nate in its president. His work shows for
itself, and it shows that he possesses the
best qualities Of both his lllustrious prede-
cessors. He is omlnently qualified both to
govern and to instruct. In the management
Of the University hc adopts the same rules
that have guided him in controlling his own
family. In dealing with the students he is
as nearly IN loco 2x2entis as it is possible
for him to be- He has no pet theory and
rides no hobby horse of government. His
ambition is to make a man out of every
student here; strong man morally, ment-
ally and physically To see and to know
the four sons that he has contributed to
North Carolina make 1t supeIf1uOus to
anime his method. A man that can rear
his own boys to such fine qualities OF man
hood can do the same for the sons of other
men. He is doing it and he loves to do it.
He never despairs Of a student, and some
how or other he will get him to studying. He
has different methods with different boys.
If a boy cannot answer a question in mathe-
matics or pass an examination in Latin, he
VIII take hold with new life of a study
taught by the president. There is Mr.. J Ohm
Jones, for example. He tired Greek and
gave that up in month. Latin he dropped
at the end Of the year In math .matics he
was sort of sleepy spectator for two years.
Finally, be enters the class in political
economy The president already knows
Mr. Jones by reputation. For week or so
Jones is Indifferent Meanwhile at every
recitation, when nobody else can give the
proper answer or make the desired expla-
nation. the president with a look of hope
rod fn
bosom friend An! Mr.. Jones will please
explaia this to the class" Jones sits quiet,
looking somewhat Ike owl and some
what like a donkey Heretofore he has
| been donkey, simon pure. The president
then gives the desired explanation himself
and says : Is that what you mean, Mr.
Jones?' '' Yes sir Says Jones. ''Nery
good, Mr.. Jones. you evidently have the
right idea" Gradually Jones relinquishes
the donkey look, ana becomes more and
more owl. AS the science develops it's con-
nection with the practlcal affairs Of life
! politics, government 81 Jones wakes up
! sure enough, and by the end of the session
/ he is really new man. Next year he at
tends the presidents lectures on teaching;
! then he goes to some rural district to school
with vim and dignity no. even imagined
! before in these simple regions. He is now
ready for the Legislatures and finally be-
comes a trustee of the University.
The discipline Of the University is better
than it has ever been. or course. among two
hundred young men occasional disorders
will happen, nor is it possible entirely to
conquer vice in a University any more than
In ordinary life. But it is fact, evident to
any body that Will come and look. that the
moral tone of the University is strong and
healthy The students themselves say this
with pride Recently the two literary So
cieties, Of their own accord, passed resolu-
tiOns that hencefOrth they will not allow
any new student to be subjected to any in.
dignity whatever in the way of hazing,
teasing devlling: When body of stu
dents take such step, they are learning
that most difficult and excellent art, the arl
Of self government. 1t shows that they
| have high standard of moral manhood
For this the credit IS greatly due to Presi-
dent Battle. The students all like him, ad
mire him, esteem him d friend. A VIC
lation Of college proprieties hurts the presi
dent, as an offence by son hurts father.
He is not angry. He is grieved The stu
dents know this.
This is the secret of President Battles
government. 1t is not policy. 1t is bis
nature. 1t is the fathers way with the
child. Half a dozen graduates Of the Uni
versity under the new regime in the las,
few years have named the first baby Kemp
Battle. What more need be said?
l have some notes on the advanced in
struction now given at the University, anC
l will ere long lay before your readers ar
/ intellectual bill of fare hardly ever seen be
fore in n orth Carolina.
ALUMNUs.
A Pretty Safe PredjctiOn