The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-03-21
NsAszEHNGTONgcOLH.EGE.
The Oldest HnssHlaaIem vgess of
The Hslue Ridge, The Alma
Mater OF Feb vaBce and
Other Distinguished 49, &C.,
Men.


Mater OF Zeb vRsce and
Other DlssiAguished 49, &C.,
Men.
writton for The COMET.
According to the promise made
you in my last, l now give you brief
sketch of Washington College, and
the work it has accomplished for edu-
cation in this and adjoining States.
Its first President and Founder was
DR.. Samuel Doak, a man OF whom
East Tennessee is justly proud, the
pioneer educator, the first who essayed
to bear the torch Of learning into the
then almost uRinhabited regions west
of the Blue Ridge. This noble man
graduated at Princeton, N. j., about
the year 1910, and forsaking the pleas,
ures of life among the intelligent and
cultured inhabitants fhis native State
he braved the scalping knife and the
tomahawk, and endured the hardships
and privations which life among the
early settlers in the wilds Of East Ten
nessoe would necessarily incur, in order
that he might be the means of educat
ing their children and promoting the
cause OF christianity among them
He emigrated to East Tenn, in IVA
In 1775 founded Washington College
the oldest institution of learning Wesr
Of the Blue Ridge, and was for many
years the only college that could
boast OF thorough coarse of instruc
ton in the Southern States.
Among the Alumni OF this insti
tuition might be found the names o.
many men who have occupied prom
inent places in all the departments O
life, and who have been potent factors
in shaping the destiny of the nation
There were at one time, so hav,
been informed, 26 OF her gratuate
members of Congress. Many were q
the same time grazing the Judicia
bence, and Others holding high posi-
tons in the Church. From amonI
the many who have been educated a
this place and VINO have been emf
nently successful in life we mention
only few names: Senator Zeb. B
Vance, Of North Carolina; The Pres
tons, OF Virginia; L, c. Haynes, T. A
X. Nelson, N. G. Taylor, of Tennessee
and many others, but space forbids
longer list. a
The influence Washington Colleg
has had in forming the character O
the people, and forwarding the caus
of christianity in this and adjacen
States can hardly be estimated.
From the time OF it's establishment
it was one Of the most successful Col
leges i'll the South until about 1856
when its work was interferred with b
the rebellion. From 1860 to 1877
there was "A continual dropping dowr
and although there was y school cal
ried on oil the while, yet, nothing lik
its former prosperity. In 1875 it b,
gan to show signs Of returning lif,
Since which time it has been steadil
advancing until now, under the guit
ance of J. W. c. Willoughby, it hs
reached the highest point of prosper
ty known i'll its history. Its oil
: friends and former students have ra
lied around it, and intend to make
what it ought TO be. 1t being the OLE
est they intend to make it one OF til
best institutional the South. Asul
stantial and elegant building f
chapel purposes and society halls h:
just been completed. "
; We have a faculty OF thorough an
efficient teachers, all earnest not onl
for the intellectual advancement, b;
careful attention is given to the morl
training OF the school.
J. w. G. Willoughby, Pres. and Pro
of Science.
s. L. Carson, Ancient Languages.
S. E. Lynne, Mathematics and Mo-
ern Languages. '+
Miss HELEN Nelson and J. E. Nea
! Music.
Miss Nellie Fain, Tutor.
Prof. Lynne is native Of German
and we advise all who wish. to acquil
a thorough knowledge of the Germa
tongue to take course OF instructio
from him. His class this year HI
: made such rapid progress that the
can translate the most difficult a
thors with but very little aid from Il
} Lexicon.
: Mark Twain's new book "Huckl
: berry Fine" is denounced by the Co
! cord Library Commute rs "fiippan