The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-18

THE OLD COLLEGE AND CAPITOL
OF VIRGINIA.

THE OLD COLLEGE AND CAPITOL
OF VIRGINIA.,
A Williamsburg, Va, correspondent Of
the Philadelphia Press writes: At one end
of Gloucester avenue stands the famous
William and Mary College, and at the
other the oil capitol building. Scatter
ed between these two principal buildings
are the residences of the leading citi-
zens and two or three public buildings
of historical interest
The building around which centers the
most interest for the stranger is the ruins
of William and Mary College, for it is not
much more now than pile Of ruins that
mutely speak of it's departed glory. 1t is
the Oldest college, with the exception of
Harvard, in America, and that antedates
it a few years. It is another sad monu.
ment OF the ruin the war spread over the
South, but it may not long remain USE
less, for there is now movement on foot
among the alumni, that may end in its
restoration to the place it formerly held
among American colleges. A university
that is the alma mater of three presidents,
| seventeen governors, seven cabinet Off
GERS, and numerous generals, senators
congressman and judges ought surely to
be considered worth restoration.
The building next in interest to the
college, though first in historical point
of view, is the old capitol, where in colo
NAL days the burgesses met and made
the laws to govern the royal colony OF
Virginia.
When it was in use, it was large
brick building, with broad portico run.
ming the entire length OF the house
After the seat of government was remov
ed to Richmond it was used as female
college, but during the war was burnt
and has never been restored. The as
sembly chamber was in the upper story
and here once sat some OF the ablest mer
of the Revolutionary era. It has beer
well called the "Heart of the Revolution
by the colonial historians.
Its dark walls now stand bleak and
gloomy against the landscape, and are
slowly crumbling away. But what a tale
could these blackened ruins tell had they
but the power of speech.
It was in this house that Patrick Hen.
ry uttered his fiery denunciation of the
stamp act, and by this door stood Thorn
as Jefferson, then student at William
and Mary, listening to the words of the
great orator. Here it was that George
Washington and Edmund Randolph sal
as burgesses, and 80 did George Mason
author of the "Bill of Rights" and many
others, whose names are inseparably
connected with the history of the early
days of the republic. About midway be-
tween the college and the capitol is the
| Episcopal church. 1t is the only one OF
the old buildings Of any importance that
is put to it's originsl use. Heavy masses
of the beautiful Virginia ivy hang in
festoons about the walls, almost hiding
them from sight. The church stands in
the midst Of a graveyard, and it is in
teresting to read some of the curious
epitaphs that are chiseled on the tomb
stones.
The interior is fitted up after the old
English style, the partitions to the pews
being high and pulpit elevated sufficient.
ly for the clergyman to see all his CON
gregation. This church is one of the
Oldest houses of worship in America
The royal governor had two pews reserv.
J ed for himself and family. George
Washington was regular attendant
when paying court to the beautiful Mrs
Cuslis, his future wife, who resided few
miles from the capital. Jefferson and
Monroe, when students at college, wor-
shipped in the old church, and SO did John
Tyler, who lived in the vicinity. De.
scendsnts of all these men sat around
me in the old chapel. Every one that ]
spoke to in the place was related to some
one who had done something, but none
of them seemed to have any ambition to
follow il &heir ancestors footsteps.
Soon after the Revolution came to a
close the capital was removed to Rich
mond, and the quaint old town on the
peninsula ceased to be place Of impor-
lance.