The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-04-26
NO.3l.

college, using an amount specified in
IN the will for buildings and making
tuition as nearly free as they may find
possible or advisable
1t was no sudden freak that inspired
MIR. Clemson's action. AS long ago as
1856 he was Interested in the establish
mcpt of such an institution as his viii
provides for and he was then active in
forwarding scheme to procure private
gifts and subscriptions for the purpose.
After the tragic death of his only son,
BILLED by railroad accident in 1871, he
became moro than ever before Interested
and evolved and publicly announced his
purpose to devote the Calhoun property
to the glorious purpose of promoting
practical agricultural education. Since
then he has thought and talked much of
the subject and his will was no surprise
to those who knew him best or to Mr..
Lee, his son-in-iew, who knew long ago
the destination intended for the prop
erty.
On returning from Fort Till, the
Hreenvln9 News representative met at
Central ID. *. Norris, now tho foremost
leader of the FARMERS movement" and
since Mr. Tillman's formal retirement,
the most prominent and persistent advo-
cate for separate farmers college. Mr..
Clemson bequest, but evidently deeply
enthused and very much in earnest.
lilo said the gift put the whole matter
OF the college in the hands of the farm-
er8, and they could secure magnificent
institution for agricultural education If
they will use the opportunity. With the
amount from the land scrip now given
the South Carolina College and the
money from the fertilizer tax now di-
verted to the college annex and other
purroses-every utuunt of which, he said,
WAS legally and morally for the use of
the farmers for educating tnrmers--~an
income of $40, 600 year would be Sc
cured for the new college, with it's
grounds and buildings all provided and
somc income from the surplus endow-
mont That was more than the State
Military Academy aud the State College
have together he said, and would give a
splendid, thoroughly efficient agricul-
turai college capable of accommodate ~
hundreds Of students, without the addi-
ton Of one cent to the taxes. He did
not believe, he said, in free tuition.
That question had been settled in the
case OF the State College. But he
thought it probable q system would be
adopted by which students would be
enabled to pay the whole or q large pa1t
Of their own expenses by extra work and
service in the institution.
One valuable feature of the Fort Hill
library will probably puzzle the executor
anu tho trustees to dispose Of it. II is
the manuscript Of the completed first
volume of the life of John G. Calhoun.
prepared by the late Pinckney Starke,
with the aid Of Mr.. Clemson. 1t is,
however, all in a peculiar short hand
tnI I,x AIr 1,
appears to defy all efforts to translate 1t.
Many of the documents, reports and
other manuscript used by Mr. Starke
and collected by him and IL. m,-IIH.--
Hunter, Of Virginia, who undertook to
prepare life of Mr. Calhoun, but was
compelled by poverty to relinquish it,
arc i'll an old trunk in the library build
ing and may be found valuable by some
later biographer.
After the talk with Col. Simpson and
Col. Norris and after seeing the intense
curncstness wi h which they appear to
bc inspired III the execution of the work
left with them to do, the News represen-
tativo had no difficulty in bringing to
bis minds eye the picture that wa3
doubtless presented to Mr.. Clemson's
imagination many times--tle picture of
the homely house, hallowod by the name
" Ciio Btin olu atdtchllhu whose lace
with It's Celtic cheek bones and blazing
eyes looks with life-like gaze from tho
inner wallis, the centre of group of
stnticr buildings--of the rounded slopes
OF velvet green, made deep and dark be-
nenth the intcriacing branches Of tho
sturdy ccdaas and OF Lighter and more
delicate shifting tints whore they fall
away i'll the sunlight to the silver river
on one side and tho murmuring, spark
ling stream and bonding willows on the
other, peOpled with the young and
sturdy bone and sinow of the State
Calhoun loved so well and represented
SO grandly, learning how to make her
richer, grandcr and hnppier-tho glori-
ous, fruitful homo Of people as pros
porous and strong as they have ever been
brave, generous and free.