The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-09

and robes the mOunldln III 10 ""~''
hue. SO but to many there is peculiar
/ fascination in the companionshlp ol
mighty rocks. Their majestic mieh
J iuspircs respect. One feels cOmpit
mented that one may be allowed TO ap-
ptoach with safety the august pres
cnce. NAV venture to gather from lts
storm and storm worn brow what small
decorations may be there IN the
vav Of ferns or wild BOwefs,
and in due time actually recline IN the
shadow Of great rock when weary.
Many uch are here. and have been
long closely associated with the Ola
sfone house. Others higher mp appear
TO bear with equal patience the peltlngs
Of winters storms, or the fervor OF the
solar heat. They invite us TO seats ana
pinnacles from which the eye gazes ana
eazes and fingers until 1t Is faugued
hut never Satisfied; weary. but never
sltiated with looking. A year OF TWO
AGO a curious variety Of ant was us
covered quite on the summit oi heigh-
boring peak, living in a dome-shaped
home about one aud a hal feet m
HEIGHT. and about two IN diameter.
The busy little inhabitants were hali
yellow and half black. and had eu-
IDENTIFY been a long time constructing
their svmmetricaily-s shaped and we'll
constructed castle. BY some un-
fortunate accident part Of the
structure had been destroyed. ms
however. enabled an observer 10 see
that the home Of the insect consisted OF
subierrauean dens or chambers. over
which had been erected the dome-ike
structure in series of galleries ana
cross passages. At the time we exam
med the dilapidated part of the ant
hill. the insects were busy repairing the
breach. and were out III thousands car
rying PARTICLES Of earth. wood. and
stone. Ii was observed that the work
ers took good care to place the latter
on the top and outside Of the restored
dome. In this way the surface OF the
latter was made harder and more able
to resist the action of the tram.
But the old stone-hOuse and tins To-
cahty have been made especially ms
tore by an event which occurred here
more Than three quarters Of century
ago. and which is probably not known
to some Of our readers. For more than
thirty wears NJ. Jefferson bad been re-
volviug IN his mind system of high
education for the youth of his native
State. TO this end he had been IA cor
respondonce with the most iilustrlous
savan.s of Europe. and had consulted
the wisest and best scholars Of bIs own
country. He was an alumnus Of Viii
ham and Mary College. but he did not
think the demands Of the present or
the future could be supplied by that
venerable institution. and there were
also peculiar objections to 1t at that
ume. which do not now apply, and
which need not be referred to here.
As early as the year 1888, actually be
fore peace had been iinallyestablished be-
tween Great Britain and her late Colo
MES. Mr.. Jefferson had formed a plan for
an institution of learning ID Albemarle
county H. pursuance of this object be
subsequently, procured charter from
the State Legislature for the inc0rpofa-
ton of Albemarle Academy. This was
in the year 1853. but the scheme DID
not assume vitality until the year 1911
when be was chosen one of ITS board oil
trustees. From this time ms energies
were devoted to the success OF his long
plan. and he had the grailii-
cation of living 10 see evolved from THIS
germ the magnificent school now 80
we'll known to the world as the Uni
veIsity of Virginia. The "AlDemaIle
Academy was changed TO Central
College" by an act of the Legislature
in 1916. and the Governor was authofiz
ed to appoint a board Of SIX visitors.
OF course Thomas Jefferson was
appointed one of these. The other
members were James Monroe. then
resident Of the United States. James
Madison. Joseph G.. Cabell. David Wat
son. and General John III. Cooke. Inc
Of Central College was
ind in October. 1917. in the presence OF
Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and
James Monroe. la the language OF
another. probably no institution OF
learning in the United States ever had
SD many presidential trustees. Mr..
jefferson had reason for calling the
now Institution Central College. lie
WAS still looking to the establishment
Of q university, and he desired 1t should
be located in wholesome. salubrous
climate. In his own mind
he bad selected the neigh
boihood of Charlottesville ON this ac-
count. and because if it were ever
erected into university this location
would in ait probability be chosen. AT
ter several years of consultation with
friends. and public agitation on the
general subject OF education, in which
the first men of the State as well as
out at it took pant, it was determined
by the Legislature TO erect university
MS part OF the general plan OF educa-
ton. In this final action the tireiess
intellect and busy hand Of Mr..
Jefferson was plainly seen.
lie was now about TO realize his
long cherished hopes. At Length the
bill appopriatiug funds for the puT-
pose was passed. Then came the strug-
gle as 10 where the new institution was
90 be- located. The people Of The west
ever ANXIOUS 0b)ut that time that the
seat of government should be removed
10 S.auutOn. and some wanted the new
university located at that place. The
trustees OF Washington College late lii
berly Hall, al Lexington mdde every
effort 70 have thor college erected INTO
% University. claiming that IT presented
ill the republics necessary, besides
great many advantages not TO be Sc
cured elsewhere. IN the meantime Mr.
Jefferson aud those VINO acted with
him were not idle IN pressing the claims
Of Central College % this high honor.
The question soon assumed a political
form. involving every part OF the State,
stirring up sectional feeling and parti-
san hate. AT length member OF the
legislature from one OF the
most easterly counties introduced
d bin which was passed, ard
bad the effect Of ultimately settling
his prolonged and painful controversy.
Under one Of its provisions the location
1i the University was 10 be determined
ly board of commissioners lone from
zach Senatorial district. to be appoint
ad by the Governor Of the state TINS
board was TO meet in August. 1878, AT
.ae tavern IA Rockiish Gap, and de-
4. 60.