Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-02-27

Ia lThe Ratchet story reminded him that he had
| not an axe to grind, but a little hatchet. A
| preparatory department was what was needed
| by Washington & Lee, and there was q school
| in Staunton that was just the one to supply
| that want, and If such preparatory de-
partment were adopted by the W. l.. he
would like to have something to do with it.
| 9.-THE OLDEST BOY.
| W.B. Kayser, ESQ.,, who was a student in
| 1929 80 the oldest aiumnus present, was e4-
F.! pected to respond to this toast, hut as he had
left before it was reached, Mr.. Jos. A. Waddell
| was called upon to do so. He arose and said
| that an unfair advantage had beeu taken OF
| him. Everybody else who had spoken had
been notified beforehand. but not word had
| been said to him. Several gentlemen had en-
| tertained us with illusions to ancient times
| and classic history. Ifhe had been allowed 10
| prepare speech, he should have followed the
| example of Mr. Knickerbocker, who began MS
| history of New York with an account of the
! creation of the world. Such an Introduction 10
| an address on this occasion would have been
highly appropriate. for is 1t not a fact that the
world was created to furnish site-a Dos pou sto
for our A Ina Maters AS 1t was he could merely
give a personal "reminiscences or two. and his
| recollection went back only hundred years,
more or less, still he was very far from being
|
Mr.. Kayser and Mai. McCue. there was Major
Dorman, who was in Lexington Is or 20 years
| before the speaker ever saw that town. Maj.
| D. Is a native of L. L. did seem TO him about
hundred years since he was boy at Wash
ineton College. From what he heard tonight
things have changed there very much since
bis day, He was struck with the statement of
Prof. White that the daily prayers In the
chapel were now conducted by the students,
and that only those who chose to go attended.
In his time every boy was required to be there,
or walk the plank" There was coiored
janitor whom the boys called professor
Henry" who went round every morning be-
fore daylight, blowing a tin horn to raise the
students. Then every fellow had to hurry GU
his clothes and rush up to chapel. Many
cold winter morning he had gone there while
1t was still dark, the spacious rom lighted
partially by a tallow candle. and remained
while certain Professor officiated with his
hands in his breeches' pockets.to keep his fin
gers from freezing
But morning prayers were not the only reilg-
ious services wnich the students were rsqur-
ed to attend. There were two Bible classes.
one in English aud the other In Greek, which
met every Sunday after dinner. Mr.. Calhoun,
Professor of Mathematics conducted the Greek
class and the boys were required 10 read
chapter In the New Testament. verse about
There was no exposition, illustration, or any
thing else TO render the service interesting or
useful. At last, on ons sultry summer after
noon, when everybody felt sleepy. the MEM
bers of the class, tn one or two exceptions,
agreed to stay away from recitation. Mr.. Cal
houn repaired to the room, and had a lonesome
time of 1t. When he finally came down, he
encountered at the outer door stude who Is
now a dignided Doctor of Divinity. "Why
were You not at recitation. Mr.. l.. ?" asked the
Profe: sor, az understood" said t., that by
general consent there was no recitation TO
day." 81 don't know where that general got
his authority" retorted Mr.. @. and passed on
In furry. The next morning the members
of the class were called before the Faculty. A
few OF the boys pleaded that. as there was
preaching at the Baptist church that afternoon
they thought there would be no recitation. ana
tney we're excused. Most of them, however.
frankly owned mp, and were put on prooa-
ton" Among the students was promising
young man from Augusta county, who died
early, named Da sid Humphreys. an uncle of
the present Professo. of the same name.
Humphreys possessed .the accom- plisbment of
verse and on the day after the triai and con-
demnation, a metrical account of the occur
reoce was found inscrib d on the black board
| In the chapel. 1t ran thus:
| "By general consent we missed recitation
| By general consent they put US on probation"
J The remainder OF the performance was not
remembered, except tn last verse, which was
as follows
I'm the eyes OF the world 1 most shrewdly
Tn, VI they'll be accused of favoring tneir sect;
For. very one knows when by them there is
Teachiug.
Tho :. Guilty always dispense with tnelr teach
Ing
Tho s.e. K err did not Justify characterization,
or disra ..rd of authority. in boys or men: but
he revar com d convict himself of error in stay
ing awav from that recltaiion; and be would
take the liberty of saying that all teachers
whose exercises veias iarren and rninterest-
ing. deserve like u saSment.
lO.-"SrAUNToN AceUEMY."
To this, Capt. W. H. Kabe. P-inci, >al OF tne
Stauntor Academy, re 'ponded as folio We
Mr.. Chairman d Alumni Of Washington & Aee
Nothing more imprssees the thought W'
American who gives any consideration to t.
question of education, thar the fact that, year
by Sear, more attention is demanded for and
must be given to the PERFECTION OF our system
of academic education.
The College and University professor looks
to the Academy aud preparat Dry school as his
only hope to FIJI his halls ,gith students. for
without these he feels that bis owl, work is q
failure. No one can question the glowing de-
mand tor first class academies in our land. In
every large and highly organized community
there must be conside raOle numbe' of people
whose duties and circul Instances rer der home
an unsuitable place for educational raining
The large merchant class. who are engaged
In the exhausting duties of business find no
opportunity to devote to the training of their
boys. The rich and the devotes of fashion ap
preciate the demorsliZng influence of the life
they lead upon their children, and desire to
commit them to guidance fer which they feel
FIR nd I'M ha
ed that able men and women, trained to The
duty of education, supplied with the best sp-
pliances tor teaching, aud reinforced By the
disciplin and system which must prevail In
every well-reguiated school. are able to attain
results superior to the irregular and unsy stem
attic training OF even conscientious and pains
taking parents.
How iamentable sight. and yet how fire.
quent to observe The absolute lack OF training
and discipline amDng the children of the rich
Americans who fill our summer hotels and
boarding-houses; the father immersed in bust.
ness, has had no time To see them, aud the
mother with domestic nd social cares press
Ing Is often coutented that any diversion,
however questionable. cids her mind of the |
III were asked what constitutes the saving
factor for the continued prosperity OF the rich
middle class and Nobility OF England. should |
saw the salutary discipline of Eton, Harrow |
and Rugby. Indeed. 1t is difficult for me to re- |
call a single great Ieadin g spirit of that coun-
try, either in letters or politics who has not |
passed through the moulding influence of one |
of these schools
force and energy of the parent is too little con-
served in our American families. The demon |
aiizing influence of wealth aud social position |
stands without q corrective too rarely do we |
see the names of the rulers of one generation |
of men repeated In the next. EVideatly that |
Is an insufficient success on the part OF par
ent which ne finds himself unable to transmit |
to his children, and how happy is that CON-
munity or state which, Boosting of and reioic
ing in the good deeds. and noble achievements
OF one of It's ctiZsus, fluids his mantle falling
upon q son fitted in education and discipline
of mind to receive It,
If these thoughts are true, then how essen
tiai Is 1t that our land, ana especially Virginia
should be able to find for her children suen
training only the Academy give. L.
cannot be given in her Colleges or Universittea,
for there 1t is a matter of no small boast that
discip pine ceases. ifEiyen at ALL 1T must come
from the schools.
The boast OF ViTsins for many years hgs
been IN he's schools and ACADEMIES, h5 i.le r.
so. and yet how ephemera has been their sx-
isteEce. / can recall but one. which WAS in ex
istence when | was a scnOo- boy: owing a.
they did. their temporary success, to he enc gy
nd Of the uciDal-his val