Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-01-16
STUDENT AT SEVENTY.


A Queer Character Who Believes He Has
Mission to Live For.
The Princeton Theological Seminary,
writes the St Louis Globe-D Democrats New
York correspondent, has some students
who are rather older than the general run
of men who seek education. such as thos0
who, for some cause or other, have been
compelled to delay the finishing touches
until such time as their financial resources
would prove sufficient, or until a favorable
opportunity would present itself. And since
"Seminoles,n like other mortals, do not care
to delay marrying too long, it follows that
quite number of the present classes are
already enjoying married life. 1t is not an
uncommon sight to see stately junior
or grave old senior going away from
the class room with little fodder by his
side. In one or two classes the "Semi-
noles'" wives are as ardent students as
their husbands, and at some period can
render valuable assistance to their better
halves.
But by far the oldest student in the
Princeton or any other seminary, Is stOid
Henry Chapman, who confesses to an age
Of seventy-two years, and who by his de-
erepit form and wrinkled face shows marks
of antiquity that can not be mistaken
There is much that is pathetic in Mr.. Chap
mans story. Over fifty years ago he was
student struggling to get through Lafay-
cite College. While there he was q class
mate of William II. Green, who is now pro-
lessor of Hebrew in Princeton Seminary
and one of the trustees of the college.
Their college careers over, the two young
men separated, Green to enter cloisters of
study and Chapman to strive to gain COM
petence from business. How Prot Green
attained the high position he now holds of
hnr.r kk<,G
Is we'll known, but Mr.. Chapman's strug-
giles were in obscurity On leaving college
he went to Louisiana and there, for nearly
fifty years, struggled to gain respectable
living, striving in odd times of business
to do what good he could. About this
period of his life the old gentleman is very
reticent, and, indeed, will scarcely mention
it.
But about four or five years ago there
came a change. By the unexpected death
OF his brother, Mr.. Chapman received an
income sufficient to keep him in comfort the
rest OF his life Instantly he formed tho
scheme to resume his studies where he had
been compelled to leave them so long be-
fore Communication with Prof Green was
entered into, and, being accepted as stu
dent for the ministry, Mr.. Chapman began
TO attend the seminary lectures.
1t was not long before evidences Of eccen-
trlcity began to show themselves, and soon
belief deepened into deep-seated conviction
that "Old Hen" was in mild degree insane,
Enthusiastically so and incurably 80. HIS in
sanity betrays itself in the popularity and
wildness of his schemes for reviving the
world from its darkness and sin, in which
revival he is going to work among the Gre
| oles OF Louisiana, for which duty he consid-
ers himself peculiarly well fitted.
AT times the old gentleman assumes
| charge Of meetings to which other leaders
have previously been chosen, and thus
causes little ripple ON the otherwise
smooth stream of seminary life.
! 1t is diffiult matter to dispose of Mr.
Chapman. The seminary accepts no dues
| from him, nor do the professors ask an ex-
animation, although he imagines he is as
far advanced as any one. Last vacation
Prof. Green left note with one of the jan
itors telling the old student not to return,
but it had no effect, for when he was in
formed that the inflow of new students
would necessitate the use OF his room he
Immediately secured lodgings in the town,
where he is now domiciled.
The other students respect and pity him,
and he needs it, for some time there will
come day when, like all the other friend
less and lonely, he will fall by the wayside,
and sink into nameless grave.