Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-23
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
Meetings of the Alumni to be Held This
Week to Form "a National Association.


Meetings of the Alumni to be Held This
Week to Form a National Association.
A THOUSAND GRADUATES OF THIS VENERABLE IN
sTITUTIoS. FOUNDED BY JEFFERSON. MOST OF
WHOM ARE PROMINENT IN VARIOUS WALKS OF
LIFE, TO ASSEMBLE N THIS CITY.
Thomas Jefferson was almost as proud of
being the father of the University of Virginia
a. of his services to the nation. On his death
bed be asked to have his work for that institu-
ton recorded on his monument He was n
most earnest advocate OF higher education and
one Of the first friends OF free schools. and
made vigorous. though unsuccessful effort to
establish the principle before his death. One of
the aims of his life was to establish a great
educational institution in his native state that
would furnish means for the higher education
of young men all over the country. The pride
of the last SIX or eight years of his life was the
University of Virginia. 1t was through his
efforts. assisted by Joseph c. Cabell in the
legislature. that sentiment in favor of the
undertaking was aroused and
TIE FOUNDING OF THE UNIVERSITY
was accomplished. The rough plans for the
buildings were drawn by jefferson and his
granddaughter. Cornelia J. Randolph. He
worked with a determination that knew not
failure. and Mr. CabelI struggled with the
state legislature to get the charter and endorse
mSnt. RE was tine first rector of the uni
versity. retaining that position up to the time
of his death. STAR reporter was looking over
the reports of tne institution made by Jefferson
from 1919 to October Z. 1925. which. together
with the mass of letters written by him TO his
friend Joseph c. Cabell in furtherance of the
enterprise. are in the possession of Professor
Cabell of the Norwood institute in this city,
who was Joseph c. Cabell's relative and execu-
tor of his estate. The letters show with what
eaSnestness Jefferson worked to secure the es-
adjustment OF the university, and the reports
indicate the pride and expectations with which
he watched its growth and development
Ii is the purpose of the alumni of the institu-
tion to form themselves into a national assoei-
alton to advance the interests of the old uni
versity, and not only preserve it as proud
monument to jefferson, but to give to 1t the
growth and advancement from year to year
that its father anticipated for it. The alumni
are scattered about III every state of the Union.
many of them being
STATESMEN. SCIENTISTS. AND EDUCATORS OF REP
UTATIOS.
There are said to be five or six thousand of
them. In about twelve states and in the Dis
trict there are university of Virginia alumni
societies. In the other states they are not or
ganlZed- At a meeting of the university alumni
society resolution was adopted providing a
committee, Of which Prof. Cabell. OF this city,
Is n member. to arrange for a meeting of as
many as possible of the alumni residing in the
several states. to be held at the national capital
to effect national organization. 1t has been
arranged for a meeting on the 26th of April at
Prof. Cabeils residence. 1907 Massachusetts
avenue. and for larger assemblage at the Ma
tional museum on the 9th, as has been stated
In The STAR already.
WHAT PROF. cABELL SAYS OF THE MEETINGS.
of
Prof Cabell said that the preparations for the
meetings were progressing very fayorably and
the accomplishment of their purpose was as
sured. He could not tell as vet how many of
the alumni could attend. Is they were so scat
tered through the whole country but there
would certainly be a goOdly number of them
He had. he said. received many letters i'll re-
Spouse to the invitations sent out. expressing
hearty sympathy with the undertaking. and a
disposition TO take active part in it, About
thousand invitations had been sent out but
OF course, II was impossible to tell how many
OF those invited could accept. Ii was assured
though. that all who could do SO would. for
there Is pride among the alumni Of their con-
nectiOn with this old Institution. Ii is ex-
pected that Gov. Lee or Lieut. Gov Marge
the present rector of the university, will pre-
side az the museum meeting. There will be
speaking at both meetings, but chiefly at the
museum, that at Prof. Cabeli's residence be ing
more social ii its character.
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS INVITED,
large number of distinguished members of
the alumni have been invited to speak among
them Gov. Lee, Senator Daniel, who is presi-
dent of the Washington alumni society: ex-
Gov. Holiday. VIM. u. Thornton chairman of
the faculty Of the university. and some profess
sors OF that institution. The following have
also been invited to speak: Hon. j. Randolph
Tucker. OF Virginia; Holmes Conrad. ". G.. =.
Breckinrldge, Daniel B. Lucas. VIM. Il. Abbot
J.. c. Nenable, Mr.. Watts. of Portsmouth: Rev
Drs. Elliott and Bartlett. Mcdonald. Harrison
Garnett. Invitations have been forwarded To
the following presidents of associations and the
organizations they represent: L. r. Eiyes New
York; Judge Chds. +. Fenuer. New Orleans:
Prof. X. VI. Nenable. Baltimore; Hon. James
u Broadhead. ST. Louis; Chancellor J. W. Men
zles, OF Kentucky; judge |. u. Morton of
San Francisco. Cal; DR.. ". H. smith of Co.
lumbia. Tenn; Col. Archer Anderson. Rich
mond. Va; +. II. Archer. Petersburg Va:
X o. H. hean, Lynchburg. Va: Hon. A. Ii.
II. Stuart, of Staunton. Va: John :. Black
burn, Alexandria. Va; Judge W. s. Barton.
Fredericksburg. Va: John A. Buchanan of
Abingdon, Va; Judge William l. Robertson. of
Charlottesville. Va; Col. W. l.. MOODY. of
Galveston, Tex; Rev. John A. Brotdus. of
Charleston. W. Va; Thomas H. Borland. of
NOrfolk. Va; Hon. George G. Cabell. of Dam
vile, Va; ". Z. Marshall. Of Warrenton Va.
and Rev. Morton Il. Howell, OF Nashville,
Tenn.
Two or three chairs in this university have
been endowed by the late Hon. W W. Co-co-
ran. Of this city, and more than fifty of the
alumni reside here. Prof. CIIell thinks that
Washington must be the great central point of
all national institutions and UNDERTAKINGS and
that the great educational institutions-the
several great nniyersities-should have ma
uOnal association OF their alumni with head
quarters IN Washington. where they should hold
periodical meetings.
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