The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-07-02
THE FOUNDER AND FRIEND
OF TRINITY COLLEGE.
President Craven and Washin-
ton Duke.


President Craven and Washin-
ton Duke.
Raleigh Christian Advocate.
Had l been asked. while he was
living, who in my judgment, was the
greatest, and most useful man. IN
North Carolina, I should have AM
swered, Braxton Craven. A. M, d.
d. u r. D., honors worthily won,
richly deserved, and modestly worn.
IfI were asked to day, who is the
greatest and most useful man IN
North Carolina, / would answer,
washington Duke of Durham: and i
would add that the honored names Of
Craven and Duke would 60 linked
together, through the coming ages
Is extraordinary men "who builded
better than they knew, DIR. Craven,
whose name represents a great idea,
did more for the elevation and eda-
cation Of the great middle class OF so,
ciety, than any u. an in the State; and
Washington Duke by his talents and
success, in making great fortune,
and then by the pronptings OF his
generous heart, in his princely gift 20
Trinity College--thus furthering the
great design of Or. Craven, and plac
ing 1t on permanent basis, is thus
united with DR.. G the great benefac
tor OF Trinity, and OF the State.
Their deeds and great benefactions
unite these names together, and iden
tify them with Trinity College.
The State recognizing. that the
name Of DR.. Craven, embodied q
mighty movement for good; one fer
the uplifting the middle strata Of So
ciety the great middle class from
whom real greatness, almost always,
comes for be willingly laid bis great
learning. vast energies. massive men-
tai powers, tireless brain, and even
his life. upon the altar Of education;
and doubtless did more work in this
way, and Of the right kind, save pos.
sibly, his great coadjutor, Horace
Mann, than any man IN the United
States. How nob.y DR.. Craven spent
his life in aiding, helping, and educa'
ting poor struggling young men, the
hundreds on hundreds Of TrinitY's
Alumni, bear conclusive testimony
and abundantly illustrate. From
Virginia to Texas, hersons are filling
with honor, the learned professions
erJwding into all life's manly voca
tions, aud many OF them are leadsr
in every department Of society.
DR.. Crayen's physical endnrance
and great will poser, were - re
marksble as bis high order Of mind
He told me some years before hi
death, that Tor rs year he had work
cd Is hours a day, teaching, applying
himself to study, lecturing, writing
etc. His aptitude and capacity TO
requirement were phenominal; an
added to this, his happy faculty Q
imparting instruction 70 bis students
with such art that he COZ cealed tn
srt.
He inspired his pupils with worth
ambitions, and high desires for hor
orsble distinction. To these super
qualities Of the teacher, be added rar
administrative ability, with a philoi
ophic temper, that won ones adm
ration; and all these, and more con
bined in him, 10 form q model Pres
dent, great lecturer. an able minu
Ger, and q great mani
And nov in coupling the names
Craven and Duke, have ] everest
mated The greatness, or the generosit
Of the lattsri because greatness an
goodness are Inseparabie.
Mr.. Duke, but q few years ago vi
small farmer when he embarks
with bis bracing sons, on the uuce
tain sea or trade; and has now b
come q princely manufacturer
worldwide fame. His SUGGEST
career has been characterized BY hol
est dealing, rare judgment, indon
table energy, and q vigilance akin
that Of the little ant, which natura
lists assure Us never sleeps.
With extraordinary forecast, al
far seeing sagacity, he and his 90
have not only built up q domesi
and foreign trade Of colossal propc
tons, bat have accumulated {
largest fortune ever made 10 the Sta
amounting 70 millions Of dollal
Such men must possess talents, OF
high order. Why, the youngest *
nov q resident Of New York CT
controls and manages the INNER
business Of the firm there, with
marked ability and comprehensi
prudence and sagacity, that NAL
him the peer, in trade and finance,
any 10 that great commercial e
porum.
1 have known the Dukes for yea
and would rather be 10 business n
them, IL ! had the capital, than d
Of any firm I ever knew, because
my spinion Of their judgment q
care In dealing With men. Ap
from his talents --as s.:own abo
comes this immense gift 70 Trinity
luded 70, and this gift shows
head and his heart Is en- rappl
with the enlightened public sentiml
that We sptly call the spirit Of
sge, which demands the intellecl