The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-09-04
LAVISH OLD DAYS.
COLLEGE POLITICS BEFORE THE WAR
AS TOLD BY AN OLD CITIZEN.
How the Candidates Wasted Money-The
Old Times and the New-Personals,
News Notes, Etc.
Especial correspondence to the Sentinel.l

Especial correspondence to the Sentinel
CHAPEL HILL,N. G.. Aug. CAN
cold citizen" of town, be it never so
small, is always an Interesting man to
talk to. He knows all about every
body's grandfather; can tell you to a
certainty whether he died of the gout
or the Jim jams.
1t was the writer's pleasure to en-
counter one of these repositories of
village lore tie other evening. He
was in talkative mood, as everyone
is when sitting on the front porch one
Of these fine moonlight nights, with
his heels elevated above his head. We
had been talking of different phases Of
college life, at the same time watching
the play of the moonlight on the ma
pie leaves and listening to the low
wind that, at this season, always whis-
pers Of coming autumn. The quick
blast of 'possum hunters horn and
the yelp Of the hounds, as they passed, !,
going in search of the early 'possum,
reminded US that these quiet, delight
full August nights would soon he re-
placed by cooler September evenings,
filled with the hustle and stir and
quickened life of the students.
"I'll tell you what" said the "old
Citizen" as he shifted his cigar to the
other corner of MS mouth, ''the stu:
dents here in the old days used to put
on a great deal of style ard spend a
lot OF money foolishly. l remember
the chief-marshalship was the great
prize of college life. knew one fel-
low from the eastern part of the State
who spent about three thousand one
year in electioneering for the place.
He got it, of course, but it ruined him.
[ don't think he has ever been worth
cent since 1t generally ruined
every fellow who tried it. i remem-
Der one notable exception, however; it
was Bruce, of Virginia. He spent
! eighteen hundred dollars on his elec
ton, treating, giving suppers, and so
forth, but it never changed him a
bit-he was the same clever fellow
and hard student afterwards, and
made success in his after life.
81 remember we'll the B boys,
| of Alabama. They owned big planta-
tions and lots of negroes and spent
| money lavishiy. Once they ordered
champagnes and cigars and wines from
their fathers commission merchant IN
Baltimore, and gave one of the biggest
suppers ever given here; but they did
not touch one drop of the liquor them
selves. Before coming to college they
had pledged their word to their father
not to drink drop of liquor while
here. They kept their word. They
left at the close of the war several
hundred dollars in debt-which was
then common occurrence. The war
swept away their property and they
never paid the debt They were hon
orable fellows, but unfortunate.
suppose some of them were killed in
the war. l know gentleman in town
now who has such claims against old
students amounting to over two thou
sand dollars. If it hadn't been for
the war most of it would have been
| paid. The students then had most of
their clothes made here, and spent
money freely also for horses, suppers,
etc.
"Another dashing fellow 1 remem,
Der we'll was Jim E, Of Georgia.
1 cashed check for him for three
hundred dollars just as he was start
| ing on little trip to Greensboro. He
was gone four days, and when he
landed at my gate on his return ne
asked me please to pay the hackman
his fare. The last time heard of Jim
E. he was in the army in Virginia
and had for his personal use two
horses, two guns and two negroes!
"The fellows did things on big scale
in those days, but it is all changed
now; and am glad of it. The war
has taught our people what they never
knew before-the value of dollar.
The majority of the boys who come
here 20 college now have just so much
money to spend, and they have to
make that do them. As result of
4 this, their aims, of course, are more
serious. They come here now-the
majority of them do-to get an edu-
cation. They mean business. They
see that the South is on great indus
trial boom, and they are anxious to
play q mans part in this great up.
building of the waste places.
EYES, he said, as he threw away
his cigar, and after some meditation
"yes, am glad things are changed
The old days were picturesque but the
new day is better, and means more for
our country and people. l am glad
however, that the new generation still
have the manly virtues that their
fathers had speak especially soi
personal courage and loyalty to truth
and honor-without many of their
fathers vices. So long as our young
men have these virtues, coupled with
industry and aslaudable ambition, the
future of the State is secure. We need
not be ashamed to hold up our heads
as high as the proudest."
x**
Our quiet village has had its usua.
number of visitors this summer. Many
eastern people find it pleasanter here
than in the mountains. Judge JAS
E.sShepherd and family are here fol
their first summer and are delighted
As your readers know, he has been as
sisting DR.. John Manning in the