Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-06
THOSE COLLEGE DAYS
When the "Idler" Studied Geometry
and WreStled With julius Caesar.
HE PRAISES HIS ALMA MATER.
In Love With the Mummy. Ministerial
Students and Their SOubriqucts-A
Remarkable Colorcd Preacher.


Mater sometimes incorrectly called "allna
tomater," which, being interpreted, met.ns
"benign tomato') cannot refrain from
adding a few words in connection with
the subject. The place is dear to my
heart, and was, at one time dear to my
fathers pocket-book. though the latter
should be no cause Of complaint with
me. Every recollection Of the institution
brings back tender memories to my mind.
and never shall forget that momentous
occasion when one OF my beloved school
mates saw fit to incarcerate COW In the
chapel, said bovine being placed in the
sacred precincts under protest and after
vigorous opposition on her part The COW
worshipped In the room over night, and
when she was discovered the next day
there was no question as to the fact
OF her having been there. What she did
for the benefit of furniture manufac-
turers was more Indicative OF ''plenu-
tude" Qn the slang sense) than cornu-
copia. But let me not revert to this SUBJ
ject. painful BOTH to the cow and to her
surroundings. Let me rather pause, and
recall those respected professors whose
hydraulic-pressure methods of coercive
education forced what little learning 1
have into my almost impenetrable skull.
When look back over those days which
are fast growing so dim, / can remember
naught but kindness and sympathy from
my teachers, and the gentle patience OF
him who taught me that a straight line
was the shortest distance between two
points will always be gratefully revered.
And lastly, II you Will permit me to
Indulge in the romantic, / will make a
confession. The mummy In the college
library Is the only woman i ever really
loved. ] used to go in the big room 10
study perhaps also TO find English trans
lations to my Latin authors. and she
was always there. Besides being the
only woman 1 ever loved, she was lise-
wise the only woman / have ever seen
who knew how to keep quiet at the right
time. You never saw her crimp!ng her
bangs or putting on any monkey-shine
VIXEN we handsome Students approached.
she was and IS still (for she's been mere
some thousand years. the most exclusive
female who has ever met my attention.
end no one can question the fact that
royal blood once cCursed through her
veins. In centuries long past she doubt
less frolickcd at the germans given ty
the Rameses and attended lawn parties
end pic-nics on the banks Of the Nile,
where the sportive crocodile relieved the
country Of its superhuous Juvenile popu-
lation. who were wont TO battle In the
turbid stream. Poor, shrivelled old girl,
picked up for posterity like a taran:lda
in a bottle OF alcohol. How often has
my heart gone oIt in sympathy for you,
as / saw you reposing in the glass case
which has supplante1 your sarc0phagus!
Once kings and queens dill homage. To-
day You command only the attention CT
college rats" and a few devotees like
my humble self. Naught remains TO tell
the story of your life.> save your portable
coffin which stands near your glass re-
ceptacle. and the hleroglyphica which
adOrn this casket. To future generations
Theses will be 1llegible, and will stand for
nothing sfve symbols of long past day.
People yet unborn will marvel at them.
even as posterty will wonder at the
manuscripts OF Dr. w. w. Parker.
Long after irreverent people have COM
menced carving their initials on my tomb
stone. you viii still be the guardian
angel of that library, and though the
features which in my day gazed upon
you will be withered and faded, yet o;ner
and fresher. healthier young faces will
look upon your shriyelled FORM Heaven
bless every honest lad who pays you
court. sweet picked lady, with suci
mighty staying qualities. Alma Mater Is
indeed a gentle mother. and her children
for all ages to come are my brethren.
Anybody who has ever attended an IT,
stltution like Randolph Macon, Hamp-
den-Sidney, or Richmond College, where
young men are educated for the Cos
pei, along with other students not so
piOusly inclined. will tell you that the
two classes never affiliate. The factions
are wide, wide apart, and outside OF the
lecture-rooms they rarely meet or ex-
change cordialtles. The dividing line is
distinctly drawn, and. In my opinion. 1t
will always be so. l shall not attempt
to state which was my faction. Perhaps
you guess. but whatever your conclusion
may be, you will not catch me indulging
In any aspersiOns towards the opposite
class I'm in politics now. and every man
is my brother. l regret to say many
girls are also my Sisters" At almost
every college the ministerial students are
designated by distinctive name. which
shows beyond doubt that they are
prospective preachers. At Randolph
Macon the embryo clergyman Is called
u "Bib-llt" biblical literature being their
main study, while at Hampden-Sidney
he Is known as a "semmy' or semi
mite" which signifies that he is destined
for seminary. My contemporaries at
Richmond College have gone even far
ther TO mark the distinction. At this in
stitution the ministerials are called Jas
pers," In honor o. that profound and emil
nent colored theologlan. the Rev. John
Jasper. I'D. d." whose theories concern
ing the sun have raised him upon the
highest pinnacle OF science.
Long after "Brer'' Jasper shall have
departed this life-I would not hurry him
by my premature predictions!-his name
will be perpetuated at my Alma Mater,
and, however great the preacher who
emerges from the institution may subse-
quently become, he will always remem-
Der that there was day when he was
only an humble Jasper" And, while dis
cussng preachers (who, despite any jokes
which be poked at them. have always
been delightful society 10 mel. l cannot
refrain from alluding TO another colored
minister. who, like the sage OF Jackson
Ward, has record peculiarly his own.
The Scriptural expounder TO whom l al
lude Is Rev. A. Binga. Jr.. d. D., OF
Manchester. According TO the statement
recently published in a newspaper here,
"he has the record OF having baptized iei
converts in 60 minutes" This achieve
ment, in my mind, unquestionabiy gives
Rev. a. Binga the baptisrnal champion
ship-belt OF the world against all comers,
but his accomplishments do not stop here.
The sketch OF his life, which. be 1t said.
Is unstinted in praise, adds with re-
freshing gust OF enthusiasm: ''He Is quiet,
unassumlng. but giant in the pulpit. Ills
voice Is musical and sympathetic. and
words flow from his lips like a rlyo-." II
my recollection Of the classics Is not
fallacious. Cicero accused the poet En-
MUS OF being equipped with a mouth
from which "words flowed sweeter than
honey" but what. Oh what! Is a mouth
like that compared to the eloquent lips
OF Rev. A. Binga?
Governor OFerrall and Mr.. James II
Pace. the capitalist. met at the former.
New Years reception last Tuesday. Botf
men are quite alike in APPEARANCE, each
having long. slvery hair. and person no
entirely familiar with them might easily
mistake one for the other. 'Nr. Pace.
said bis Excellency. with that charming