Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-28

/ good. urged their claims through able
representatives. But he was fully pre-
pared 10 meet them, and came armed
cap-a-pie. He first exhibited 10 the
hoard an imposing list Of Octogenarians
who were st.ll living in his neighborhood.
and thus proved more ConclusiVely than
B all reasoning could have done. the re-
markable salubrity of he climate OF Al
beularle. Having thus completely defeat
fi his alVersaries. who founded their
Speciat claims for the valley upon its
s-DeriOr hedlthfulness. he next produced
piece of cardboard. cut in the shape Of
, the Stat" Of Virginia. and showed by
glance that Central College was actually
The territorial centre Of the Common
wealth. thus establishing 4 strong areu-
ment in favor Of his own choice. But
h" did not rest there. BY another in
geniOus device he proved. on a similar
piece Of board. on which NJ had, with
painstahing industry entered the popula-
tion Of every part Of Virginia, that he had
succeeded in selecting nearIy the centre
of the population also" lie also showed
by practical demonstration that Central
College was the centre OF gravity Of the
State. as shown on the cardboard: and
thanks 10 tho practical proofs OF the
wisdom Of his choice and the almost
paramount prestige which his name eX-
ercis,d on the commissioners, they agreed
unanimously that Central College should
be hereafter the / diversity Of Virginia.
THE CHARTER GRANTED.
I'm 1919 the legislature granted a charter
for the new institution and work wa. al
once begun on the plans for the build
ings. OF which Mr.. jefferson was him
self the chief architect, borrowing largely
from the magnificent works OF art that
had been his chief delight and study in
Europe. Each of the bindings. according
10 his plan were 10 bee Of a different
style OF architecture but SO artiuily ar
ranged as 20 make 4 perfectly harm0ni-
Gus whole, and 10 give a beautifully
classic outline 10 the beholder
While the work on the buildings pro-
gresscd Mr. jefferson was also busuy Oc-
cupicd securing competent corps Of
professors He was determined To have
none but the best. and as he soon found
that the most capable men in this coun-
try were already engaged. he had 10
turn To Europe. In 1921 he commissioned
his Youthful friend Francis Walker Gill
mer. 10 secure for him in Europe profess
sor4 qualified 10 hold positions in the
institution he declared should be the
leading one in this country This wisdom
Of his choice IN agents was shown by the
uen so secured. Charles Bonnycaste
and Robley Duugiison. well known TO
science and medicine. respectively;
Thomas Hewitt Key and Charles Long,
both Of whom Were afterwards recalled
to Europe to supply important positions in
their home universities. and John +.
Emmett. nephew Of the famous man
of that name. and whose son has won
such a reputation IN surgery in New York
city Hon George Tucker, OF bermuda,
was chosen for the chair OF Moral Pnilo-
sophy. and John Tayloe Lomax for that
Of law.
SOLEMNLY OPENED.
ON the 7th OF March, ls2J, the univer-
sity was solemnly opened in the presence
OF the professors and forty students.
which number was increased during the
session 70 lZi.
Mr.. jefferson was the first rector OF
the Board OF Visitors. and continued to
hold that position up 10 the time OF his
death I'pOn the board also served ex-
Presidents Madison and Monroe. the lat
ter OF whom lived for some years on the
university grounds in the house now oc-
cupied by the chairman OF the faculty.
Mr. jefferson continued To take the
liyeiiest interest i'm the affairs OF the in
stitutiOn as long As he hVed, and his
epitaph, which he himself prepared. and
which has been SO often quoted. describes
him as the author or the Declaration Of
Independence. OF the Statute for Relgi-
Gus Freedom aud Father OF the Uniyer-
sty OF Virginia.
The university was spared by Sheridan
when he made his raid through that part
of the State in 1851 and escaped the de-
struction that visited the Virginia Mill
tary Institute. but only though the
strenuous exertions of the faculty. A
list OF the distinguished men OF the State
.bn hat al
would contain the names OF Thomas JEFF
ferson. James Madison. Joseph &. Cabell,
Chapman Johnson. Andrew Stephenson.
Alexander Rivers, X. G.. III. Kean, and