The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-18

ing dome Of the Rotunda. he viii have be-
coma something more than scholar,
| something more than lawyer. or doc
tor or an engineer-he VIII have become
| the nOblest product Of Natures hanai-
! work-a gentleman. II our University
sends from her halls nothing but gentle
| men what nObler mission can she MI
THE DISTINGUISHING FEATURE.
II | were asked 10 name the distinguish
| ing feature OF the University course, the
| one respect in which she stands primus
! inter pares, i would at once point 70 her
| great achievements In the field Of odu-
cation. None Of her alumni have ever
stood at the national helm. comparative
ly Few have graced the presidential coun-
ell. None of her names stand Ia the fore
most rank of military chicftains. though
every battlefield upon our Southern soil
was crimsoncd with the blood OF her
| alumni. acting horoically their humble
| part. In the field OF letters she can boast
! many illustrious names, and citing her
| Poe and Thompson and Page, and host
| Of others, challenge comparison with her
| sister institutions. Yet even there she
| can only claim equality, while I'm the de-
| partment of education no rival can divide
| her honOrs What college or university
| south Of Mason and Dxson's line can
you name where her sOns are not found
|
bibed in her halls, instructng our youth
and imparting the enthusiasm which per-
mcates their every fibre? When last fan
| the wires flashed 10 her widcly-scattered
alumni the terrible tidings Of her great
calamity, was not the grief which welled
up from her chldren's hearts re-ochosd
from every educational Institution Did
they not feel the loss as their own and
shower words Of sympathy and cheer?
oil
mater Of our great founder, herself thrice
swept by flame, yet rising from the ashes
Ike Cinderella, princess more beautiful
than ever. whose faculty, composed MAIN
ly OF University men, waited their mes
sageS OF comfort TO their stricken alma
mater. Witness Washington and Lee
magnanim0us as the heroes whose names
she bears, proud of the Tucker whom We
gave her, and who has impaired addition
al lustre 10 one Of Nirslnia's most hon
ored names. Witness the score Of other
institutions from whose classic shades
our brother alumni paused amid en-
grosssng duties 20 contribute words Of
encouragement and tokens yet more sub
stantial 20 their smitten mother Nor
were they limited to schools where Uni
versity men We're spreading the doctrines
which they had learned. The republic
OF letters knows no jealousy, but is a
grand fraternity, working in unison 10
attain a common object A misfortune TO
one is a misfortune to all. and the sister
hood of learning rises above sectional
differences and petty rivalry. flonored,
then, be Columbia and Yale and Harvard
and many others for their generous do
nations TO their impoverished sister-dO-
nations appreciated not more for their
value than for their magnanimity.
EDUCATING EDUCATORS.
If the University has accomplished no
other work than her attainments in the
cause of education. she has richly re-
paid all that she has ever received. The
mission OF educating educators Is second
10 none in Importance and is the more
meritorious in that 1t is not appreciated
by the general public. The work OF the
educator is too unostentatious for pres
ent fame. We professional men are prone
TO look down upon him and Tilicule him
as n bOOk-WOrn and theorist- Yet his
name ana works will live when ours are
forgotten. How ephemeral are our tri-
umphs compared TO his The great law
yer applies his mind, trained t. accuracy
by constant contests. 10 tracing out some
legal principles, makes an argument OF
consummate power and convincing logic
carries by storm the tribunal before which
he pleads and IL H. forgotten before the
echo OF his voice has died away in the
courtroom. Tho doctor. with unerring
eye and nerves as firm as the steel when
he directs. performs some operation which
is hardly short OF miracle. and yet be
and his patient soon mingle together their
forgotten dust. Not 50 the teacher. &
prisoner among his dusty tones. porting
over their contents till the midnight hour,
paid pittauce which forbids the hope OF
laying anything away for the evening Of
IINr
tool. when premature age oyertakcs him.
he is yet the man that shapes the desti-
mics OF nations for The hand that trains
TIE youth rules the world. Doubtless in
the quiet Of his study, when watery eyes
and aching brain compel "A pause in
task half done, he locks upon his thread
bare coat thinks Of his scanty income
and cnvles his professional neighbOrs, l!v-
ing in luxury and long since wrapt in
siumber undistuIbed by thoughts OF the
morrow. Yet TO such ] would speak a
word of cheer il the object Of existence
is to benefit your feliowman and to live |
iu toe memories Ot coming ages, ] would |
say 10 the modest scholar: BE Of good |
cheer IL is the training Of the young |
which shapes the national future You |
arc charged with a priceless trust for |
our Southern youth which we commit 90 |
your charge at tie formative period Of |
their lives are more precious than our gold |
and bonds. Train them in principles OF |
honor and purity. and YOU VIII live again |
i'm them. and their children VIII arise 10 |
call you blessed"
MOTHER or UNIVERSITIES.
All honor. then, TO the educator, humble |
yet all-powerful; poor, yet making many /
rich; having nothing. and yet possessing |
al things. All honor 70 the educator OF |
educators. TO our alma mater, who. ii /
not the mother Of presidents, Is the moth
or OF something yet grander and more en-
during-the mother of universities.
There once was a voice could have sung.
There once was a tongue could have |
told.
But the harp OF our Poe is unstrung,
And the lips OF our Thompson are cold;
And no echo Of day-dawn is left us,
No touch Of celestial fire,
To kindle tho heart OF a prophet,
or the lips OF a poet inspire;
But. mother. fair mother! returning,
Thy children themselves are choir.
ard proud Of thy stately alliance,
They salute thee, and cry from the
heart:
Long life to the mother OF sciehce,
And nurse OF each splendid art"
And mother. fair mother! now bless
them,
For well have they done their partl
while we drink of the dew of such foun-
tains.
We know that our strength shall not
fail;
from cities and valleys and mountains,
We bid thee all hail! al hau.