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

| vis-a-vis Of Gibraltar, the doorway o;
| AnglO-Saxon civilization, 10 the Golden
| Gate Of California, where that civilization
| IS rendered open-handed 20 the half-civ-
| ilized races of the ancient world.
| our last register contains not alone the
I names of N,rsiuid's SONS, but thirty one
| States are represented upon its roll ana
students seek her shrine who were raised
| under the very shadow of Harvard Cor
nell. and Princeton. Nay more, the from
| tiers of our own nation, immeasureable
! though they be. do not cOnhne her re-
| nOwn, but students from foreign lands
! frequent her halls and pIOnt 10y her teach
| ings. And, descending to yet greater de-
| tail. when We analyze that list, We find
| that our University now as heretofore
specially attracts our Southern youth
| and sends them forth equipped 20 wOrthi-
| ly serve their State and honor their alma
mater. Texas, now governed by our Cul-
bertson. sends from her distant prairies
a number second 10 Virginia alone, Ten
nessee, glorying in our Howell l.. Jack
son, whose service on the Supreme Bench
was just tong enough 10 give promise Of
the fame which awaited his Tpcniug
years. entrusts to us more than a score
Of her sons, aud bids us make them like
him. Georgia, weeping over the ashes Of
Henry W. Grady remembers the spot
where he caught bis inspiration. while
Alabama. pointing not TO The dead, but
the living. cOnhdes 10 as fifteen Of her
youth, and eXhOrts them 10 follow IN
youth and manhood the path traversed
by her Hilary \. Herbert These are but
samples, for in every Southern State q
random shot would ring Out upon great
alumnus as a target, and hence ] say that
whatever our corporate title may be-. our
name. by right OF use ana right OF fame.
should be, not the University OF Virginia,
bat the University Of the South.
WHY THIS PRE-EMINENCE?
MI. Chairman, why this pIe-emueuce
OF our alma mater? IL IS from 40 at
fractions due 10 wealth; for she Is stii
practically dOwerless. Her great founder
had naupht 10 leave her but an houOred
name and a plan OF organization which
Tevolutionlzed modern education. II Us
from nO idea Of comfort; for the blasts
,from the 10y SUBMITS OF the Blue Ridge
stil sweep through the students dorml-
tory and whistle about his ears, while he
Wrestles with his dnerential calculus or
puzzles his brain Ia the endeavor 10
evoyle some sense out OF "a chorus boa
Aeschyius II can be from no desire OF
social enjoyment for the demands OF
Minerva are too ongrOss.ns o. leave muc-
range 10 the arrows Of cupid, aad in any
event the mental strain incident 70 the
endeaVOr 10 get i'm an occasional cls-
connected remark sideways in "a par.or
crowded with twenty beauN and one wo-
man is almost as trying as the course in
Senior Natural II L. nom no desire 10
excel ia the animal pre-eminence Of Drawn
and muscle. for her boat-club is thing
Of tho past. and the history OF her base
bali contests-but, perhaps l had better
change the subject.
Ia a. IS aft
founded on the broad catholic basis of
universal liberation. and the assumption
that the true method Of making men is
10 treat the youth as man, 10 give him
credit Tor an honest heart. and 10 cult
vate one Ia him by appealing 10 his bet
ter nature.
Iniormcrs there are obnoxious alike TO
student and professor, the manners OF the
classroom arc based ou the theory that
teacher and scholar are equals and gen
uemon; examinations are true tests OK
scholarship, and not contests OF watch
fuln,ss botwten examiner and examined
Hence it is that every influence is eleyat-
ing and every breath inhales PRINCIPLES
of honor and nobility The nascent char
actcr Of the youth receives ifs impress
not alone from the tuteiage OF the class
room, but from every surrounding iuflu-
ence. Aud the sentiments OF refinement
and courtesy and honor. which We un-
consciously imbibe in our Efforts 10 rcn-
der ourselves worthy Of the gentle aimos-
phere I'M which we move, and live up TO
the lofty public opinion OF our college cir
cles. viii De remembered and applied
when ouT professors lectures on ethics
have faded INTO the dim impressions 81
years long past
And IL is that same high moral senu-
ment which specially appeals TO our Chi
various Southern youth. and attracts
them I'm troops TO this fountain OF learn
ing. whether they learn Gretk OF Latin.
whether they leave their alma mater -
conpiished SCHOLARS or not, depends upon
the tastes and industry Of the individual.
but, unless previous temptations nave so
far undermined his principles ~ 70 make