The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-08-25
PROF. vINsoN.
a Tribute From One CT His Pupils.

Prof yinson is dead With what sac
uess will this intelligence be ooted through
out many of the Southern States Davidson
graduates are not confined TO ans locality
and wherever there is studeat Of Davidson
College you will fad living monument to
the memory of Prof ". D. Vinson. He
chose that his epitaph should be written on
the heshy tablets cf his students hearts and
be chose we'll for 20 epitaph inscribed on
marble could be more datteriog or sincere
Dr.. Vinson was we'll beloved by his stu
dents and most cordially respected This
respect was shown in universal attitude OF
reverence toward him in classroom and on
campus; the love was shown in the endear-
ing term Of "Old Viose - s.Ob Shakes
peare, how couldst thou say What's 10 a
-name?'" Davidson studeuis will agree
hat nothing could be more express
i've of mixed veneration and love
than the term above as it was used
among the students on the campus. If The
boys as a body ever got into trouble and
their deliberations produced no plan of ac-
ton the unanimous expression was always:
"Let's 90 10 see ssOid Vinse," and they were
never disappointed.
Prof. Vinson's eyes we're so bad that ne
could not read the largest type without the
aid of strong magn,fylug glass. He had
consequently to rely greatly upon his mem
DRY and what memorf II vas The sub
jact that he bt-Mathematics-wa one
that fortunately required little reading and
be had never TO open text book on class.
All students of bis will remantera q scene Of
this kind I: student reading exsnina,ion
papers, while Prof Vinson with his knite as
sharp as rszor Whitfield white pine boards
that his students provided for him; but
while be whitfield be listened nothing escaped
hc,. The writer Of this article remembers
that on ore occasion be wentlnlo the room
Of Mathematics to read some papers 10 Prof.
Vinson As be approacned, Prof. Vinsou said,
ssBefore sou begin, hear tbis.' and be read
aloud ore Of the best of 8sran's poems.
remember how greatly eurprised was 10
see poetry ard Mathematics occupying the
same room but have since learned that Dr..
Vinson was as versatile as be was wise, and
have learned also that one may EASILY love
the truth Of Poetry and at the ssme time be
devotee to Maihematics-the poetry Of Truth
In addition 10 mathematics Prof Vioson
requested the faculty to lie, h,!o have the
chair of economies, and his lectures 90 ibe
subject Of political economy were delight
to his etuden,s. his method Of preparing
:bese lectures is interesting. % account of
his defective eyesieht be could read but little
and when be wished to prepare lecture be
took his strong mAgni:ying glass noted in
his textbook the suij=ct of the lesson,
glanced down the pages aud saw the heads
Of the different paragraphs. He then took
his hoe and went into his garden. When be
struck the last lick bis lecture was crystalized
and it was sure to charm his auditors.
Dr.. viusou was exemplary iu his PR 'te
nduc,-a 6De specimen of Christian J.
hood, gentleman and scholar. His loss
is great and Davidson mourns man. ca,
down by hear, disease in the prime of his
manhood we gee much in his death TO deplorc.
He died indeed with the harness on his back
aud be leaves oameess record, There are
many graduates oil Davidson io this county
aud they will lay with me the laurel crown
upon Prof. Wilson's grave-a symbol CT bis
victory in life: myrtle wreath, the token
of our tears >. n. T..