The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-04
WASHINGTON AND LEE.
FUTURE or THIS HISTORIC IN
STITUTION.
c,eat Possibilities Under Her New Press
dent, Hon. william l.. Wilson-WHi
Women DO Admitted?

LEXINGTON. VA. June 3O.-Except
when Gen Robert Il. Lee was elected 10
| its presidency, the old college endowed by
! Washington has never attracted the at
tention of the whole country as IL does
II the present time.
! The particular reason for this interest
is the election OF tho Hon. VIM. l.. VIII
son as its presiding officer. Mr.. wilson
| IS one Of the prominent men Of the United
! States lie has been a soldier, a lawyer
college professor member OF Con-
gress and Postmaster General OF tho
| United States when Grover Cleveland
was President.
In private and public life Mr.. Wilson
ranks very high. lie has been useful
| citizen and public officer and the country
has delighted to honor him.
When his selection as President or the
college was announced, the papers
throughout the land spoke Of 1t as a no.
| table event. Harpers Weekly OF April
10. 1897. published a very interesting sketch
OF the institution, with pictures Of the
new president and various points or In
| terest on the college campus, including
| the University building and tho Lee maui
| solemn 40,
THO next week tho same Journal stu
| commenting on Mr.. Wilson's appointment,
printed an article on Southern Education
| predicting great gain for the whole SOUTH
| land from tho devotion OF such a man 10
| It's interests.
The editor said. washington and Lee
University IS one OF the soundest of South
| ern institutions II IS not under State
| or sectarian control. II g rich Tor VIZ
| einia. possessing productive endowment
| of $3.50 600. but very poor, indeed, Whoh
compared with wealthy Northern ihsu-
| tutions. So
Under the presidency OF Hon. w. i.
! Wilson Il ought 10 become a cehue vi
| Fight and leading. and to that era our
| Northern philanthropists may contribute
| their wealth. with the assurance that they
are thereby not only bone1lting the
growth OF the South, but taking precau-
| tons for the welfare Of the nation.
HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTION.
The history Of this institution, begin
ming with the foundation OF Liberty Han
| the "log college In tho wilderness IN
| f7q must always 10 OF deep interest TO
| the student az American history.
This good work Of educating the youth
of the pioneers IN tho forest was begun
| by Robert Alexander, whose training III
| mathematics and classics was received IN
| Ednburg.
| The carly settlers Of this part Of Vir-
| ginia we're the Scotch-Irish who came
| hither Immediately from the province OF
| Ulster In Ireland. They were altogether
| different from the class who came 70
| 'ridewater observation-disclosures In ancestry.
I'm religious belief. in all their ideas ana
| habits
| Tho log college fourished among these,
people. who looked at life seriously ana
| knew tie value OF education Ihe.o I@7
been a steady process Of evolution tend,
ing always 10 progress from the small
and humble beginning Of Liberty Han 70
| washington and Lee University; It's IN
| auonco aver increasing IN the land.
In tho early days came from Princeton
College the Rev. william Graham, as the
! head master who rendered service TOT
| twenty years.
quote Harper again:
"Thcolo-ians. teachers. and patriots
were trained az tho feet Of Graham fci
large influence In the trans-Alleghany re-
gions. To hts own alma mater he SEM
~ She product Of his classroom thar
prince in Israel Archibald Alexander "a
become the first professor In the Prince
ton Theological Seminary.
From IT'S foundation tho In
| fusnce OF Washington aud Lee has been
| surcai abroad 10 the regions or the west
I South. and southwest Her sons Were
| foremost among those engaged lh .le
work of carving new commemorative lC'
tho Federal Union. Twelve college pfetl
| donfs sbo oouipped for the work Of odu-
cation. Many states have received l'l-l'
! Governors from her halls.
Among these were Crttenden, or Ken
tuck,. Mcdowell and Letchcr. or Viz
ainia. ana McNutt. of Mississippi.
Among many United States Senator
| trained in the college were ErecklnIlds,
and the Browns. Of Kentucky u.
Foote. or Mississippi and VIM. G. Pres
ton, of south Carolina
Among the multitude or MIN -i',S o'
| the Gospel whom she has sent FORM wy
mention only VIA. $. Plumme-' lne 'ii-a
mont and strength Of the Presoy leliai
| semina-ics Of Alleehany IehNsg anna
| and columbia. S. O.
THO college was wreck AZ the Close
OF the civil war, but IN the day OF mel
| dceuest adversely came 20 her the great
| est of c0mpensad0us-Ge Robert r.. Let
| accepted the presidency ANA entered upon
his duties with the words.
IT have a solf-impOsed task 10 accom-
plish: I have led the young men OF tn'
| South IN battle, have seen many or then
! FAN under my standard, I shall devol'
| myself now 90 training them 10 90 lheN
duty IN Nfe' ...,
ENTRA NCE EXAMINATIONS.
|
have been OF much interest. The pas
term has been one Of grel- importance
I'M the history OF tho institution.
A. its hoeinning the authorities took
step involving serious consequences. I'm
| medlately after iAe war; 10 oruer 70 as
! sisf fl- YOUNG men who had LOST ioul
years q their lives In the army, chang
was r.lde in the entrance examinations
| Il was made possible for almost anybody
over sixteen years Of age 20 enter th'
! college. That Is. X tho applicant coulC
not pass tho examinations a preparatory
| course was arranged through which no
| might be called q college man and pas
on % the Junior classes.
This and other rclaxations OF the once
high standard were telling upon the char
actor OF the institution The system
worked badly IN many ways. Not only
! was Washington and Lee University do
! ing the work Of preparatory schools. but
| the institutions throughout the state
whose proper work &c was 10 prepare
youth for the highest education, were
| crippled and hampered by the loss OF
| pupils. whose place was within their walls
At tho suggestion OF the FACULTY ano
! after earnest consultation on the subject
the BOARD OF Trustees determined % make
| such n change IN the entrance eNamina-
/ tions that IL would DO impossible for a
student who lacked the necessary pre-
| paration 10 enter tho college. Although
! IL was evident that this would materially
reduce the attendance AT the University
for a time. the faculty, with noble
spirit OF self-sacrihce heartily endorsed
/ the action Of the trustees
During the session OF 's6-'97 there was
a falling off Of nifty students in the num-
| her attending the lectures. Good work
! has been done by those who came how