Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-12-05
STOKES OF DR.. RloPATA.
How the Old Chapel at De Pauw Was
"Wrecked."

How the Old Chapel at De Pauw was
"Wrecked."
The late DR.. Ridpath, historian ana
essayist, was a brilliant and popular
lecturer on a great variety Of subjects
in history, literature and social lie.
Prof. II. NJ. Skinner, Of Chicago, con-
tributes to a recent volume OF the
Mirage some interesting "reminiscences
Of college life at Depauw in previous
decade, when Ridpath was central
figure in the faculty Of that old univer-
sity. Among these occurs the follow
ing:
1.-The pews in the old chapel were
strongly made of hard wood and PAN
eled, yet 1t was not in the craft OF the
carpenter to construct seats that would
stand the wear and tear Of DIR. Rid
paths lectures. The doctor was q de-
yout worshiper of all things Saxon; and
vet as a lecturer and thinker, he was
French-not like Ste. Beuve, but like
Victor Hugo. His were the scintilla-
lions, the binding flash and the rapid
fire OF the author Of LES Mfserables."
At times, when a thought was riveted
forever by an incandescent mental
process, when the unexpected came IN
an illustration or allusion, como pedra-
Ia en- ojo de boticario, the speakers
voice was drowned in screams of ap-
1lause and laughter, benches creaked
md groaned and uncomfortable feet
1ewIout against panels that burst from
heir grooves Perhaps no other such
.ectures-at once SO humorous. so bril-
liant, so novel and so full of thought
were ever delivered in any American
College, and they covered the whole
ield of history and literature. Why
nave they not been published among
he voluminous works of Ridpath?"
Referring to the days Of the old "lec-
:ure bureau" Professor Skinner relates
TWO incidents which illustrate the doc
:or's readiness to adapt himself to ext
yef{cies of the moment. 1t happened
hat Anna Dickinson and Vice Presi-
lent Colfax both addressed the stu
tents under peculiar circumstances,
which were adroitly managed by the
loctor. The writer says:
"Once when Anna Dickinson was to
lecture we assembled very early In the
| DID chapel-at in the evening. The
fair termagant came not. We waited
ill o; then word came that she had just
arrived in indianapolis and would come
| out on a special engine If 1t would not
De too late. 1t would not be too late.
We still tarried, while solitary loco
motive. with a pressure OF steam
yauged to the temper Of one OF its oc-
.upants, sped like a cannon ball
through the darkness over the Indiana
orairies. At about IL Miss Dickinson
appeared, and ascended the platform in
ner ira, cling dress. After berating a
.ailway employe for her delay she
poured forth a vitriOlic diatribe upon
The organizers of labor, holding her au-
1ience captive till long after midnight.
when Vice President Colfax came to
speak in the afternoon he found the old
chapel crowded almost to suffocation,
and perhaps three times as large an au-
iierce without as there was within the
building. With the lightning move OF
genius Dr. Ridpath removed the sash
wholly from one Of the east windows,
and from the window sill the great In.
iianian spoke, his profiles presented
equally to both his audiences. 1t was
great feat. The window has been
transformed into a niche. think some
appropriate inscription should be writ
ten within. 1t to commemorate the
unique event, for the loyal ovation to
Colfax possessed peculiar significance
at the time 1t was Indiana's answer
| to his detractors."