Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-10-23


Cleveland. died at 20 Wednesday morn
ing. at Lexington Va. His death was
sudden, but not unexpected, and was due
to congestion of the lungs, which began
Monday afternoon. He had been i'll for
several months with pulmonary trouble,
and recently went West in hopes of re-
cuperating. The attack Of congestion
hastened the end. Consciousness was
retained until death.
From Lexington <<Va,) dispatch TO the
Washington Post we copy the following
sketch of Mr.. Wilson'S iifei
William Lyme Wilson was born in JEFF
ferson County. Va. (now West Virginia..
May 3, 1913. He was the only son of
Benjamin Wilson, formerly of King and
Queen County. and Mary Whiting Lyme.
his second wife. His father died when
young Wilson was but four years of age.
The old Charles Town Male Academy
was the scene of his early education. His
after education was at Columbian College,
Washington, where he took the degree of
a. B. in 1860. when only seventeen years
I
of age, and at the University of Virginia.
During the civil war he served asa private
in the Confederate service. After the war,
in 1865, he took the degree of A. M. at
Columbian College. He was also
graduate in law from Columbian. He
was also an LII. d. of Columbian Uni
versity, Washington City. and Hampton
Sidney, Virginia. From 1865 to 1871 he
was assistant professor of Latin IN Coz
lumbar University. In 1871, after the
! lawyers test oath was annulled, he began
the practice of law in his native county
at the county seat, Charles Town, with
his cousin and former comrade, Capt.
George Baylor. In 1882 he was elected
president of the University of West Vir-
ginia.
Mr.. Wilson's acceptance of the univer-
sity presidency was received February II.
and his letter of acceptance was in keep
ing with the man. shall, therefore,
enter upon its duties with such expecta-
tons of success only as shall be founded
on patient labor and earnestness of pur-
pose, was his concluding sentence.
On September IS, 1897, he was duly in
STALLED president of the university before
a large gathering of people assembled in
the Lee Memorial Chapel. Many distin-
guished educators OF the United States
were present and manyletters from other
distinguished men. regretting their in
ability to be present, were read. He was
the ninth president of the venerable Vir-
ginia University.
RIs LIFE AS a UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT.
Mr. Wilson was in touch with all the
students and knew them personally. He
was ever alert to their interests attended
their football and baseball games and APP
plauded item or their opponents for every
good pay. He introduced what is known
as the Wednesday morning lecture" at
which time the entire student body as
sembled in the memorial chapel prior to
the beginning of lectures for the day and
were addressed by Mr.. Wilson or by some
distinguished visitor. He had the meet
ings opened with prayer by one of the
ministers of Lexington after which a
choir of students sang a hymn. Then
came the address. Mr. Wilson's talks at
these meetings were always on live topics
of the day and became very popular, so
much so that each Wednesday morning
the chapel would, alter the students were
seated, be filled with Lexingtonians and
other visitors.
The daily papers found IN these talks a
great mans views on the topics of the
day, and reported them freely.
AN INCIDENT THAT REVEALED THE MAN.
His students loved Mr.. Wilson.
They had no nickname for him. When
it came to discipline, his rule was rigid.
Advice he freely gave on all occasions,
and admonition when a case required it.
The rules of the university were never to
be overstcpped. On one occasion the foot
ball eleven made a Western trip and car
ried hired player. As soon as Mr.. Will
son learned of this breach of amateur, or
rather collegiate, spirit, a professor was
sent Immediately who stopped the hirod
man from playing and remained with the
eleven until all the engagements were
filed as scheduled, and then brought
them home, when Mr.. Wilson disbauded
the team for the season. If bona fide
students could not play, hired players
should not, he said.
As Postmaster General, Mr. Wilson in
stituted many postal reforms, and greatly
added to the efficiency of the department.
He was a close adviser of the President,
and one Of the many photographs which
adorn the walls of his study in Lexing-
ton bears the inscription, "a Quiet Eve
ming iii which President Cleveland and
Mr.. Wilson are shown seated at a table
piled high with bundles of documents.
A letter attached to the photograph, from
the President to Mr.. Wilson, states that
if Mr.. Wilson will call they will spend a
quiet evening examining some cases.
MS POLITICAL CAREER
When the Democratic National conven-
ton met in 1880 Mr.. Wilson was present
as delegate, and this marked his en-
trance into politics. On the Hancock
ticket of that year he was an electoral
large. In 1882, September 20, he was
made the Democratic candidate for Con-
gress from his district by acclamation, and
was elected in October. For five success
sIve terms thereafter he served in Con
gress. His career in Congress is unsur-
passed. In his second term he was made
:, member rf the C1,,,,,,;,+ - 49,