The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-19
COL. PETERS RETIREMENT.
Affectionate Demonstration and Low
ing Testimonial.

ing TESTIMONIAL
fSnocal Dispatch to Tho Jines.)
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, VA,
June 1S-Of great interest to alumni and
to alumni graduates in Latin especially,
was the presentation of the farewell tes-
timonial to Colonel William E. Peters,
who retires tomorrow from the chair
of Latin at the university after thirty
six years Of continual service. Colonel
Peters entrance just before the begin
ming Of these exercises was the signal
for an outburst of applause. and the dis
tiEguished gentlemen on the rostrum
and the audience arose in their seats
as a testimonial of respect for the grand
old Roman"
The speeches of acceptance were made
by George w. Miles, headmaster of ST.
Adams, of Radford, Va, on behalf of
William NJ Thornton on behalf of the
faculty. DIR. Hunter Pendleton, Of the
Y. NJ. T., made the presentation on be-
half. of the committee.
COLONEL PETERS REPLY.
In receiving the tribute Professor Pc
tiers said: 1T would be far from the
fact to say tnat am not deeply moved
by the emotions inspired by this occa-
sion. I would not be true to myself did
I not confess regret that have felt
called upon to retire from work to
which I have given the best years and
energies Of my life now far spent. While
it has cost me pain to take the step, yet
NV love for our University and Tor the
important school with which nave
been so long identified have demanded
the sacrifice of personal feeling to their
good. I have deemed - my duty to sur
render my work and its Responsibilities,
while not conscious of inability to meet
them on account of impaired strength,
hut with full consciousness OF the near
approach of the time when the arduous
labors of the lecture-room must prove
a burden"
After high compliment to the stu
dent body and with lie statement tnat
no student of the University had ever.
to his knowledge, attempted either to
eyade responsibility by misrepresenta-
tion or to shield himself by indirectlon
or resort to ignoble, cowardly decep-
ZION the Colonel proceeded to address
tho faculty as follows: II retire from
active participation in your labors ana
RESPONSIBILITIES with best wishes Tor the
happiness and welfare Of each one OF
from you carry with me only the
kindest feelings for each member o.
vol,r body, as also for my noble ard
Gallant friend who has so ably and WISE
IL filed the responsible and hono.ahle
ONCE of proctor of our institution In
Val, and in peace he has added dign;ty
and honor to whatever office he har
filed"
TO THE BOARD.
To the members of the Board of Visit
ors the Colonel said: THE institution
is to- be congratulated on the high char
acter and recognized abilities OF the
eminent citizens who compose its high
est governing head, and on the cordial.
cn-operation and mutual confidence
which have marked the intercourse be-
tween it's faculty and board. 10 this
harmony between its governing bodies
is to be attributed in no small measure,
the gratifying success it has achieved in
the past This high character of the
visitors to this university will, I am con-
fdent, be maintained and guarded as
long as the appointing power rests with
a citizen as able, fearless and patriotic
as is the present Governor of our Com
monwealth. Hon. A. J. Montague. whom
the institution has on this occasion the
pleasure of welcoming as its guest
IN conclusion the Colonel said: Words
fall me adequately to express the salts
faction given me by the kind manner in
which my work at our University has
been referred to by friends on this occa-
SIGN or only one fact I am sure and
this is that l have done my best, never
forgetting the high character and pres
ti:e of the institution in whose. service
/ have labored. and ever pursued by an
apprehension that my best efforts have
not done justice to either. could never
forget the fact. and it filled me with a
NC rihy pride and ambition In my work.
that succeeded the great scholar and
model Christian gentleman, Gessner Har-
rison,- who was years in advance OF his
time was the prince Of teachers, and
who did more to inspire love for the
cisssics and to inaugurate system OF
exact phil olosieal study than any man
| who had preceded him in America
DEEP GRATITUDE.
Ny qualification is enhanced, too, BY