The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-25
PH|LO. Optic RAMDLt.
Gossip. About Some N. c..
Metaphysicians Leads to,
Remarks on Cer'ain
Great Philoso-
piers
DR.. VIM F Hendersor---William Ma
con Coieman---Th Ex-A ttor-
ney-Genaral Honored
by Washington
University.
Especial Correspondence

w
Coleman, of Concord, was a lawyer and
Republican politician and i was Demo
cratic editor at Henderson, we were both
young ardent and sanguine. We did not
then know each ether personally. Per-
haps we did not, if we even thought on
the subject, imagine we should at some
future time reside at the Federal capital
and there pursue our respective profess
SONS and spend our odd moments In writ
ing books. For many years past, how
ever, Mr.. Coleman coming hither first we
have so resided and been so employed, with
the exception of three years passed by Mr..
Coleman in Texas as editor of a Popuhst
newspaper. For many years Holden's
former law adviser has opposed the tenets
and practices of the Republican party
He has advocated radical and popular
theorism of government both with tongue
and pen During the life of the late
Z Daniel r.. Goodloe and the first residence
here of the late John Henry Boner Mr..
Coleman and myself were not unfrequent-
ly in company with these gentlemen and
IN some measure we all formed a group of
North Carolina writers at the capital of
the republic. Col John H. Wheeler's
residence on Grant Place was open to all
respectable North Carolinians, that dis
tinguished historian of our State being the
Nestor of our literary tribe. But as a
matter of fact we never all of us met in
his house to my recollection unless it was
at his funeral.
| did not start out to talk of this little
group of chatting friends, all alas, now
passed into the Eternal Silence except Mr.
Coleman and myself, but to refer to an
honor done to the former citizen of Con
cord-an honor well deserved by that able
and accomplished man. For several years
MIR. Coleman has been a member of the
Society of Philosophical Enquiry at Ihe
Columbia University of this city and has
taken an active interest in its weekly dis
cussions. Last week he was chosen IN
structor in Philosophy in the University
and at once entered upon his duties. His
department includes psychology, ethics
and the history OF speculative philosophy.
More than in law or Journalism or politics
will Mr.. Coleman be in his element in
teaching philosophy. His profound ac-
quaintance with the systems of meta
physics rom Thales, Pythagoras and
Aristotle to Des Carries Leibnitz and
Kant and the more recent titans of
thought, English and Continental his
membership in various philosophical so
cieties and his personal friendship and cor
respoudenoe with many great thinkers, to
say nothing of his own published writings
pre-eminently qualify him for the appoint
ment he has received He will have here
national field as his pupils will come
from all parts of the Union and some of
them will be mature men engaged in the
country's public service.
In my life of fifty-odd years [ have
known two specially learned men. North
Carollnians, in philosophy-not to speak
of theologians who had great attachments
Among the latter Rev. DIR. Kirkpatrick,
president of Davidson College when I was
a student there. and afterward professor
of Moral Philoso~h-- at Washington and
Lee under General Robert - COS presi
dency, was conspicuous for his knowledge
OF metaphysics. The late Rev Dr. n F,
Reid, both in the pulpit and private con
versation, especially the former, evinced
his fondness for mental philosophy and
his acquaintance with the greater philo-
sophers. Others preachers I have heard
have exhibited proficiency in philosophy
But | intended to refer only to my late
very learned friend, DR.. William r. Hen
derson, of WILLIAMSBURG, son of the great
Chief Justice Leonard Henderson. for
whom the town of Henderson, the county
of Henderson and town of Hendersonville
were named. So far as 1 know DR.. Hen
dersnn never printed any work on specu-
lative philosophy. He owned large IL
brary, made up in great part of rhiloso-
phical works and locally he was famed
for his extensive acquaintance with meta
physics, ethics and the kindred branches
of philosophy. Perhaps no North Caro-
linian surpassed him in philosophic lore
or ability to think on such abstruse sub
iecte.
Every reading man reads bit Of phil
osophy. It doesn't hurt, even if one has
to force ones self to the task. 7 rather
like little of the 'incomprehensible
stuff Ny first book in metaphysics was
Reds Intellectual Powers with Notes by
Hamilton; my second either McCoshs
Intuitions of the Mind or Mansels Limits
of Religious Thought work | re-read
last winter. DR.. Henderson advised me to
purchase the little book Git cost me-
remember, s1.70 and remarked that if l
could master the first three chapters l
could comprehend anything in philosophy.
He also asked me what | thought of
Leibntz. AS for the first three chapters
of the great Deans book, and my COM
prehension of them, suffice it to say that
/ have not yet reached and do not expect
ever to reach that understanding of phil
osophical principles referred to by my
very learned friend.
This summer, putting aside my research
ce in literature for few weeks, | read The
lives Of Locke Des Cartes, Hobbies,
Spinoza and Lebnitz and the philosoph-
ical parts OF Coleridge's wonderful Bio
graphia Literaria. He relates the curious
story of an unettercd servant girls raw
ings during Il fever Of many passages OF
rabbincal Hebrew which she had years
before heard pastor recitc aloud IN his
study. She did SO in the very order in
which they were read by the preacher,
as a scholarly man who traced the case