The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-14

but rather the simple, old questions
which might have been asked In the
! Homeric age: Is he free from sordidness
/ or stain? Has he borne himself brave
/ " IN battle2 Has he suffered some
what with courage and dignity?
Politics a Lofty Profession.
THE best and most lasting requests
! Of the times of the whole nation was
/ the conception Of politics as a lofty
/ profession, 10 be entered upon by the
/ best men for unselfsh purposes. The
old South sent her greatest, truest men
to represent her in the national coun-
ellis.
1t was naturally thought that young
Alderman. upon graduation from col
lege. would select the one or the other
Of these two professionalism and pol
itics-to be his life work To him. how
ever, came another and a somewhat
different vision Like all sincere. IN
| selfish men, TO whom life means help
fulness, Dr. Alderman. when standing on
the Threshold of life, saw-even as
General Lee and the late DR. Curry had
seen-his task lying before him-"like
a sunlit road stretching straight before
the travellers feet" In words OF his,
| spoken in commemoration of anothers
life. one catches a glimpse OF "the Wis
ion splendid" by which he. in his early
manhood, was ION his way attended. q"
and one catches also. in the portrait
| he has drawn of another. a not inaccu-
rate delineation Of his own character
and purpose.
His Gifts and Graces.
The quality of his Dr Curry's)
mil d" saws DR.. Alderman, in the ad-
dress from which quotation has already
been made, the sum OF his gifts and
! graces, the ideals Of contemporary civ
ilizatiOn suggested political preferment,
but no consideration of self or fortune
could swerve him from HIS course. There
dwelt in him leonine quality Of COM
bat and struggle, a delight OF contest.
a rising Of all his powers TO opposition
that had only one master in his soul,
and that master was the Christian in
stinct for service.
over at Lexington. by the quiet
flowing river and the simple hills. Rob-
ert i. Lee saw the same vision. be-
cause there dwelt in him. too. the same
simplicity, sincerity, and Unselfishness.
- II was a vision OF many millions
untaught amid new duties, new coca
sions, new needs. new worlds OF en-
dcavor. appealing with outstretched
hands TO the grown-up strength OF their
generation, to know why they should
not have a country TO serve, a work 70
DO. and a training for that work.
Allen to this new generation were
the subtleties OF divided sovereignty. OF
the responsibility for the presence Of the
African IN our life, and strange to their
eyes and ears the fading fires and re-
treating noises OF battle and Of war.
The vision was life-uncOnquered,
tumultous, beautiful. wholesome, regen-
p eratIve young lIfe-asking a chance Of
its elders 10 live worthily in its world
and time.
Life Greater Than Theory.
The elders had had their day. ana
had had acquaintance with achievement
and sadness and defeat. but here stood
undefeated youth. coming on as comes
on a fresh wave OF the sea. with sun
light ln It's crest, TO take the place OF
its fellow just dashed against the shore
Life Is greater than any theory; we ask
the right 10 live, said this vision And
Il touches my heart that I was OF that
appealing company"
Upon leaving college DR.. Alderman i'm
S mediately entered upon his chosen pro-
70 fession Of teaching. His career in that
n profession has been one Of constant and
q rapid advancement. In 1885, three years
q after his graduation from college. ht
20 became superintendent Of the city
o schools OF Goldsboro. N c.: in 1886
president OF the North Carolina Teach.
c ers' Assembly: in 1859, State institut,
s conductor OF North Carolina; in 1882
s professor OF history IN the State Nor.
y NAL College of Greensborough; in 1899
professor Of history and philosophy @,
education in the University Of Nortl
Carolina: in 1895, fourteen years after hi
: graduation, president OF his alma mater
n IN 1900 president Of the Tulane Univer
s sity OF Louisiana, and In 1904. he wa
q elected 10 he the first president Of IN,
u University Of Virginia.
+ In 1896 he was hcnored with the degre
y OF Ii. d, by his alma mater; 1888 wiz
u the degree Of d. G. l., by the Universit
Of the South; 1899 with the degree o
y LII. D., by the Tulane University O
u Louisiana, and with the same degree 4
II 1902 by Johns Hopkins University
h Dr. Alderman administered the affair
d Of the University of North Carolina wit
r signal success. Throughout his admins
. tration there was a steady and remark
!, able increase IN the number Of student