The news & observer., 1905-08-13

low sum at Burnt Shop, Alamance
county 1t was beautiful site for q
school, the country was healthful, and
the morality of the section. good. AT
ter some conference with Henderson
Scott Dr. Wilson bought this place,
naming his home Melville. The name
of the post office was soon afterwards
changed from Burnt Shop to Melville.
Good board was offered at six dol
lars per month, but DR.. Wilson tolo
those who were going to take board
ers that eight dollars was none toe
much. Board included everything
except laundry and lights. The food
given was said to be abundant and
we'll prepared. He charged one hun
dred dollars for a term of ten months
to those who came from distance.
Local students paid fifty dollars
In August 1851, the first session
opened with most OF the boys from
Greensboro. Among these were the
Lndseys, John Gilmer and John Lo,
gan The number of students was
seven. but after the second session
opening January /, 1852, the number
increased so rapidly that. until after
the Civil War, he rejected more pupils
that he took. This was from lack
of room, anu because he did not want
the care and discipline of large
school. DR.. Wilson never had more
than seVenty-fiVe boys. His sons. Alex
ander and Robert We're his assistants
until after the Civil War when Dr.
John NJ. Wilson took the place Of
Alexander, or Little Doc, as he wa.
called to distinguish him from his:
father, "Old Doc" The school build
ing contained three rooms, two IL
front, and one in the rear Dr. Wilson
taught in the front room, Lltth
Doc" in. the back one, and. a part o
the time Mr. Robert Wilson in tn
other front room. The building Wa'
unpainted and scarcely cost five hun
dred dollars, yet the wilson School
was known all over the South
DIR. Wilson was Il man of mild
manners and gentle aspect, and IN ms
preaching dwelt more on the love OF
God than on His judgments His was
a lovable character yet he was flrm'
clear-sighted, and could be inexorable.
He believed in corporal punishment
but usually he punished by ridicule
and sarcasm, so that those who fell
under his discipline thought it severe.
One of his pupils says, Il never knew
an idle or an obscene word to pass
from his lips; never a syllable that
the most sensitive woman would blush
to hear / never knew a man who
single word or look. He had a ready
and polished wit, like all highly edu-
Gated Irishmen, and he also possessed
an exquisite humor."
DIR. Wilson required regular attend
ance and strict attention from all of
his pupils. His great success as a
teacher was due to thorough work, to
teaching his pupils how to study, how
to use textbooks, and how to think
for themselves. DR.. Wilson was a
master teacher of the Latin and Greek
languages. 1t is interesting to know
that in his study of medicine, he be-
gan tracing the formation and mean
ing of the Greek Words. and thus
formed a love for the language. He
was a scholarly man; he loved and
appreciated good writer, good DOCKS
and fine libraries, of which he owned
a valuable one.
To know the influence of this school'
one has only to glance over the list
of students, and note that some nave
made a national reputation. as Hannls
Taylor of Alabama. and Robert van
Wyck, Mayor of New York CITY;
among the lawyers are Judge Reid
Settle, billiard, Burwell, Dick, and X.
w. Hughes. of Virginia; among the