Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-13

Fifty years ago next July the Uni versity of the South, or Sewanee uni versity as 1t is best known, was or ganized, and in recognition of that be- ginning a celebration is to be held this year on the beautiful grounds of the institution on the high plateau of Lookout mountain to which will come the Sewanee clans from all parts of the union.
 In the clan of Sewanee are such men as President Roosevelt and J. Pierpont Morgan, both of whom have promised to climb the mountain and join in the festivities. Neither the president nor the millionaire-inan- icier are graduates of Sewanee, but because of the help they have given the university they are counted as members of the clan.
 President Roosevelt was particular. ,ly attracted to Sewanee because of its attitude in the negro problem. He believes that the university will play a conspicuous part in years to come in solving the question. The presi. dent is intimately acquainted with the vice chancellor of the university, Prof. B. L. Wiggins, and has professed the greatest confidence in Sewanee's work.
 Sewanee teaches its students that the perplexing race problem is to be solved only by appealing to the moral side of the negro. Intellectual devel opment of the colored man, Sewanee believes, cannot alone accomplish the work. The working out of this prob lem is only a part of Sewanee's am bition. The university, broad in prin' ciple upon every question, aims to turn out men who are able to grasp the hardest questions of life, guided by the spirit of altruism.
 \ That was the spirit that inspired the founders of the University of the South when, in 1857, the corner stone for the institution was laid on Look out mountain. Sewanee has turned out thousands of graduates. and to- day there are lawyers. doctors and business men of great prominence throughout the country who will say that 1t was the influence of Sewanee that was in great measure responsi ble for their success.
 J. Pierpont Morgan became inter ested in Sewanee five years ago. when he attended convention of the Epis copal church, in Minneapolis. The university, although run under the auspices of the Episcopal church, is non-sectarian in character. Bishop Dudley, of Kentucky. told the con vention of Sewanee's work, and Nor gan became deeply impressed.
 When the convention was over Mir, Morgan told Bishop Dudley that he would like to help such university as he had described. A few weeks later the millionaire sent the univer. sity S50,00O in railroad bonds and fol lowed 1t up with cash donation of s15,000. Lately he has promised an other donation.
 There are over 500 New Workers who were graduated from Sewanee They have organized an alumni SO ciety with Dr. John H. P. Hodgson of Washington Square, as president Dr. Hodgson's father, Rev. Dr. Tel fair Hodgson. was SO fond of the unl versity that for 15 years he gave his services gratis as Its vice chancellor At his death, some years ago. Mrs Hodgson, his widow. erected a me morial chapel costing s23.000 on the university grounds. Rev. Mir. Hodg son. during his service as vice chan cellor. presented the university with a medical infirmary.
 Sewanee has a romantic history Bishop Folk. of Louisiana. was its founder. A son of the bishop, Dr William N. Folk. is prominent prac titioner in this city. Bishop Polk enlisted interest among southerners and got a donation of 10000 acres ol forest land on high plateau on Look out mountain. Besides this. he was promised endowments aggregatine 5000 900.
 The day the corner stone was laid "a bleak afternoon in October-s.00 men and women made their way tc the mountain top. In the town ol Sesanee. at the foot of the mountain there were not nearly enough houses to shelter them for the night. Tents were pitched in the forest. and there the visitors rested There was an i'm uense barbecue. and the occasion vas one long to be remembered.
 Several wooden structures were put up for the vorkmen. and the work oi building the University of the South vas soon begun. Then came the civil war. The Seventh Illinois troops one