The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-14

! BY EN-. MAGE
rho recent election Of DR.. Paul -.
Barrirger by the Virginia Polytechnio
Institute to high position offers oppor
unit, for calling attention to his
oeighteen Years of service In thisScor- /
munity. and to a brief portraiture OF I
The manner OF nlan he Is
Any narrative bf an Individual Is /
Incomplete withon. a statement of his
geographical origin, and the more
prominent that origin the more inter-
estlng the narrative.
However great the interest excited /
by the man In this case, 1t cannot but
be increased by the knowledge that he
claims as his native habitat North Caro-
lima. a state whose history bulRes with
'higness,' and whose name wakens thel
memory of big achievements. TheI
mere recollection OF Roanoke 1sland.l
Virginia Dare. 'The Mecklenburg Dec
laration." Kings Mountain. Guilford
Courthouse, Wilmington. Bentonville, Ia
evidence sufficient. This evidence.
however. becomes established fact when
bneyrecalls the "old North States" Con-
tedcrate muster roll for four years OF
war, which was greater than that of
any sister State. and exceeded her own
lighting strength when the strife be-
gan. But evidence and fact give place
to religious creed, when, with barred
head and misty eye, we receive the
gacred announcement that the same
old State needs more flowers for Me
mortal Day" and more monuments for
the Eternal Day" tilan any state
whose white star adorned the blue
crossed flag Of red.
Hence, born and nurtured mid big
ness all about him, from everlasting
mountains to equally enduring deeds
1t Is no matter OF surprise that IN PAM
II. Barr!nger may be found one OF those
rare specimens Of the genus homo
whose anslysis IS aptly summed up in
the five words, lie IS a big man
big bodied, big Drained, big hearted,
big In public spirit. and big IN human
charity.
To partially show his public estimate
few incidents may be noted:
In 1889 the University of Virginia
elected him as successor to one of that
mystic trio" Of cultured eminence.
John Staige Davis, James L. Cabell and
John B. Minor. So he left the faculty
OF North Carolina's University and
came here. n the morning of profess
sonal life. when the star of hope IS
soaring aloft upon 4mb!tion'sE wings.
Ia fill the chair of Physiology and sur
gerry.
In 1895 this University chose him as
chairman Of her faculty. a position fer-
merly adorned by the statesmen
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison,
and by such accomplished scholars as
CHARLES S. Venable and William N.
Thornton.
In lssa-19oO our distinguished Medi-
cal Faculty sent him as representative
Il, explain to the legislature the urssn
necessity for a University hospital tc
kept institution abreast OF medical
progress.
In 1901 he was appointed chairman
OF the university Hospital Managing
Committee" to administer the young
hospital Just opened.
In 1906 the Medical Society of vir:
s.nia, by an overwhelming majority
elected him president
a few years ago the condition O.
the public roads called forth the In
dignant protest Ola long SUFFERING
people. who selected him as leader ii
their struggle to improve those condi
tionp
Did a student, who had exceeded tn,
: limit of tolerance, pray for suspension
OF Judgment to retrieve his lost estat'
and save the rending Of a mother
heart, he felt assured OF ig-heartet
charity in the chairman's dealing witt
his case, and from his verdict no ap
/, peal was ever desired.
Did neighbor or colleague need ait
dIlt counsel III matters QH1l
cate adjustment he knew where t
find sympathetic ear and a helpin,
hand--in the North Carolinan,
Appeal for public utility. for instl
tutional advancement, for private aid
never failed to receive merited en-
couragement from him.
o. There is an old adage. Poets ar
born, not made. The same sentimen
applies to teachers. Few men, how
ever scholarly in general attainmen. q
profound IN special knowledge. hav
the faculty of imparting to Others
This Is a gift congenital, but rarel
acquired. and while pupils do eoauir
the knowledge eXpounded to them b
such scholars. generally they learr
but are not taught. A personal post
graduate experience with DIR. Ba.rin
gers teaching justifics the term bril-
liantgin describing the latter, as we
as the assertion that it has been m
fortune to see very few<wflo We're hi
equals in irnparting /knowiedge I
pressive, and entertaining, combine
the three essentials for success, brevit
repetition. and attraction Of the ey
and is characterized by remarkable es
emption from the usually attendar
classroom ennui His brilliancy as
teacher is enhanced no little by
marked artistic talent-that for draw
irg-which permits the employment
object demonstration. the greatest adj,
want in this profession. and one tn;
he has carried TO a high degree OF pr
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