The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-11-13
DIR. CARLISLE.
A Story of the Life Work Of South
Carolina Teacher.
Worlds Work:

World's Work:
If you were to go to the town Of
Spartanburg. S. c., and spend an
evening in the house Of any man who
lives there conversation would be
sure to turn. on Dr.. Cralisle, and if
You should happen to 60 to the home
Of any one who has direct personal
interest in Wofford college. which is
situated al one end Of the town. the
chances are that most Of the talk OF
the evening would be about DR.. Car
Isle. If You happen to be at the col
lege at a commencement time, You
would hear a reverent and affection
ate allusion to DR.. Carlisle in every
public address. and you might see
every class that comes back to its re-
union 90 to his house in a body to ex-
press their affectionate obligation to
him.
And who is DR.. Cralisle? A man
who went to the college teacher of
astronomy and moral science, in 1854.
when il was founded. and who has
been there ever since. part OF the
time as teacher. a part Of the time as
president. and again as teacher. He
still meets his classes once or twice
week even at his advanced age.
Doubtless neither philosophers nor
astronomers regard him as a great
contributor to their departments OF
learning. Yet it is doubtful whether
there be an astronomer or philosopher
at any institution or in any commun-
ity in our land who has exerted So
strong an Influence upon the young
men who have come in contact with
him. They do not say that he taught
them astronomy or philosophy, bul
they do all bear testimony to his CIV
ing them in greater measure than
any other man a right adjustment t.
life and a moral uplift-a kind Of IN
fluence that the oldest Of his pupils,
who are now themselves far on i'll
modle life, remember with affec-
tion that has grown since their
youth, and throughout the colleges
influence men and women say: "We
must send our sons to Wofford col
lege because DR.. Carlisle is there. "
He is now an old gentleman OF
great dignity Of character and OF
speech, Of wide if desultory reading,
but not Of the modern type of schol-
arship. He is not an orator, and yet,
until few years ego, he had the
habit Of delivering a public lecture
once a year, or oftener, in the town,
and anybody who did not go to hear
him. lost standing in the community
by his absence. These lectures were
lay sermons, out everybody receiv-
ed them as a sort Of halfinspired de-
liverances. He has never held pub
lie office, except that he was mem
ber Of the Secession convention i'll
South Carolina, and is the only sur
viving rember but one, and ne Is
said to have called this adventure
piece Of boyish fooishness. He was
never a preacher, but always only a
teacher, and what he taught best was
neither science nor literature-but
character.
The story is told Of a man in Tex.
as who met a visitor from Spartan.
burg. The first question he asked
was: "Do you know DR.. Carlisle9'
eyes," said the other. "Are You 60
ing back to Spartanburg9' eyes J.
"Well, I wish you would give DR..
Carlisle my most afectionate regards,
remind him that I was dismissed from
college in spite Of his effort to save
me-; tell <him that I came to Texas
and for several years I tried my
best to 60 to the devil by various
roads, but that did not succeed, BE-
cause before I got far always saw
his finger pointed at fae and heard
his voice. and they restrained mt.
He may be glad to hear this.''
Possibly the great business OF
teaching may get some hint from this
simple story.