The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-21
BY WILL T. sHEEHAN.

BY WILL T. sHEEHAN.
 Greensboro, which for aforementioned years has been held in the estimation of the State as one of the half dozen cities and towns of the State noted for culture and love of learnings. bids fair under the new era of historical study In Alabama, to become a center of historical information and teach ing. First, it was Mir. Yerby's excel- lent History of Greensboro, and now 1t is the able and interesting little vol ume of Prof. Daniel P. Christenberry In which he tells the story of the first fifty years of the Southern University.
 Published historical works are so un- usual In Alabama that the issuance of two from the same town within three months is worthy of more than pass ing interest. Prof. Christenberry's book with MT. Yerby's recent history treasures Greensboro of a continuance of its 'State- wide reputation as a seat of learning and as a community where letters and all that pertains to them are held in the highest estimation.
 Prof. Christenberry was in a meas ure drafted Into service for his task. The other denomina tions may not know as the Methodists do that the South ern University has had splendid and inspiring career, though it has never ranked as one of the larger institutions of the South and though, because of the heavy losses 1t sustained with the South during the war. 1t has been, like so many other Southern institutions. is inspiration in the simple story of how the institution facing the storm. held Its head true to Its course and fought it's way through danger to the peace and sunlight of a prosperous calm.
 The Board of Trustees and the sac- ulty of the institution, as we'll as many of the leading members of the Methodist Church. who were given ther equipment within the walls of the University, have believed that the University's life story should be given. an adequate telling. Some attempts have been made. some friends of the institution have been urged to write it's history. Writing a history ts no easy task. It means energy and more energy work and more work. No great surprise was felt when several of the pioneers at the task laid, 1t down uncompleted.
 Prof. ChrIstenberry's work.
 Until the friends of the institution could find man who would regard the long and trying task of compiling and writing the history as labor of love. they knew that the worK was not to be done. They united on Prof. Chris tenberry as one whose love for the in- stitution dwarfed any personal consid- eration or reluctance.
 The result Of Prof. Christenbe Iaeors has just been issued from the Paragon Press and the dress and ap- pearance of the book in addition to the merit Of the work, makes 1t a volume that would ornament any library. In this holiday season when so many books are bought for gifts, there are few handgomer volumes seen in any of the book sellers stalls. It is splen- didly Illustrated with portraits of the men who helped to make the Univer- sity.
 The beautiful little volume commem- crates the iftieth year of the charter ing of the institution, which all these years has held so faithfully and so tev' naciously to the Ideals of it's founders. Much of the history Of the University Is as the history of the South--hiKh ideals, prosperity. the promise Of a magnificent future, misfortune. adver- sity and a slow climb upwards through the years from that unfortunate era of which 1t might be said
 "The stars in their courses fought
 against Sisera."
 The city of Montgomery at the pres ent time is taking a leading part in the establishment of a great denomi- national college. The chapter that deals with plans for the new college and with the contributions which made 1t possible has a special significance for the people of Montgomery and for the others who are laboring for the new institutions. That chapter brings suddenly and almost with a shock, the realization of the great wealth and prosperity of the Alabama Black Belt. One remembers suddenly the almost forgotten fact that a little more than half a century ago the richest portion of the Union was the South, and the richest portion of the South was not the city but the country.
 Example for Montgomery.
 Montgomery, which prided herself because of the gift of $50,o00 for the Methodist Women's College, might we'll feel astonished to know that over fifty years ago Greensboro. not a city then, but a town, gave the sum of $500, 900 to have the Southern Unhver- sity located there. The committee of Montgomertans which raised the $50,- 900 for the prospective college in Mont gomery may feel justified in doubling this fact. but the fact is recorded his- tory. The people of our day are not the only people whose love for educa- ton is an ardent flame. There were great men before Agamemnon."
 When the Methodist Conference was considering bids for the location of the University Greensboro not only of fered $500. .000 but a committee of three, who were among the largest