Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-09-26

"Oh, pshaw, that was too easy"
laughed Jerry. How would you like
the prospect OF being broke and hun
CRY for four times six months?"
THE GEMTNL
There were .070 students at the col
lege. ali young men ranging principal
ly between the AGES OF is aud "a.
and among them were represented
many OF the foremost families of so
cial and industrial America. Tuition
az the college was small, and for that
reason the school was classed at the
head of The country's Representative"
seats Of higher learning. There had
been instances where young men
energetic. ambitious and capable of
bearing against the rub that goes the
wrong way-had worked their way
through the school. but they were
hopelcssly few. The college had posed
as democratic institution. but &c was
in reality exclusive almost 20 a degree
OF suobbishness. and only the sons
OF the liberal rich could attend with
comfort and independence. The per
fpmed atmosphere" was stiding 90
the less best
For more than $50 years the college
had nestled amoug the hills that
sloped away In gentle. picturesque
beauty % the sea The main hall
the nucleus OF the school-in which
the Affairs were conducted. com
handed Fin old colonial simplicity from
one OF the loftier kuolls. and from it.
like the spokes Of a ercat wheel. hedge
ifmar avenues ehnu.n.r fr-.- ,-.-.-- .r..,
other buildings. most Of which bore
the stamp of lattorday making Back
of the college. less than "a mile dis
tant was the settlement, which skirtcd
The town. Here lived the students
aud here stood their retreats and
lodges.
The college owned FRS ori-in Co tho
~unilcc1ce of an old Virginia planter.
who gracious'v bestowed his gift uroa
his maiesty's most loyal subjects in
the colonies At the founding cxer-
cises. the acod benofactor reFercntly
bowed his head when the banner OF
his king was hcisted Co Che STAFF chat
topped the sQuatty. small-wfnfowcd
structure This flag nuttcrod in the
hreozes that came in from the sea-
until The new spirit displaced it with
another The years Crent ON towards
tho newer era. the institution gadu-
ally outgrcw the precariousuoss OF it's
infancy and came into tho shaping
sDlendor OF its early youth-thon iuto
The young glory that was sureh
American
When The kings har was lying away
among the relies of other DAYS. when
tho ride of Revere was serving CAS- an
inspiration 90 children that heard
stories OF vaior no their parents
knees. when the pictures OF Lexington
and Bunker Hu and Yorktown had
become firmly aved Ga their indie
strucublo frames. when the hands OF
the sturdy builders were beginning 20
reach out 90 the west. there came 90
the college a young man named Red
noy Graves
This young man. the son OF ship
master. and son az the sea himself.
soon attained a distinction az the
school that 20 say the least. was
unique. His being fairly breathed that
sort OF originality which has come so
strongly Co characterize prosent-day
college life
Rodney Graves had given some com
fort 90 his fathers anxious heart By
remaining in school throughout the
fun course In those times. whom stu
dents wero few and couege-buiIding
was not the easy matter OF to-day. IL
was not difficult TO stay IN school.
Graves had given promise-that was
about all; Ia painful frankness. the
giving OF promise was all that per.
mitted him 20 complete his course. al
belt he generally WAS considered 10
be the brainiest fellow tn school. His
class records at times brought the
blush OF humiliation 20 his fathers
cheeks. and moro than once he felt
the weight Of parental censure and
threat Scores Of his fellow students
had attained. without especial diff
hculty, the stamp Of high approval
which no. in his devil-may-care indie
pencence, had never even seriously
contemplated.
But Rodney Graves-hopelessly
shiftless and no account in the minds
OF the staid professors-did not leave
the college without achievement. When
the names OF many who had departed
with the glory Of excellence in their
school work had been lost to every
thing by the registrars musty records.
the name OF good-for-nothing Rodney
Graves shone out brilliantly. The older
and more firmly established the school
became the more indelibly impressed
became his name.
The perpetuity OF the name and
fame Of Rodney Graves rested on the
founding OF the GeminI.
This day a portrait OF Rodney
Graves hangs on a wall OF the Gemini.
IN an old brick house back Of the cot
lcge. Silks Of red and blue and white
drape IL, and in the massive frame are
studs of beryl, aquamarine and dark.
blue stones. and inscribed on the can
vas is: Rodney Graves, father OF the
Gemini"
One thousand and sixty-three Of the
students at the college in the year
1898 cursed their fates, or overlooked
their fatAo and curqad fhoFr cto~s