The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-09-14
RUSSELL AT SCHOOL
RAILROAD PRESIDENT ADDRESSES
STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY.
Irtimates That His Road L. Agreeable
to Erection Of New Union Pas
senger Depot Mt
Tuscaloosa.

Inc present ttTI1 VI bHC ~ "a
Alabama was opened today. The reg
istration of students had not been COM
pleted up to late this afternoon, and
1t is expected that the attendance will
exceed that of former years.
The new buildings are nearly COM
pleted and add very much to the IN
terest and enthusiasm of not only the
faculty but the students as well.
Promptly on the hour President Alb
ercrombie called the assembled stu
dents to order. After singing hymn
the exercises were opened with prayer
by n local minister.
President Abercrombie. in opening
the session, called attention to the fact
that there were a number of promi-
nent strangers present. and that he
would call upon one gentleman. ma
tive, born Alabamian. and a friend Of
the University. to say something on
the occasion.
DIR. Abercrombie said: HE is a ma
tive of Franklin County Ala. I refer
to Col. z. L. Russell of Mobile, who
has served on the Board OF Trustees
of this University. and has ever been
our friend. I do not know the object
OF his visit to Tuscaloosa at this time
but / have an idea that he Is looking
into the question of a. union station
for this city (AppIause.)
Mr.. Russell. in replying, said that
1t was unnecessary for him to state
that a speech was not on his program,
because he had no expectation OF
meeting the students OF the University.
Col. Russell Speaks.
but I am here" he said, "and
want to state that It Is extremely In
teresting and a pleasure to me to meet
the young ladies and the youths who
are to be enrolled for the coming term
of the University of Alabama. I am
glad to be in Tuscaloosa and am glad
to be with you on this occasion.
have not been here for several years.
but used to spend good deal of my
time in this city when we were build
ing the Mobile and Ohio Railroad ex-
tension. Personally. I am very fond Of
Tuscaloosa, and I want to say that you
have a great future before you. Ihave
not seen any city which has grown SO
rapidly and substantially as has the
city of Tuscaloosa in the past four or
five years, and I stand ready. with the
management of one of the roads en-
tering your city. to do anything that
will contribute TO the development ano
| prosperity OF the city of Tuscaloosa.
"I served on the Board Of Trustees
with DR.. Abercrombie. and during my
service I discovered that he was one
of the best trained men that ever met
| in the line of his profession. He de-
monstrated from his practical knowl-
edge of the school system of this State.
and his ability as an educator, that he
was in every way qualified to be at
| the head of the University or ALABAMA.
| (Applause.)
| 81 want to congratulate the State
and the University for having selected
a man Of his attachments to be at the
| head of such an institution. but, Of
course, the Doctor has had a good deal
Of experience in life. and has taken
advantage OF me. He talks to you
about a union depot. l want to say
| that the Alabama Great Southern off,
cials are not here and I am only look
| ing around to acquaint myself with the
situation, but / do want to say that
| the women of Alabama are the fairest
| in the land and excepting only a few.
| 1 think possibly one, there are none
fairer drawer or truer, than those Of
Tuscaloosa County. and II results are
to be secured, the President and his
friends must have the ladies with
him."
Refers to Former Visit.
Colonel Russell referred to an Incl
dent during a former visit. and stated
that he had some recollection of fur
nishinr a carpet at that time for the
| Presidents quarters. and that now or
| this visit the Presiden had asked him
to furnish a union depot.
DR.. Abercrombie told the speaker
! that while the carpet he referred to
was still on the floor. 1t was consider
| ably worn. and to the amusement of
the assembled students. Colonel Russell
replied that he would furnish another
carpet"
DR.. Abercrombie. when Colonel Rus
sell concluded. said that he had not
| intended to call upon any other Mo-
bile gentleman present, but that there
was one man whom he felt he would
be justified in calling upon to make a
few remarks to the student body. Hon.
r. V. Taylor, the general manager Of
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
| Mr.. Taylor, though taken complete
ly by SURPRISE was in his happiest vein.
After addressing the President, the Ia
| dies and students. he said:
I'm every great State there Is an ir-
| repressibIe conflict always going on be-
| tween the forces for good and those for
evil. This ancient institution of learn
ing, Mr.. President. is looked upon by
! the people OF this great commonwealth
as a very citadel Of truth from which
have always emanated and from which
always will emanate influences OF the
very highest and Hottest character for
the benent of our citizenship. ZAP
| plause,)
Was @Hard Times BOY"
'I wish TO say, Mr.. President, that
there is no process of illustration SO
strong as that of contrast. 1t so hap
pened that I was a hard times Boy
ana In my early youth I was deprived
of the benefits obtained in the school
room. At a very early age Just as ]
was entering my teens. 1t became nee