The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-27

classes, and with winning certificate.
of proficiency in their examinations
Is 1t not possible too that some of
this Incorporate spirit had it's spur,
II not its origin. In n mere boyish
itching to torment the foreigners who
, occupied the pavilions? The four Eng
lishmen had been accustomed to q
more orderly collegiate life than they
found among the young men at the
new university. although they too
must have remembered that there
| were times when town and gown, col
liding In the stroets of oxford, GRO
ated more riot than the young South
| erners had ever raised The entire
faculty. very naturally. were highly
! offended by the Righteousness prevail
! Ing around them, not simply because
/ II interrupted and confused tho aca-
! demic routine, but because, IL left un-
curbcd. Ii might threaten their lives.
| An armed student in mask, as the
! Davis tragedy at later date proved,
I might by an ugly mood be led on to
/ commit an open homicide. The exas-
/ 2eration OF the professors was pal
pablo to all the collegians; and that
knowledge no doubt egged on the most
lawiess among them to annoy the un-
! happy faculty further. to the high
sratification of those who were evil
disposed or who were simply lovers
OF mischief
What was the character OF the So
ciety in the background of this some
| what turbulent academic life? / have
already dwelt on the social accom-
Piishments of the eight members OF
the faculty-mdN who brought with
them. not only the culture to be- OBJ
tanned from books alone. tut also that
breadth of view and that liberality of
opinion which spring from familiar
acquaintance with the world.
Professors Key and Dunglison had
married on the eve of leaving Eng
land for the university. and Long and
Bonnycastle soon found attractive
wives in Virginia. These ladies were,
from the beginning. averse to the use
OF the lower floor of their respective
pavilions by their husbands as lecture
halls; and IN short time. by subtle,
indirect methods only to be devised by
feminine ingenuity, they had barred
out the students. and converted the
lecture halls into drawing rooms:
which at once became the centre of
refined and charming hospitality.
The Impress of this early social
life seem to have been highly favor
able, although here and there build
ing was still unfinished, the air still
fun of the odor of fresh paint, the
grounds in perfectly raw condition,
and the university routine under con-
slant strain from youthful turbulence
as yet unrepressed. The families OF
the numerous gentry who occupied
their ancestral homes In the sur
rounding country swelled the number
of persons present on public occasions
at the university; and as frequent Wis
itors, they contributed to the pleasant
variety of Its social life. Students
were permitted. under strict super
vision, to give within college bounds
entertainments to which ladies were
Invited; and In the course OF zach
year there were several balls and eve
ming parties attended by the profess
sors and their wives, the collegians,
and the families OF the county gem
try. The Fourth OF July and the
birthday of Washington were always
celebrated with patriotic enthusiasm.
On these different occasions dane
Ing was the principal diversion: and
there is no reason to think that rea-
sonable quantity OF rcvivlfying mint
sling and apple toddy was then
frowned upon. Jigs. reels. and break
downs. performed with all the gaiety
and untiring energy OF youth, closed
the entertainment
But there was another kind OF pas
, time which never failed TO delight the
| student who had any taste for intel
lectual pleasures. or any sense OF his
torical perspective-this was a visit TO
Monticello In response to Mr.. Jerer-
sons invitation. It was his custom to
ask about dozen OF the young men
to dinner at one time, until all had
partaken of his hospitality on at least
| two occasions. He had wonderful
power. we are told, of interesting his
youthful guests. and OF making the
| most diffident feel at ease In his com
| pany: he know from what State and
even from what county each one came.
and would question him about that
part Of the country. or about his
studies; and he always showed ex-
quisite tact In distributing his atten-
ton among his several visitors, go that
all felt that they had been equally
honored by his polite consideration.
! No doubt, In his turn, Poe was in
vited to Monticello. and with his COM
panions listened to the lively and
varied "reminiscences OF that great
statesman and versatile philosopher.
and was treated by him with all the
charming courtesy of past age One
may well speculate as to whether the
future poet was bold enough to pro-
| claim in that august presence the pes-
simistic opinion OF democracy which
he expressed in writing many years
| afterwards.
| Poe was not dependent on tho So
ciety OF his fellow students for all his
| diversion in his hours OF leisure. The
country around Charlottesville is bro
ken by several beautiful Irregular
/ n mr. "A lot