The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-14
M|NOR|SSPEAKER
At COLLEGE HOUR
He Gives Delightful Address on
Student Life in the
Eighties"

Charlottesville. Va, November ls.-
Professor Raleigh c. Minor. Of the
School Of Law at the University Of vir-
ginia. gave a delightful address at the
November college hour in Caben Hall
this afternoon. His subject was STU
dent Life In the Eighties" He relat-
ed many incidents Of the eventful days
OF that period.
Professor Minor referred eloquent
ly to the state OF affairs in the frst
decade after the war. AT the time
Of which l speak," he said. the South
had scarce begun to recover from the
dreadful devastation Of its farms and
factories resulting from the great
conflict between the States. Her peo-
pie were poverty-stricken. her homes
desolated by the red rapine OF war, and
such resources as were lett were taxed
to the utrermOst to feed. clothe and
school her children. and her newly
freed slaves. But war and ruthless ruin
had not dimmed the fair fame of Vir-
ginia's fame Of learning. nor had they
marred its material presentment. True.
the armies of Sheridan had passed
through the Valley to Richmond, but
they had spared it the cruel fate that
befell the Virginia Military Institute
Professor Minor contrasted some OF
the striking features Of university lie
in the earlier period with customs now
in vogue, and told a number OF excel
lent stories Of men and events OF the
bygone regime. Speaking of the honor
system, he said:
In those days the honor spirit In the
university shone as bright and clear as
it does to-day, but the machinery Tor
its Observation-Disclosures Tor a smaii
number OF students, each OF whom
would know every one eise-woui0
doubtless prove unit for the larger and
more heterogeneous attendance Oh Tue
present Indeed. il can scare be SAID
that there was then any machinery fof
the purpose Students were very care
full. as they ought to be. now they
would accuse a fellow student. by this
very care would make 1t quite certain
that when he was accused the EVIL
dence against him void be Well nlgh
overwhelming. 1t was An honor spirit
rather than an honor system, thouSn
then. as now. il was spoken OK as the
honor system. l hope the time wlil
never come when, in our admiration OF
our improved machinery for the PUNISH
ment OF violators OF the honor code'
We shall contound the essence with the
incident. 1t is the honor spirit, not the
system Of punishment for its VIOLATION,
that constitutes the pride and glory OF
this university-a spirit which leads US
to fear the inner stain OF disnonor lar
more than the material punishment OF
it"
The evolution Of athletic activities
at the university and the development
of other phases OF student life were
discussed by Professor Minor with Wit
and wisdom He ventured but .one
piece Of advice. and that was. that the
students Of to-day should follow the
example of their predecessors more
CLOSELY in their relations with members
Of the faculty. On this point he said
"Ons of the things the student of
the eighties is apt to recall with great
distinctness Is the close relation that
existed between himself and his pro-
fessors. This was perhaps due In part
to the smaller number OF professors
an well as Of students, and in part 10
the more sociable habits that prevaiieo
In those days. The man OF that decade
would come to his friends OF the facui
ty when ne was in trouble with his
studies, or otherwise as naturally as
he would go to any older friend out IN
the great world. 1t is unfortunate Tor
professors and students alike that there
should be any change IN this respect
ID. III. Ramsey. editor-in-chies OF COL
lese Topics. explained the new ar
rangements affecting the university
newspaper. and said a sinking fund
had been established which would en-
able the paper TO develop rs II should
Professor Charles ~ wunder pre-
sided. w A. Pott led the students in
singing some Of the cid familiar songs
and ia giving a few yeiis.