The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-06
Next President of United
States Native Old Dominion

read men In this or any other coun-
try.
In the autumn of 1870, the Wilson's
moved to Columbia, s. c., and three
years later Woodrow, who was then
seventeen. began his scholastic ca
reer at Davidson college, While this
institution was rather obscure as COM
pared with the great colleges Of the
North, the elder Wilson deliberately
selected Davidson as the starting point
for his sons college work, because of
the superior character OF it's faculty
Davidson is still fiouTish!ng and Is
now we'll equipped, but at the time
Woodrow Wilson attended there 1t
was rather primitive. The boys took
care OF their own rooms, filled their
own lamps, cut and carried In their
own wood and brought water from
the old pump. About the only record
young Wilson seerns to have made at
Davidson was the ability TO dress,
cross the campus and get into his seat
at chapel. quicker than any one else.
He is said To have accomplished the
feat on several occasions before the
chapel bell stopped ringing.
He is remembered at Davidson as
Il pleasant hammered, engaging youns
man, who did not seem to be very
much interested In out OF door sports,
which at that time consisted of base
bali and Shiny" He did play base
ball on the college nine for time,
hut his record perhaps would not
excite the envy of Ty Cobb. There
is tradition which has it that on
one occasion, the captain OF the team
becoming vexed over Wilson'S listless
manner Of play during II holly con-
tested game. said:
w iisOn YOU would make danny
player II you were not SO damned
lazy
Wilson was at Davidson but one
year The following year he remain
ed at home, the elder Wilson In tho
meantime having moved to Whining
ton. This year he spent In preparation
for entrance into a Northern univer-
sity. and entertaining his younger
brother.
Enters Princeton.
In September, 1875. Woodrow Will
son entered the freshman class at
Princeton There were 13s young
men IN the class. Before the war
Princeton had ben the most favored
Northern college by the young men or
the South. hut after the war their
numbers began to fall Oft and at the
time Woodrow Wilson enrolled but a
very few OF the students hailed from
the South OF the Mason and Dixon
line.
The next president Is man who
in.tinctiNelg baiits at doing things
simply because they have been done
before. From his earliest youth he
has insisted upon his own personality
and individuality. AT the time he
entered Princeton that institution was
just one OF the educational mills.
Young Wilson refused to st snugly In
the groove and be ground out.
He had not been at Princeton long
before he found out just what he
be a public man; to devote his life
to the service of his country.
This determination came with a
thrill upon reading in an English mag
az.ne series Of articles on the Brit
ish parliament. presenting in graphic
languages the dramatic scenes enacted
in the British legislature. He never
forgot the picture. He hunted up ev-
erythng in the library he could find
bearing upon this subject and devour-
ed It. and from that day to this has
never wavered in his determination
to play an active part In the stirring
scenes on, his +oonnsFy,s paliticaa stage.
Mr.. Wilson began his preparation
at once He subordinated his regular
college work to the task Of fitting him.
self for publ C life.
He devoted all his energy and every
faculty he possessed to the furnish
ing and the training OF his mind to
the end that he might be an authority
on government and the history OF
government and be 4 leader In the
affairs OF his country.
No man ever subjected himself to
steamer discipline or worked more
stAAdfAstiy towards = l1xed goal He