The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-08
Woodrow Wilson's Student Days
at the University of Virginia
ny ID. Hidden RAMSEY.


THAT young man viii be an honor to
his state remarked Governor Hub
bard. of Louisiana. I'm June 1850. on
hearing young University of Virginia
law student deliver speech at the
final celebration OF the literary socie-
ties. On November > OF this year the
young man TO whom Governor Hub
hard had reference. now verging on
sixty. and with thirty years OF bril-
liant public service stretching behind
him. was elected President OF the
United States
Thomas Woodrow Wilson matricu-
lated IN the law school Of the Univer-
sity OF Virginia in the last week Of
September. 1879 He had received his
bachelors degree Al Princeton Univer-
sity In June Of the same year. His
father who was a PRESBYTERIAN min
lister. was At This time holding pas
oorate IN the venerable city Of Will
mington. y. =.
During his last year at Princeton
young Wilson had become fascinated
with practical politics. Public life pre-
scented strong APPEAL 10 him. stirring
in him the instructive predictions for
politics 50 Characteristic Of the young.
mentally alert Southerner OF that pc
Rod. lie read The best works on po-
iitical science and economic history
and was eNtrt nelly Interested IN the
current political movements n other
countries When he lrfi Princeton and
returned % his Sorth Carolina home, ne
was determined 10 enter some law
school and prepare himself for life
Of public service
In the south then the study OF law
was regarded ss a stepping stone 10
political prefeTment Every Young
lawyer Was regarded as pOtentia!
statesman The University Of virginia,
which had pre-em,nently the best law
school south of the Mason and LpAon
Hne. and which enjoyed the distinct
reputation OF being founded BY Thomas
jefferson. was in fact. great training
school for statesmen. Here Rocked
-he sons Of the best families u the
south
Dr.. John B. Minor who was un-
doubtedly one OF the greatest law
teachers OF his generation. not cniy
taught the Law and reason thereof.
but also grounded his pupils IN the rum
danentaI principles Of society and gov
ornment He vas keenly interested in
the relations between law and politics.
and the thoroughness with which he
impressed these relations upon his
pupils is evidenced b. the large pro-
portion Of his students who have at
taincd success in public ne
A student Leader.
Wilson's four years Of cOllege life
at Davidson and Princeton had equip
ped him to play The part OF student
leader al the University OF Virginia.
And he found little difficulty in win
ming the esteem OF his professors and
students alike. lie may be said to
e. t1arr.
He was neither grind nor loafer.
q millionaire nor a pauper- He had
learned the true values of college eH-
periences and Was interested in all
student aciivities-athletics debating.
Journalism and good. wholesome fell
io~ship.
The President elect did not distin
guish himself in his studies at VIZ
sinia He stood among the best, but
was not a prize student The Inivers-
ity Of Virginia Magazine refers 10
him during his second year st the
university as the surest man for B.
J." This student slang Interpreted in
modern parlance means that Wilson'S
thoroughness insured his securing his
degree while II prevented his leading
the class.
Wilson was an onalivorcus reader and
spent more time In reading standard
novels and authoritative tceatises on
economies and politics than in prepar-
Ing hts Blackstone and real property
His personal contact with DR.. John B.
Minor was possibly the most lasting
Influence that he received at the uni
versity. DR.. Minor was a man Of strik-
ing personality. was loved by his stu
dents for his personal qualities and
respected for intellectual abilities and
practically incarnated the best spirit
and traditions Of the university OF
that day.
In an address delivered at the uni
vsrsity two years ago. Wilson referred
TO Minor as the beloved DR.. Minor 70
and declared that this distinguish ed
law professor had influenced him more
for good than any other man with
whom he had ever associated.
Young Wilson had won considerable
rsputst ton "a public speaker during
his career at Princeton and soon after
lis matriculation at Virginia ne be-
came a member Of the jefferson So
cfety University student life centred