The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-22

In vew of the news developments of the past week the following letter will be read with interest. It is from a Birning- ham boy at Sewanee and was written November 10, 19l1 It describes a visit made to the university by President Taft and Maj Archibald Butt:
 November 10, 1911
 'eTaft has come and gone, and now se- vance is rejoicing that she has been put upon the map by his vsit The day was cloudy and grim and damp and light fog mantled the mountain, but everyone seemed to forget about the weather and were in the best of spirits, and the whole population-university, village and cove was at the station this morning awaiting his arrival. The Delts were all in a bunch ready to give Brother Archie a hearty yell when lle got off the train. The cadets of the academy were lined along the road up from the station, handsome in their dark blue uniforms, smart braid ed caps, white gloves polished shoes and shining guns, and each cadet felt he was the personal bodyguard of William How ard Taft. Major Benton, the command ant. was quite distinguished in his full dress artillery-red uniform-and he stood before the lines like the centurion of 1Of1De1l. Iile Sluuenl6 NtIb Iitu OH each side of the passage left for the President to enter the automobile, brought down from Tracey City for the occasion. Several of the village men were very proudly mounted on hack steeds and had pinned to their breasts the important in- signia label Special Officer The gowns men were all on hand with their caps and gowns. No one was allowed on the plat form except the Special Officers on foot and the privileged ones.
 We were all most anxious to see Butt He had written me saying he could not possibly leave the Presidents side, but that he did want to meet his Delta brothers somehow, somewhere The vice chancellor and the chancellor Bishop Gailor) had gone to Cowan to meet the party. As soon the train pulled in I was out on the platform ready to meet Butt, and told the special officers that l was delegate extraordinary to meet Major Butt, Several minutes elapsed before the President got off or any of his party. So | thought |, would save time and get Brother Archie before he got off the train l managed to get in the back end or the car and found him in the drawing room. He remembered my name, having had some correspondence with me, and he was most cordial to me. I told him that we had planned a very exclusive reception foe him out at the chapter house, and that he simply must come out. He f>id that he would give up the drive around to the views and would come with me. So left him with others to go to the chapel, and told him l would meet him again i'm mediately after the Presidents address. The welcome given the President was hearty, but dignihed and the cadets headed the line of march to the chapel. The usual morning services were held and the President was much impressed with them. The chapel was just packed, but the students had their regular seats. After the services it was announced that Mir. Taft would speak from the steps of the chapel, and so everybody punched around the front. Bishop Gailor intro- duced MT. Taft with a brief statement, and the President began-how glad he was to be in this gem of mountain to breathe in the air that has given the sons of Sewanee such enthusiasm and went on to name sevesal very prominent Sewanee men in the national life, among them Justice Lurton tnot a Sewanee stu dent, but a Sewanee trustee at one time), General Gorgas, Major Butt and others. He said that 1t was practically due to General Gorgas that the conditions in the state of Panama were improved SO that the Panama canal could be built. He said that Major Butt had been trying to get him to come to Sewanee since March 1. 1909. The number of Sewanee's sons who have won their way to prominence you can recount better than I, but whenever I meet one l know that he must be a good man from the experiences he has gone through and from the influence af- feeting his life.
 "T have been engaged for the last 50 days in part in a missionary effort feel a little Episcopal myself. I do not mean to say that there is anything about