The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-25
WASHINGTON AND LEES NEW
HEAD

Another North Carolinian has been
drafted for Virginia university pres
idency. Dr. Henry Louis Smith. who
was yesterday elected president Of
Washington and Lee, will form with
Presidents Alderman. OF the University
OF Virginia, and Rarringer. OF tho vir-
g!n.a Polytechnic Institute. a triad OF
sons OF the Old North State serving as
tho executives OF higher educational
Institutions in the Old Dominion.
No easy task has II been to NJ! Dr.
Denny's chair at Washington end Lee;
it truly seemed that ''Ulyases has gone
and there Is none left IN ithaca that
can bend his bow" but tho trustees
OF tho ancient and honorable univer-
sity at Lexington have. as James Rus
sell Lowell se!d OF Eliot when he was
chosen president of Harvard, found a
captain at last" The record OF DE-
Smith, the president-eleot, Is abso-
iutoiy and admirably constructive. In
fact. his work at Davidson College,
where ne has served as president for
decade. has been TO e great degree
analogous to that of Dr. Denny 1T
Washington and Lee. Taking aold OF
Davidson College in 1901. when It was
a small but most efcient college,
President Smith more than doubled It's
attendance in his ten years service;
raised tho entrance requirements to
The fourteen points standard; doubled
the equipment of the college; trebled
the amount OF money collected from
students, and In every way upbuilt and
streng thened Davidson. Under his ad-
ministrat!on Davidson has been
changed frcm comparatively un
known UNCONVENTIONAL college into an
institution Of most favorable note
with we'll earned reputation for
sound scholarship and real training
Tor life. For almost a quarter of g
century as professor of physics and
president OF Davidson College. Dr.
Smith rendered conspicuous and sub-
stanual service rs teacher and a
leader, holding always the aMectionate
regard Of students and alumni. Ask a
Davidson man about DR.. Smith. and he
structor and the man.
II is an interesting coincidence that
the new president is grandson OF
Washington and Lee. for his father
was an honored alumnus o, Washing
ton and Lee and native OF Lexington.
VALE he Is A 3. and NJ A OF David
| son ana LII. D. of tho University Of
| North Carolina, DIR Smith received his
doctorate OF philosophy from the Uni
VorStty of Virginia. where he was en-
rolled for two sess!ons He is widely
known az scientist, and has lectured
and written much upon scientific .op,cs
and is a member OF the National Geo
graphical Society and the American
academy for the Advancement OF
Science. He took tho mrs, x-ray pho
togEaphs south OF Johns Hopkins, and
Is an authority on the N--ay
| Tho President elect OF washington
and Lee is member of family re-
inarkable tor the unusual mental abu
ity Of IT'S members. DR. Smith Is one
/ OF several brothers. each Of whom has
"or just reputation for his brilliant
glftS The late DR.. Samuel NJ Smith
one Of these brothers. was ons OF the
most enthusiastically powerful men In
the Southern Presbyterian ministry. a
ROUNDED scholar and compelling
'FsasaeT HIS grafton al THO unve!l-
ing NJ The monument erected in Co
'"mhia, 6. C.. TO the memory Of n. q
Gonzales the murdered editor OF the
Columbia state, ranks with the bes,
IN southern annals. Two other broth
are forceful and unusually able
Presbyterian ministers third broth
or rs our own Dr. Charles ,lphonso
smith Poe professor OF English in the
university OF Virginia and former
roosevelt professor Mt The Trnivcr,t,y