Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-02-06


The Wilson's rented house in Ii
brary place. After few years they
built home for themselves on an ad-
joining lot. an attractive half tim
bered house designed by Mrs. Wilson.
The new professor stepped at once
into the front rank, as indeed became
a Princeton graduate, member of one
Of the most famous classes the old
college had graduated, man thor
oughly imbued with the best tradi-
tons OF the place. But his lectures
Princeton had no tradition that ac-
counted for their charm. They in
stantly became popular; the attendance
mounted until 1t surpassed that ever
before or since given any course of
study at Princeton. Before long very
nearly 400 students, almost the total
number of juniors and seniors com
bined, were taking Wilson's courses,
and they were no "cinches" either.
Widely Informed, marked by mastery
of fact even to slight detail, inspiring
In their range and sweep and spiced
with pervading sense Of humor, Pro
fessor Wilson's lectures were further
marked by the great freedom with
which he delivered himself of his
views on current events. 1t was his
custom to put students on their honor
not to report him; there were always
likely to be in attendance students
who had connections with city news
papers who might frequently have
made good stories out of the pro-
fessor's lively comments on the poll
tics of the day, but none ever took ad-
vantage of the opportunity.
The classes were now so large that
the work of professor consisted al
most entirely Of lecturing. AS we
shall see later, 1t was not then the
Princeton idea to give the students
any particular oversight or inspiration
elsewhere than In the classroom. Yet
the Wilson home became and always
remained n resort hugely popular with
the young men who were so lucky as
to be admitted to 1t. and It's doors
were Hospitality hung. Professor VIII
son. In short stepped into the position
of first favorite alike with his col
leagues OF the faculty and with the
undergrads They have at Princeton
way of voting at the end of each
year for all possible sorts of popular
pcrsonages" For number of years
Professor Wilson was voted the most
popular professor. He was able. he
was genial he was active. member
of the faculty committee on outdoor
sports and Of the faculty committee
on discipline. In faculty meetings Mr.
Wilson soon became one of those most
attcntlvely listened to-
During the twelve years. 1890 to ]
1902, Mr. Wilson continued to fulfill at
Princeton the duties of professor of
Jurisprudence and politics. They were
twelve years OF steady yet pleasant
labor-years of growth and of grow
ing influence both In the university
and I'm the country. Four new books
were added to the list signed by this
man who wrote history and politics
with so much literary charm-"Divi
sion and Reunion" IAN Old Master"
"Mere Liter& ture" and George Wash
ington." I'D was heard now In occa
sional addresses in many parts of the
fore commercial, industrial and pro
fessional bodies The vigor Of his
views on questions of the day. as well
as his readiness. grace and power on
the platform. gave him place among
the recognized leaders of national
thought. He had for time continued
going down to Johns Hopkins. and
now he gave occasional lectures at the
New York Law school.
At the end of decade in his chair
Mr.. Wilson had attained. naturally
and with the good will of all. a posi-
ton of unchalenged supremacy in the
university town and of marked dis
tinction in the country.
: With such brief summary. this biog-
raphy must dismiss a period the ex.
ternal facts of which were of little
dramatic value, incommensurate alto.
gether with their Importance in the
development and strengthening of con
viction and character which were to
have play in the time which we now
approach.
AS one looks into those twelve years
what chiefly tmpreSses him in the man
Is the growth in vividness of his social
sense, his love OF humanity express
ing itself most commonly in terms of
patriotism, 1t is clear. too, that he is
winning some wise insight into the
mystery of the unfolding of the minds
of young men, acquiring much skill In
the craft of the teacher and reaching
withal some conclusions respecting
principles and methods of Education,
But. beyond and above all other convic
tons that ripened during these twelve
years in the enlivening companionShip
of students in the joyful exercise be
fore them of his gift of speech and in
the lonely stiffness of heart that
pondered the history of human inStitu
tons and the laws Of progress. there
grew up In Woodrow Wilson a terVent