Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-04-09
CHAPTER "

CHAPTER. v. III.
Still Studying Law and Politics.
fVAYl AR and reconstruction had re-.
IL" duced the number of students
E54 ut Charlottesville to 1928 in
4 the session Of 1S79-9O. but
war and reconstruction had not low
cred Virginia's lofty standard either of
scholarship or of honor. Wilson's life
here was in many respects repeti-
ton of that at Princeton. Here. too.
he Immediately took his place as a
leader. Study was rather more neces-
sary than at Princeton in those days.
A man had to work to pass his exam
nations. Still there was gay set as
well as steady set, and Wilson had
friends among both. I'LL = " s .. sss
Sports were engaged in to the extent
Of an occasional baseball game among
the students or with nine from
neighboring town, foot race or two
in the autumn and some boat racing.
Wilson played a little baseball and
took long walks through the pleasant
country lying about, often alone
though sometimes with favorite COM
panion. At Princeton Greek letter fra
ternities were illegal, but they existed
with the approval of the faculty at the
University of Virginia, and Wilson was
Initiated into the Phi Kappa Psi. ~.
He Joined the chapel choir and the
glee club. The latter circle Of har-
monious spirits made serenading ex-
cursions in the country roundabout
two or three times week, winding
up it's pleasure imparting career with
q grand concert in the town hall. Will
son many q night stumbled along the
rocky roads with his fellow gleemen
to arrive at last under the balcony Of
some damsel and lift his fine tenor
voice in "She Sleeps, My Lady Sleeps"
and "Speed Away" At the grand con-
cert, which was given on the evening
Of the final ball, a brilliant audience
that crowded the hall beheld the prize
orator and prize writer step down to
the footlights and render touching
tenor solo. Wilson is best remembered
as singer, however, by the thrilling
effect with which he usually achieved
the high note near the end Of "The
Star Spangled Banner"
Wilson did good deal Of writing
while at Charlottesville. From the
road in front Of "Dawson's row" pass
ersby would see him sitting at the
window in the southeast corner Of
House F." darkly engaged with an
ink bottle, out Of which he had con-
jured before a year was up the writ
er's prize.
In March, 1880, the University Mag
azine printed an article by him on
John Bright, in the following month
another on Gladstone: The young
mans mind still ran, as it had run at
Princeton, on the personality of the
great political leaders.
The John Bright article was really a
version Of an Grafton which Wilson
was delivering that month. So great
had his reputation grown in six
months that there was a considerable
demand from outside the university
for admission, and the occasion was
thrown open to the public.
At Charlottesville as at Princeton
the student body was divided into two
| literary and debating societies-the
Washingtonian and the Jeffersonian-
in the common tongue, WASH" and
jeff" The fortunes of each alternate
~ waxed and waned. "Jeff'' was the
stronger In 1879, and Wilson joined it
His talents at once won recognition
but he found competitor to: respect
in another "Jen"~ man, William Cabel
Bruce, young orator of extraordinary
ability. :: .,. ~.
The chief annual event at Charlottes
Vile was debating contest in the
Jeffersonian society, at which two golt
medals were awarded, one for debat
ing, the other for oratorical ability
Bruce was given the debater's goli
medal: while the orators prize wen
to Wilson. The opinion Of pretty near
~ everybody, aside from the judges
was that the award should have bee,
reversed. Bruce was ornate in style
Wilson simple. direct and logical.
In a wholly different vein from bill
speeches in the JEFF" society was on,
notable effort in which the university
favorite appeared when he delivere<
medals to the winners in athleti
games. Having agreed to make thi
presentation. Wilson-was very mucl
exercised as to what to say and i'm
parted his perplexity to an intimat
friend, who ratified of two pieces o
nonsense which he suggested woul,
about suit the taste Of the audience Il
the gymnasium. Neither piece contain
ed the slightest allusion to athleh
sports. Yet the orator worked them iI
i The gymnasium speech represent
one of the few occasions in which TIL
young student bent very far from hi
dignity in public, but in private
fairly dubbed with humor and wi
and was very much given to monkey
shines. .54s
AS he had done at Princeton, Wilso
at Charlottesville also organized
/ smaller group OF thinking chaps IL
debate. A member Of that group. +,
members Wilson's unspeakable disguf
when they chose as the subject for on
j nights discussion the question Whethe
there be any fundamental difference b,
tween right and wrong.
The law professors of the Universit
Of Virginia were Mi. southall VIII
held the chair Of International. an