The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-03-04
CHAPTER vi.
Professor Wilson.

A SCHODLTEACHERS exist
y ence is not, in the narration
a thrilling story. The first sew
enteen years of Woodrow Will
sons life after he left John Hop
kins university were spent in
teaching. They were years of use
fitness. Thousands of students
will testify to the still enduring
inspiration they owe to them and
to him. They were years Of de-
lightful living, of cultured and
genial companionship.
1t was with the unrelinquished
purpose of having his part in the
public life of the nation that
Woodrow Wilson entered upon
the profession of teacher of
law and politics. 1t can hardly
be said, however, that his first po-
sition was one which gave prom
Use of any large immediate in
fiuence on public affairs. A num-
Der of John Hopkins men on the
opening in 1885 of Bryn Mawr
college accepted as their first
professOrships places in the fac
ulty of the new institution for
women. The vulgar even refer
red to Bryn Mawr as johanna
Hopkins. " Some We're so irrev-
erent as to suggest that the
young professors were "merely
trying it on the dog" Professor
Wilson. though called to Bryn
Mawr primarily to give instruc-
ton in politics and political econ
omy, taught good deal besides
those subjects. Classical history
and the history of the renaissance
fell to him. His lectures are said
on high authority to have been
'marvels" of scholarship, pro-
foundly impressing his classes,
Professor Wilson worked very
hard to make his lectures inter
esting. One of the faculty who
lived next door testifies that the
light in his study window was in
Nariably burning long after ev-
erybody else had gone to bed.
From the start Of his profession
al career Mr.. Wilson appears to
have realized the necessity of inn
parting vivacity and reality to
his lectures. There is some
ground to suspect that the in
tense young ladies who sat under
him did not always appreciate
the lighter side Of his discourses.
At all events. it is remembered
that he appeared one day in the
lecture room without the long
mstache which had up to then
adorned his countenance-a sac
rifice which, it was limited, he had
made in the hope Of being there
after better able to suggest to
his classes certain delicacies of
thought and fancy which they
had shown little signs of appre-
hending.
Bryn Mawr college opened
with forty-three students. Three
houses at the edge Of the campus
were occupied by the dean and
professors. many of the latter
being bachelors. Later Mr.. Will
son leased a pretty cottage, the
parsonage of the little Baptist
church on the old Gulf road, in
the midst of a lovely countryside.
In this. their first home, the Will
sons took great pride and salts
faction. In vacation time they
went back south among old
friends. II was in the south that
the first two children were born.
Tn June. 1886. Professor Will
son took his Phi. D. at Johns Hop
kins. the university accepting as
his thesis his book "Congression-
al Government" During his
third wear of Bryn Mawr Profes
sor Wilson accepted lectureship
at Johns Hopkins. This took him
TO Baltimore once a week for
twenty-five weeks.
Social life at Bryn Mawr was
most agreeable. An invitation to
an older and larger institution
was, nevertheless, not to be de-
clined Ampler opportunity on,
ened in a school attended by
young men, and in 1888 Profes-
sor Wilson accepted an election
TO the chair Of history and politi