The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-08

The period from the Civil War to
the present one OF the memorable
epochs of history.
Among the forces TO which feil In
the providence of God the hlgn'
though trying. task OF restoring rlr-
Sinia and the South, left prostrate
from the devastation OF the civil war
were institutions as well as Ineh'
Scarcely had the sound OF the cannon
and the smoke of battle In that Tor
ever famous conflict died away, Wneh
the Southern Seminary. with the otner
forces ana institutions of that day, set
itself TO the work of building up again
the once fair and rich section or the
south. and OF Virginia especially. IL
was in the year 1887 the institution
was established, and its early history
was in perfect accord with the srea.
work IL was TO take its part In, ana
was of such q nature as to give IL
peculiar fitness for q task as tragic as
the recreation of d State like virginia
and a section like the South. me
seminary. which was destined Prov.
denttally to serve its generation nrst
OF all in such tragic times had its
origin in equally tragic circumstances.
Mr. VIM. T. Chandler, who had served
through the awful Civil war. returned
and, with his young wife. Miss Alice
Scott, settled within a stones throw OF
his fathers home in Caroline county,
and at once entered upon the practice
of law. 1t was not long before one OF
the deadHest and most cruel enemies
OF man. fire, made him and his wife
and their happy home. Sherwood, its
victims, utterly destroy the home. and
leaving the young couple without
roof over their head. with all the Bit
terness of the war fresh upon them.
and all the difficulties OF a desolate
Condition Of affairs at large. How
ever, as dark as this dispensation was
in the hour OF its coming. like all
other apparent evils. 1t was trans
formed through faith in God and hope
and courage in the hearts OF this
Young couple into blessing. bless
ing not only to them. but blessing
untold to their native State OF vir-
ginia. as she lay bleeding and helpless
from the wounds OF the war. For II
was this tragedy that under the dark
circumstances in the life Of this young
couple one can better imagine than
describe, which resulted In their re-
moval to Bowling Green, the county
seat Of Caroline. There br. Chandler
continued the practice of his profess
sion. and his young wife began to
teach. She opened her school, all who
know her wonderful personality, will
feel sure not only to help repair the
dissipated fortunes of the little home
under the desolated conditions OF the
aftermath of the war. but as well
Though perhaps not too clearly seen
or ever felt by herself) from the in
spiration that such a work gave TO the
Of her genius and the OPP
portunities to be of service in such q
dark and desolate hour in the history
of her State and people.
When we think of what must have
been the agony of this young couple.
as they beheld their home falling in
the fierce flames of an inextinguish-
able fire. whose hearts were already
sore and more from the sufferings of
the war, and then see what blessing
in disguise to them and to unborn
then and now even I'M
born ones, instinctively we think of
the sentiment OF the sacred song, and
how previous the gracious truth of It
is to us, with the dark trials and
OF our life pressing so sorely
on our hearts and lives today.
God moves in mysterious way.
His wonders to perform:
He plants his footsteps on the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines.
OF never failing skill;
He treasures up his bright designs.
And works his sovereign viii"
Fortunately for the great and diff
hcuit work Of founding an institution
Of learning, Mrs. Chandler had rare
gifts. She was q genius for this work
Of teaching as well as OF administra-5
ton. q work 1t may be truly said, those
who have the ability for. are born.
never made Moreover. as In the case
Of every great man or woman. who
does q great and essential work In
the world, God was in his providence
busy preparing her for it from her
earliest years. In the first place she
had that first essential in the training
of man or woman, especially for
the kind of work she was to give her
life to, viz: that OF the education Of
young women, which means Infinitely
more than the mere knowledge or
books and training OF intellect She
had the education of the right sort Of
home for this work. And more, of the
right sort Of environment In the soci-
ety Or social life In which she grew up.
IA WAS that Of nthe old Virginia gem
!. a ~ = phrase which. while