Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-01
CONVOCAT|ON GRAFTON
DELIVERED BY B|GEL0W
Personal Friend Of Kaiser Tells of
Experiences During Stay
In Germany.
DISCUSSES EUROPEAN
WAR
Noted Traveller and Cosmopolite Holds
German Ruler Personally Respon-
sible for Barbarous Features of
Connict-Sees Nothing But Defeat

CHARLOTTESVILLE. VA. September
3o.-The ninety first continuous wear of
tho academic lifo of tho University OF
virginia was formally opened at noon
to-day. when. following procession OF
inc FACULTY and students from the ro-
tunda down the lawn. the university
conVocation was held in tho auditorium
or CabeH Hall. The Grafton was de-
llvcred by Poultney Bigelow, OF New
York, who is known as @ traveller. es-
sayist and cosmopolitc. Mr.. Bigelow
discussed various phases Of German
history. and lightened his discourse
with personal experiences during a long
stay In Germany and as the friend Of
the Kaiser.
Great Importance was attached to the
announcement OF President Alderman.
that the registration thus far this year
ia tUenty-siX in excess of last years
total. There arc now 972 students
enrolled In the university, as against
SGI at this time last session. The aver
ago registration from October / until
the end of the term has for a number
OF years been not less than scvcnty-flve,
30 IL Is safe to predict that Virginia
VIII have over 1910 students before
tho session closes, and this will be 100
moro than last years figure
FOUR NEW PROFESSORS
PRESENTED by ALDERMAN
President Alderman presented to the
guests. faculty and students. four new
professors. They were Ivey Forman
Lewis. professor of biology; Ralph
Chaplin Jones. associate professor OF
forestry; Lindsay Rogers, adjunct pro-
lessor OF political science, and Lconidas
Rutledge Whipple. adjunct professor of
Journalism.
Tho academic profession formed at
the rotunda at noon. the faculty being
"a 81 col irt,
showed degrees from universities all
over the world. The march across tho
lawn was In the following order: coll
lego. graduate. law. medical and cngi-
necring students with the faculty fol-
lowing.
Mr.. B!gelow's address, which was n
mastery presentation OF the subject.
was listened to with close attention.
His best known book deals with some
phases OF the same question. being en-
Titled The History of the German
Struggle for Liberty"
II consider the German Emperor. my
former friend. personally responsible
for the barba-ous features OF the pres
ent war" said Mr.. Bigclow, in an in
tcrvicw o-day. Mr.. B!gclow's personal
acquaintance with Wilhelm II. makes
him an astute critic OF both leader and
cause
The Keiscr's ethical ideals have un-
=
when he and were playmates. Then
no was n normal, healthy. average boy.
Now nc Is the exponent OF PrussianIsm
In its worst sense.
The use Of poison gas by the Ger
mans Ia inhuman, yet II Is In Keeping
with what might be expected from a
people who have come 10 regard them
selves as tho omnipotcnt masters OF the
universe.
The whole Prussian race Is filled
with the !nsolent consciousness OF
power They think themselves the
logical masters OF the world
Germany Is mad nation. a nation
mad with Pruss!anism and militarism
Like a mailman she must be suhiu-
gated The strength of the allies Will
eventually he TOO much for her and she
viii be overcome. Then she will be
shackied SO she can do no harm I'm the
future.
III the allies win. rs 1 believe they
will. they Will take Alsace- Lorraine
and all OF the German colonies. Ger
many has shown a marked lncapacity
for colonization. and there will he no
reason FOR her TO get back those she
has lost. when this war is over Prus-
s!a VIII &c "a weak as the allies can
make her. Prussianism Will be rooted
out ard mil!tarism Will have received
It's death blow.
When was with the German En-
peror in his youth he was normal Since
then he has been led astray by those
about him. To-day he is leading his
people 10 ruin. He is the product OF
Prussiansnn. and Prmssianism is the
curse OF the world.
The German Kaiser should, like Ma
poeon. be ban!shed TO some Saint He
lena where he cannot influence others.
II the alias win they will very likely
want TO do So