The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-02-02
BAIRD VANCE
His Experiences in School and at the University of North Carolina-
His Great Affection For David L. Swain-AtIJ University But One
Year But 1t Was a Year Crowded With Activity.

MS year at the University offered
him. In addition to his course in the
law school, he elected courses in con-
stltutlonal law, political economy and
mental philosophy under President
Swain; in chemistry, geology and min.
eralogy Under Prof. Elisha MITCHELL;
and in rhetoric and logic under Prof.
John L. Wheat. These courses gave
him eight hours a week. In law his
instructors were William H. Battle.
then a judge of the Superior Court,
from which he was soon to be called
to the Supreme Court bench. and
Samuel r.. phillips. afterwards solicit
tor-general Of the United States. That
he was a hard student and maintain
ed a good class standing is the uni
versal testimony of those who knew
him at the University, and their tes-
timOny is borne out by the only bit Of
contemporary evidence that has come
down to US. This is found in the
following letter written shortly after
his entrance into the University-the
earliest letter written by Vance known
to be eXtant:
Vance TO John Nj. Davidson.
University of n. Ca, Sept. IA 1881
Cousin John,
l do not know when | have been
more gratified than I was in receiv-
ing your letter the other day. s. * s.
It gives one great pleasure to receive
letters when he is away from home
Ill dilloilS ST. anger 50 II1dIk you.
X = y l have nothing much to tell
YOU about but myself. my situation
h and prospects here, etc.
[ am studying the studies of the
Senior Class entire, except French
and Greek, which keep me very
hard as ever. That will serve to show
the value Of time and the many
things we can do in a given amount
} Of time if we will but make the
proper effort. I am taking d sever
! course Of studies in college which
Occupy more than half my time from
f law, and yet [ am reading law faster
r and learning more thar when I was
reading at home with nothing else to
do, You know [ had to loaf with
= jim Mcdowell, and play marbles with
Jesse and Jeptha Chat man of fami-
S ly.) But the scales nave fallen from
k my eyes, John, and | ave taken to
Q real hard confinement and study. I
d am going down to Raleigh this Win
ter in vacation to get license; the
Judge says I shall I'VE them [sic]
like a deer in a walk. I am really in
hopes III not meet with the fate OF
e Sam Mcdowell and others. I reckon
e you saw my preceptor-in-law (not
e my daddy-in-laW) up the country. ]
II like him extremely we'll. He is much
Of a gentleman. = Old Buncombe
has been playing the devil I suppose
IL Il tIfC way vi )IOOI11C1 . 1oAASy Do11o
le Duels, fighting, elections, Camp Meet.
l. ings, Southern Company. weddings
IS ETC., etc. I never heard the iik il
my life. I thought for a while tha
everybody was killed, everybody mar
[e ried. everybody elected, = q II ant
IF everybody converted at CIampl Meet
b ings. [ am missing all the fun.
reckon tho I am doing most as wei
Ut down here. There is a great chanc
s. Of mischief down here which does m
er to laugh at every night in the Weel
OF almost. Gov. Swain and DR.. Mitchell
a spies or the lookout for the enemy.
I'd amt with them, John. *
al Your sincere friend and Cousin,
n FEB. B. VANCE.
le EscheWS ROWdyism.
In Vance adhered faithfully to hi
bv resolutions to hold aloof from tn
rowdyis1n that then passed for fu
among college students and to appl
IL himself attentively to his studies
Endowed with an extreme quicknes
of perception, a retentive memory
and with remarkable powers Of cor
ce centration, he made rapid progress
ne and as he had predicted was read
when the Christmas holidays came t
ey apply to the Supreme Court for h
'eI county court license.
ell In addition to his classroom wor
Vance tool an active part in the wor
l., Of the Dialectic Literary Society. A
an students in the University were re
quired to join one Of the two deba'
les ing societies-the Dialectic and tn
nis Philanthropic-whose existence
at practically co-extensive with that
Tor the University itself. These societit
at nave always exercised a powerful il
fluence in University affairs. particl
AS larly in the affairs Of the ante-bellul
i'm University. To them was largely Ell
on trusted college discipline and almo
he entirely the awarding OF college hol
ors. They were se~lf-governing bodie
lr- controlled by their student membe
I'd without faculty direction or interfe
as ence. They were managed, says D
ice Battle, the historian of the Univers
led ty, with a decorum, a respect f
nts rules Of order. and a strictness
discipline which I have not SEE