The Washington herald., 1917-02-04

South, as a sociological vision it is even
more alIuring. Character-building is the
fundamental upon which the founder,
Gen Howard, based his idea. He realized
that not a mere acquisition of academical
facts would uplift the mountain people
but that Independence. purposeful labor,
self-support and the conservation of
morals and health were as necessary as
the three RS. He took into considera tion
that every student who went back to his
mountain home would carry with him the
influence OF the university's teaching not
only as 1t related to his mental develop-
ment but his moral standards as we'll
Lots of young men and women learn
things in college that are not taught in
books; but let 1t be said that thigh hiers"
would ind scant coehpany at Lincoln.
1t is one of the pledges required Of
students coming to Lincoln with the in
tention of earning their way, that when
they have finished the prescribed course
they shall return to their home sections
and teach those left behind. Thus at the
outset the mountain boys and girls are
enlisted as missionaries and their whole
college life is in keeping with these high
ideals.
The applicants who flock to Lincoln
Memorial University have a good foun-
dation of morality upon which to build
character. Honesty. truthfulness and un-
swerving loyalty are ingrained IN them.
On the other hand, their sense of Justice
conforms with that OF feudal times; II is
the crude principle Of an eye for an eye,
life for a life. Clan feuds have embit-
tered the lives OF many OF the mountain
folk. Heads OF families have met their
ends at the hands of neighbor enemies,
and the sons have taken up the legacy
Of hate to avenge their deaths. This
has been the mode OF settling all disputes
and in the eyes OF the mountaineer II
has been a just mode.
But as the home conditions Of the Cum
berland Gap students improve through
their awakened ambition and contact
with the outside world, the feudal kill
ings have been fewer. The effect OF the
mortal University have been felt IN every
section to which the newly inspired
mountain boy or girl has returned.
Crowded for Room.
At present, because of the limited ia
cilities. the University has quarters for
only a small per cent of those anxious
to be enrolled. Most Of them are almost
penniless but bear themselves with the
same pride that forbade Cassius Clay. a
mountaineer who became United States
Ambassador to Russia, to lift his hat to
the Czar, unless the Car did likewise.
They accept no charity and work their
way through by any labor the limited
sphere affords. Only their tuition they
have free.
1t might interest graduates of other
American Universities TO compare the life
OF the average Lincoln University un-
dergraduate with that of their own col
lege days.
There are about TOO students, boys and
girls. majority OF them earn their
way. The boys till the fields-the col
lege fortunately has 800 aches Of land
reap the crops, market the products of
their labors, do all the chores of a great
farm, all under the watchful eyes of
agricultural experts. They don their over
alls when their classes are over They
literally leave the handles of the plow
to accept their degrees as full-fedged
university graduates, when their course
is finished.
So 1t Is with the girls. They sew and
bake. scrub and wash dishes as earnestly
as they struggle with irregular verbs.
And there is no sense OF humiliation in
II. II Is the most democratic college in
America.
Many Turned Away.
But unfortunately, MANY have to he
turned away. Young men and wome1,
come from the depths Of the mountains,
by train, horseback. on foot; many wit,
trunks. few with handbags. many
even hatess, and are forced to return.
disappointed, because it is physically i'm
possible for them to be accommodated.
One young fellow, who was told in a
kindly way that there was not room for
him. replied:
Il didn't come here to board. came
to learn. I can sleep on the floor"
He wasn't turned away A niche was
made for him. somehow.
The response of the mountain peopIe
to the efforts of the university TO aid
them has proved wonderfully enthusi-
astic and enduring. Almost without ex-
ception the students go back to their
back-wood homes determined to help
build up the Country-to spread the
knowledge they struggled so hard to
gain.
1t is in the midst of these mountaineer
students at Cumberland Gap that the
country's most notable Lincoln Birthday
celebration will take place this year.
A wide range OF subjects will be dis
cussed during the three days congress.
There will be addresses on Lincoln on
Labor" 'Lincolns Attitude Toward Cap
ital," Lincoln the Friend of the South -
Lincoln and the Constitution" Lincoln
and the Mexican War" Lincoln and
Arbitration" "Lincoln's Diplomacy
Lincoln and Education" Lincoln and
Character Building" Lincoln, the Elm.
bodiment of American Democracy -
Lincoln, the Savior of Popular Govern
ment," Lincoln and Reconstruction, "
and THE Last Day of Lincoln" The
last address will be delivered by Hon.
Henry r. Rathbone, of Chicago son OF
Maj. Rathbone, who sat in the theater
box with Lincolns party the night of the
assassination.
Notables to Attend.
DR.. Hnl announced that the governors
of Kentucky. Virginia and Tennessee, the
three States where borders meet at Cum.
berland Gap, would deliver addresses OF
welcome to the gathering of notable men
and women who are to attend. Among
the leaders in public life who will speak
during the three days celebration are
the following:
Gov. Mccall. of Massachusetts,; Henry
Clews, Adolph Lewisohn, Hon. MAJ
Pam, John E. Liggett, Hon. Martin H
Glynn, former governor of New York
Hon. Bainbridge Colby, Hon. Marcus NJ
Marks, president of the Borough Of Man.
haitian; Hon. Jacob NJ. Dickinson for.
mer Secretary of War; Hon. Leslie NJ
Shaw, former Secretary of the Treasury
Representative Joseph Cannon, Of Iii