The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1963-10-04
Simkins Sees South
AS Unchanged Area

New Workers repeated the be-
nev0leut activities of the previ-
Gus summer without arOusing
violent reactions. These visitors
openly practiced interracial ia
miliarities to an extent hereto
fore unknown in the South.
Why did region noted for
its "strain of violence" not re-
sort to violence? The South has
not, as your news items imply.
softened its racial attitudes. You
have been led to believe by
diplomatic. clergymen, profess
sors and journalists that the
heart Of the region below the
Potomac is being changed by
educational devices.
The actual reason for the lack
Of vigorous opposition to assault
on the regional mores is fear
that 1.-The Assyrian host" in the
form of Federal police and para
troopers may descend like the
wolf on the fold" Southern COM
munities will not violently resist
Federal orders as long as this
threat remains.
Sincere acceptance of racial
equality will never be emotion
al or psychological. The South
in general will continue to wear
an asbestos suit against the
fires of Indignation. Remove the
threat of Federal force and the
fact of indignation" i'm schools
and other aspects Of Southern
life will disappear as did the
first attempt at "integrati0n'
when the Federal troops were
Withdrawn in 1877.
FRANCIS b. SIMKINS
FarmviIle, Va.
Sept. 9, 1863
Professor SimkinS taught for
three and a half years at Louisi-
ana State University. He also
taught at Emory University and
the University of North Caro-
lima. DR.. Simkins said he thought
Farmville was a bad place until
he went down to Baton Rouge.
Then he says he found out how
good Farmville is.
He spent a year at Princeton
University as a visiting lectur-
er. He had informal conferences
with students. OF Prince o n
young men he says, "Those
boys scare me; they are too
highbrow. You can't tell them
that the moon is made of green
cheese. They won't believe you. "
Recalls Past
The meal was sprinkled with
the little stories Professor Sim
kins is so noted for telling
About Longwood DR.. Simkins
says the social history is the
most interesting aspect of its
past. He loves to tell stories
about Charlie Hops" tri p S
around the state to drum up stu
dents. Il went with him some
times; it was a lot of fun, he
grins. Professor Simkins relates
how Charlie Hop would pep
up his talks about Longwood by
saying, I'm on my way to Viii
Harrisburg. Y lin those days" he
recalls, the faculty used to
drum up students. Charlie Hop
was a good drummer"
Dr. Simkins has many opin.
ions and ideas about LongWood
girls. He says, Yankees are
shocked at this place The girls
are indiscrimirate: they talk to
anybody" He also thinks Long
wood is more religious thar
many religious affiliated col
! leges. He refers to Longwood
being in the Bible Belt"
Comments on Students
Of the students he says
Here. Philistinism is first
manners second. and irtellec
third His provocative remarks
when he explains. They 4 tbs
students are too polite to con
are ofte n left unchallenges
tradict.
An example of the Simkin.
brand Of provocation is the fol
lowing statement, Harry Byrt
is Just as extravagant on tht
t Virginia scale as Kennedy is OF
the national scale think"
DR.. Simkins is almost synony
nous with Longwood. What ca,
one say about a man VIII
| everyone knows? This believe,
2 professor will always be a iv
? ing monument to Southern indi
| VilllaliSn