History of Randolph-Macon College, Virginia Part 8

LANDON C. GARLAND, A. M., Professor of Mathematics, and Acting President.

EDWARD D. SIMS, A. M., Professor of English Literature and Oriental Language.

DAVID DUNCAN, A. M., Professor of Ancient Languages.

JAMES W. HARDY, A. B., Professor of Experimental Sciences.

EZEKIEL A. BLANCH, A. B., Tutor.

SOLOMON LEA, A. M., Princ.i.p.al of Preparatory School.

This college year was marked by the first serious rupture between the Faculty and the students. The occasion was a requirement made on the Senior Cla.s.s to attend a recitation on the "Evidences of Christianity"

on Monday morning before breakfast. The result was the leaving of a number of students involved in the contest.

At the close of the year, June, 1839, the annual report of the Faculty made to the Board gave the following item: "The affairs of the College for the session have proceeded with tolerable prosperity and quietness."

The following were recommended for the degree of A. B., June, 1839, and the same received it:

AMOS W. JONES, ... ... ... North Carolina.

CHARLES W. BURNLEY,... ... . Virginia.

JOSIAH F. ASKEW, ... ... . . Georgia.

THOMAS H. GARNETT, ... ... . Virginia.

JAMES F. SMITH,... ... ... South Carolina.

WILLIAM H. BATTE,... ... . . Virginia.

[Ill.u.s.tration: REV. A.W. JONES, D. D., _For fifty years President of the Memphis Conf. Female College._]

The resignation of President Stephen Olin, tendered in 1836, was accepted at the meeting of the Board, all hope of his returning to the College having been abandoned. Prof. Landon C. Garland was then elected by unanimous vote President, and he accepted the office. Prof. David Duncan was elected rector of the Preparatory School, and Amos W. Jones, A. B., princ.i.p.al. William L. Harris was elected a tutor of the lower cla.s.ses in languages.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LANDON CABELL GARLAND, LL. D.]

On motion of Rev. John Early, the following resolution was adopted: "That, as soon as practicable, the trustees of Randolph-Macon College will establish a Normal School as a department in the College, in which a good and liberal education can be obtained, and which, in its organization, shall be especially fitted to educate students for common-school teachers, and that the Professor of English Literature be the rector of said school."

This action of the Board, showing such remarkable foresight and wisdom, ought to be emphasized. So far as the State of Virginia is concerned, it is believed to have been the first move in the establishment of a normal department for fitting teachers for their special work. Many years afterward (1884) the State established such a school. The first established in the United States was in the year 1839. This important move was never fully and specifically carried into operation, for the same reason which forbade other projects of the Board--that is, want of means.

Another important step taken at this meeting was the action in regard to the issue of scholarships. At the previous annual meeting a resolution was adopted providing that any person paying $600 into the treasury of Randolph-Macon College shall be ent.i.tled to send one student free of tuition fees so long as he shall live or have a son to educate; and any minister who shall collect and pay into the treasury a like sum shall be ent.i.tled to the like privilege. At the meeting in 1839 this action was rescinded, and the following was enacted:

On motion of John Early,

"_Resolved_, That any person who shall pay into the hands of the treasurer five hundred dollars, or any minister who shall collect and pay into the hands of the treasurer five hundred dollars, shall be ent.i.tled to a scholarship in Randolph-Macon College in perpetuity, and all persons who have agreed to take scholarships at $600 shall be ent.i.tled to the benefit of this resolution.

"_Resolved_, That any person who shall secure by bond or otherwise five hundred dollars, the princ.i.p.al of which shall be paid within five years, and who shall pay the interest semi-annually, shall be ent.i.tled to a scholarship in perpetuity, but the certificate of scholarship shall not be issued until the princ.i.p.al is paid."

This was an unfortunate move, because it never brought into the treasury the amount it was expected to bring--not exceeding eight thousand dollars. The evident intention that such scholarship should be considered as an "heir-loom" in the family was in the years after the war, never before, violated, and parties bought them on speculation, getting money-rent for them, when such a course was never contemplated.

When they were issued, fees were $33 per session. Since the war fees have been $75.

My readers will pardon me for here giving some personal recollections, inasmuch as it was in 1839 I matriculated as a student of the College.

Mounted on my black filly, I, with several from my native county, Nottoway, made the journey of forty miles to Boydton, where we were guests of Col. George Rodgers, who then kept the Boydton Hotel. He was then, and for years afterwards, a great friend and liberal benefactor to the College.

The next morning I saw the belfry of the College in the distance for the first time. The same day I took up my abode in "Texas," a portion of the western building, so-called. To a boy not quite fourteen, the experiences of matriculation, examination for entrance, and for the first time coming into contact with young men from distant States, can never be forgotten. "Hazing" was then unknown, though it was not uncommon for some of the "green ones" to have a little fun poked at them.

We had four cla.s.ses: Freshman, Soph.o.m.ore, Junior, and Senior. To the "Fresh," the "Seniors" looked very dignified, and the latter usually felt their dignity, but generally bore it gracefully. The Seniors and Juniors generally did most of the debating in the Society Halls, and generally dealt most in "Calico."

The student body at this time was composed very largely of men from States south of Virginia, the Senior cla.s.s of that year having been wholly from South Carolina and Georgia.

At this session Professor Landon C. Garland was inaugurated a full President, after having acted as such since Dr. Olin left for Europe. We looked up to him with marked reverence, though he was not quite thirty years old. It was his dignity of character which caused us to do this.

Few men ever possessed more than he. No man ever trifled in President Garland's lecture-room. The rules of discipline were felt rather than seen. His familiar designation was "Old Landon."

President Sims was much like President Garland in his official character and conduct. He was a high man in person and every way. Thoroughly imbued with the love of his native English, he threw his heart and mind into his teaching. Unable to get text-books in Anglo-Saxon, he wrote the elementary exercises on the blackboard. Some of these are remembered to this day. We did not realize nor appreciate the fact that our cla.s.ses were the first in a course which is now magnified in all the colleges and universities in the land.

Professor Duncan was the genial, humor-loving Irishman. His shillalah was ever ready for any exposed head, but he had no murderous intent, and did not mind when the subject hit back, but rather enjoyed a repartee.

A broad smile always foretold his sally of wit, and sometimes it was so slow coming that the victim would have time to "cut." Dear, dear "Old Pad," as we called him, it was hard to say whether he enjoyed most his fun with the boys or his ancient languages, with the love of which he seemed to be fully saturated. A kinder heart never beat in human frame.

"Old Jim" (Hardy) presided in the Laboratory on the third story. He was a third-story man every way. Though a young man, and the first alumnus of the College made a full professor, his manner was austere, and hence he had but little popularity with the students. Some excuse for his so appearing was due to the fact that he had to study hard to keep up with the expectations of his cla.s.ses.

"Old Zeke" (Blanch) our tutor in mathematics, was a fine instructor and bright every way. He, too, was fond of humor when out of his lecture-room, but very strict while in it.

Oh! for a d.i.c.kens to picture Tutor Harris. Pardon me for taking up more room with him than is given all the rest. But such a character is not often found, and deserves the s.p.a.ce he takes.

My first cla.s.sical instructor was one of the tutors. He was the first Virginia University man ever elected to fill a chair at the old College.

Deeply imbued with a love for his subjects, he looked upon the ancient languages as having, potatoe-like, the best parts at the root. The "particle" was his especial delight. So much absorbed was he in discoursing on it, that he was not particular whether his pupils listened or not. They might go to sleep or do anything, so they did not break the thread of his lecture. It was amazing to see how many learned authorities in the shape of books he would daily lug to the room.

Doubtless this digging at the root was very deep and thorough--too much so for the average "fresh." Some of the most scholarly appreciated the exercise, or pretended to do so. To the latter the tutor mainly directed his attention.

Not only did the tutor pursue this absorbing search indoors, but it seemed to monopolize all his thoughts, even while going to his meals and returning. It made him oblivious to all else for the time being. He would, while thus absorbed in thought, kick a chip before him for a mile, and would not recognize the best friend he might meet in the way.

All he asked then was the full "right of way."

His abstraction or absent-mindedness was exhibited in many ways. Some mischief-lover barred up his door one morning and thus made him tardy at recitation hour, which gave occasion to the boys to "cut"--that is, leave and miss recitation. He went to the President and said, "Sir! is there any way to have a young man up, when you don't know who he is?"

The President was a great mathematician, but he could not solve that problem.

"Sheep-ear" collars were in fashion in those days, just the reverse of those now or lately fashionable--I mean those with turned-down points and rising high at the back of the neck, making one look like he had on a mustard-plaster. The "sheep-ear" collars had points with acutest angles, which came up to the corners of a man's mouth. When starched and stiffened they looked as if great danger would be incurred by a sudden turn of the head. Now just picture to yourself a sober-looking man coming into a parlor in the morning with these "sheep-ears" pointing to the back of the neck instead of to the front, and you will realize how very peculiar the tutor looked one morning when he came down. This I was eye-witness of, and if I laughed I hope no one will accuse me of want of due respect. It could not be helped, certainly by one who has been known to enjoy a hearty spell at times.

The tutor was by no means a _pharisee_ in spirit, for he was one of the "meek of the earth." But his inveterate habit made him liable to be p.r.o.nounced as pharisaic. When officiating at public prayers in the chapel he would sometimes forget that after prayer came recitation or lecture and then breakfast, and his prayer would seem to be interminable. Knowing his absence of mind, one morning while thus engaged some good-intentioned or irreverent fellow prompted him by a hearty _amen!_ This brought the prayer to a speedy conclusion, but the tutor was highly displeased--so much so that he sent for the most mischievous one of the auditors, whom he naturally charged with the offence, and said to him, "Mr. Blaze, I have sent for you, sir! to say to you that _you shan't say amen_ to my prayers."

The tutor was very economical--some would say, penurious. Not so. He was generous and warm-hearted--as much so as an old bachelor could be. A true Christian, he felt it to be his duty to save every dime he could, that he might have the more to meet the demands of charity. This conviction caused him to discard pins as extravagant. In his room would be seen what Adam and Eve used when their first garments were donned, to furnish which conveniently he kept a thorn bush hung up behind his door.

This he kept up until he was convinced that the damage thus caused to one's collar exceeded the cost of pins.

Candles being expensive, he thought the twilight sufficient to enable him to make up his morning toilet. This economy, combined with his other besetting habit, got him into a most ludicrous sc.r.a.pe. It happened thus: In writing out his voluminous notes he used many quill pens, which from time to time acc.u.mulated on his table. He took these--quite a number--one night, just before retiring, and washed them in his bowl, leaving the water in the bowl very much the color of the _blue_ ink he was wont to use. The next morning in the dimness of twilight he failed to observe this discolored fluid when he went to perform his ablutions; when he finished he was blue--yes, very blue. Not taking time to look into his gla.s.s, he went to the chapel and took his place on the rostrum ready to officiate at the appointed hour, wholly unconscious of the very remarkable visage he wore, and thus unprepared for the scene which was to follow.

As the boys dropped in each one would stop, and look, and wonder, and then break out into most uproarious laughter, as perfectly uncontrollable as a storm in its fury. There was no use to attempt to be devout that morning. How the tutor got through with the reading and the prayer I can't say, but I fear he was not in a very devotional mood himself. How could he be when every one was laughing, while he could not see what was making them laugh. He was utterly disgusted with such rudeness and irreverence.

But he did get through. When some one informed him of his cadaverous appearance, he suddenly recollected the blue pens he had washed in his bowl. Then it was his turn to laugh, and laugh he did with a vim.

But lest I weary you, I will here conclude this reminiscence of the olden times by saying that with all the oddities of this old tutor I still cherish the highest respect for his character as a good and deeply pious man. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see G.o.d." I doubt not that he will be of that number in the great day when the jewels are counted.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PROF. DAVID S. DOGGETT, A. M.]

These made the Faculty of 1839-1842. In the latter year Rev. David S.

Doggett succeeded Professor Sims in the English course. He was an eloquent preacher, in the prime of life, a diligent student, and dignified in his deportment. The pulpit was his place of power, and he did not remain long away from it. He was afterwards a Bishop in the church, after having served the church as editor of the _Methodist Review_ for a number of years.

So much for the professors and tutors. What of the students under them?

Taking the men who received degrees during the five years 1840-1844, it is pleasant, though it may seem invidious, to mention a part where it is not possible to name all.

The first name in the roll of his cla.s.s (1840), and the first in honor, David Clopton, of Georgia, made his mark at College, and his after life was what his college life predicted.