Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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R. GREEN TE] AT WASHINI as Classmate of Democratic Candidate for President MEMBERS OF CLASS 1892 Interesting Sidelight on Student Life and Some of the Profes sors at Lexington. By Dr. Edwin L. Green. From Sunday's State. IThe life of John W. Davis that has en running in The State recalled ;n recent number the days I spent at ashington and Lee when he and I vere classmates. I entered in the fall f 1888, he came the following year. e were graduated together in June 892. At one time there were three John Davis's," whom we distingujished y their middle initials, "John W." and is cousin, "John J." and "John S." John W. Davis, a slender youth of 6, and I had a few classes together. owever, we became friends, but not ntimate. He was a member of the hi Kappa Pri fraternity, to which did not belong. 'Fraternities have tendency to limit a student's asso iatioij to the few members jf ;his hapter. His principal associates were entuckians. I recall the- incident entioned by Mr. Huntley, who told ow Halley and Davis had to move rom Dr. Irwin's to Professor White's remember some feeling of envy at eir good fortune, for Professor White as reputed to set a good table. John . Davis was recognized as a brainy outh, a clear thinker, but no one thought hat he was destined to be president of he United States. He was thoroughly onorable and liked by his fellow mates. Lexington, Va., the home of Wash ngton and Lee university, lies in the alley belween the Alleghaney and lue Ridge mountains. Its population umbered about 3,500, mostly Presby erians of Scotch-Irish ancestry, of hich they were proud, and of which ott often heard. When I told the ood lady with whom I stayed that he sermon was dry, she changed the onversation to another topic, although he had asked my opinion. A little ter I learned that she was related to ie doctor and, indeed, that nearly all exington was kin. There after I was autious about expressing too decided n opinion of people before having full nowledge of my ground. But the peopic of Lexington were indly and hospitable. Nowhere was t possible for students to be better reated. There were no dormitories, xcept the "Blue Hotel," which could cconmodate about 30, so that the ones of the town were thrown open the students. Scarcely a family was lithout one or two. F,very man was reatedl as a gentleman, unless he show d that he was not. No more ideal isposition of a student body can be evised than the homes of a Christian omrqunity. The ,students 'became a ar' of the family. This more than comn ensated for the lack of college spirit iat sonme lamented.'if there was such lack. Dormitories have since beetn utilt ; but the writer is not sutre of any icrease in college spirit. TIhe nutmber of the students was round 200. A man could enter what ver class he wished, as there was no nitrapce examination. Trhe ,president vats Gon. C. W. C. Lee, the successor f his father, Gen. R. E. Lee. He was ot much more than a figure-head. He ttentded the faculty meetings and sat mi the stage at commencement, when, owVever, Prof. J. J. White conferred lie degrees. Occasionally a student was uimmoned to his office for admonition; ut he took no personal interest in any mie. The faculty was largely made up *f old1 men who had beent there many 'ears. Some of them from ante-bel umn days. Nearly all had been uinder len. Robert E. Lee and still lived un ler the spell of his presidency, so that o be tinder them was a rare opportutnity. n five years after John W. Davis had >een1 graduated there was an almost 'ntirely new faculty. Nearly all the -students ;knew one miother. Everyone wvas regarded as at tentleman till his conduct lost for him lie respect of his fellows. New men vere w'ell treated; there was no hizing. lhe "honor system" was a matter of :oturse. It was customary for students LLS OF DAVIS GTON AND LEE passing several students together we addressed them as "gentlemen." The professors were generjoly re ferred to among ourselves by their first names with "Old" perfixed: "Old Jim," "Old Billy," "Old Harry," "Old Aleck' and so on; but, "Old Nick" was applied to Prof. Carter J. Harris, and Prof. James A. Harrison was known as "Old Hatchet," from the shape of his head. It was not ticommon for a profes sor to "chaw" a man, if he did not know his lesson. When "Old Nick' started in on a member of his Latin class, we recognized the justice of the nickname. If lie asked Mr. Boyd to translate, the rest of us knew that we were safe for that hour. Prof. James J. White, the professor of Greek, was "Old Jim," a man of commanding figure, often called "Zeus." He was said to have remarked that he did not object to being called "Old Jim," because he regarded it as a term of affection. He knew all the men who had been there for half a century. I remember find ing him one morning as I entered the room scrutinizing the map of the Med iterranean sea. It was at the time of our trouble with Germany over Samoa. He turned to me with a scornful ex clamation over the poor teaching of geography then as compared with that of his boyhood, "Not many," he added, "know that Samoa is in the eastern Mediterranean," pointing to the island of Samos. Prof. A. L. Nelson, "Old Aleck," taught mathematics. He knew his sub ject thoroughly, so far as his course went, and he was an excellent teacher. One day when we had a particularly hard problem he advised us to get an "Index Rerum," or a record book, in which to preserve the problem and other things that we might want some day. He said that he had kept one for 50 years. Shortly after that a problem was puzzling the class, and the profes sor as well; when Harry Meyers spoke up: Professor, get the "Index Rerum" to it. Even "Old Aleck" had to join in the laugh. "Old Ran," alias John Randolph Tucker, was head of the law school. He was a famous raconteur. He once delivered the commencement address at the University of South Ca-olina and wore the audience out with a two hours' speech. "Doctor" Quarles, professor of phil osophy and belles lettres, would never allow himself to be called "Professor" and his hasty temper made the students careful to remember his foible. We took under him a course in versifi cation, ii which it was necessary to write verse. John W. Davis wrote a sonnet to a young lady. The "Doctor' read the lines to the class, attaching to them the name of a young lady of whom Davis was reputed to be very fend. He was very angry at what he regarded as too great liberty. Dr. Quar les was very fond of John W. Davis. On top of the main building was a large wooden statue of George Wash ington painted white, but it was n uin common thing for George Washington to change color over ntight to bluo 'or greeni, or red, according to the fancy of the band of studenits out for a frolic. TIom anid William were the two jan itors, both pdating from Gen. R. E. Lee's time. Tronm had belonged to Geni. Lee andl now took charge of visitors to the tomb of his former master in the chapel facing the main building. The president's house had been erect ed for Geni. Robert E. Lee and was 'n that clay occupied by his son and two daughters, Miss Mildred and Miss Mary. Among the students in the law school (luring my first year were Miles Poin dexter from Mississippi, later Republi can senator from the Northwest, and Wade H. Ellis, assistadt attingecy general under Roosevelt. -u.s.c. THE STATEMAN. The stateman- throws his shoulders back and straightens out his tie, And says, "My friends unless it rains the weather will be dry." And when this thought into our brains has percolated through We common people nod our heads and loudly cry, "How true." -U.S.c. Purley Trompkins, speaking of poor working girls, and especially of steno graphers, intimates it is poor spelling that keeps so many of them poor. A Male 3An Iue Tanunistat The night was dark, The swamp was black. The boys were lost Far from the shack, The light was dim. Around the snags They'd barely skim. The cypress knees stood From the waters, high; There split the night A fearful cry. Boat and boys with a feadul groan Above the tree tops were fiercely throw.i They'd hit a snag They thought, a log. "'was the horny back Of a monstrous frog. AMEN U.S.C. THE GYM TEAM ORGANIZES The first practice of the Gym Team was held Tuesday night at eight o'clock. There were quite a few new men out to see what special work thy could per from. There were only four men from last year's squad present: "Bill" Pool, George Tompkins, Tom McCutchen and Charlie Lynn. More new men and more of the old ones are expected at the next regular practice on Thursday night. There is still room for a few more, so if you believe you would like it come out and see what you have. -U.S.C. 20th Century Manna." Suddenly, on the night of Sept. 29th, the scripture in the Old Testament tell ing of how the manna was bestowed upon the children of Isreal in the wil derness, was brought to the minds of the boys who were passing Harper College about 1 o'clock. For both unexpectedly and unaware, there came from out of the clear skies (altho it was raining as per usual) a shower of cakes-little cakes, big cakes, slices of cake-chocolate cake, white and every kind, looking up they behold these angel faces ( 1) gazing out of the Euphradean Hall windows; these being the manna givers. Only a little while before the boys were able to get down to the real reason of this unexpected "shower of blessings." Only some of the Euphrosynean girls throw ing some of the many "left over" cakes to the poor little boys who happened to be passing. But from what have been told, there's been many a poor Fresh man who has gone out of his way since then in order to pass by Harper in hopes of having "Euphrosynean manna" show er upon him I "An Euphrosynean." -U.S.C. GIBES FROMW A GIVERICK Dere Paw & Maw. I wil jist rite you a few lines to let you no thet i got hear o. k.. without nothing happening but when i got of the tranie, a nigger boy walks up to me and tries to take my sachul away from me, rite there in broad daylite I How is thiet fer nerve ? I sez to him hi there, you smarty, leggo, or ill bust you in the eye, and i lef him there with his mouth ahangin open like a cow wvith the tooth ake. .Cola. is real big the streets is all paved cept at the University; the mud there made me homesick. There are lots of peepul, and tall bildins, but i don't see why they call it the Gem of the Ocean, cautse i ain't seen no water nowhere roundl hear. Trhe boys roundl hear is all real frendly and nice. Why, i got at least 30 in vitations to come up to the boys rooms aready.. They is all so jolly, and sez they will give me a warm welcome, soi am lookin forard to it, but i intend not to spen much time like thet, i am gonna study and show these countrymen a thing or to, an mek my fambly and frens at Pinewvay proud of me like, Abe Lincoln. Your affecshunate son, G. Im Green. U.S.C. PLAY (In one scene) Cast: He, she. Scene: On the high sea. A fishing boat on the horizon. He and she are on deck of a trans-Atlantic liner. She. What a qt.:aint boat over there: What (1o you call it? He: A Smack. She: I wish I had one. (Business of granting her wishes..) It looks as if Kid McCoy is due for the biggest knockout of his life After a bird has been married nine time and kills the tenth one he is after, it is high time to put an end to his career. ENTERPRISE Hardware Co. 1324 Main St. Phone 4026 We Welcome You to Our City Foot Ball and Basket Ball Uniforms and Supplies "Special Prices to Students" Connelly's ( WIGN CIGARS, SODA, POCKET B Agents for Johns COLUMBIA, Make this Store Y We Want Y Because it Pleases DID YOU GET' Yes-a Beautiful Imported Eng] -And 1 $1.90-31 -Choice of Whit, KOI 1405 Main Street RENT A lN DRIVE IT - Special Rates to U Where to Go - How to Get Ford and Nash Cars -( OF COLUI Centrally 1216 Lady St. D "The Frien Where Are You Ru Lots of stores think ti Hose" is too small an iten adlve rtis ement. Drop in our store for th around you will be impresse about our values to "hold you might .' e~ enough toc habit. M arshall-Tati Corner Main and Hampton Sti. For the Best Fruit Drinks in town Hampton's Candy Kitchen 1214% Main St. Columbia, S. C. Capital Cafe "Nearest Restaurant to University" Your Patronage Will Be Greatly Appreciated Food of Best Quality Excellent Service 1210 MAIN STREET igar Stand VAM MAGAZINES ILLIARDS on's Chocolates SOUTH CARDLINA. our Headquarters ur Business Us to Please you YOUR SHIRT? lish Broadcloi (l i r \ t tacled 9nly - For $5.55 e, Grey or T IN'S IEW R YOURS niversity Student There - And You )pen and Close %IBIA,Inc. Located Phone 3386 dly Store" ying Your Garters? iat "Supporting a Man's Sto support a newspaper e next Garter-on looking d that there's nothing up" a man's pocket book hange your part clothing im Company Columbia,.S. C.