showing these results and explaining my already determined plans supported as best I could with intelligent arguments. Mother from the first seemed thoroughly pleased, so expressing herself, while father was not adverse, since he had sided with the Confederacy, proclaiming boldly in and out of season his fervent devotion to that cause. He had endeavored to escape into the Southern line, but was intercepted after getting many miles from home; owing to his outspoken sentiments the Federal forces, by which we absolutely were surrounded, kept close vigil over his goings and comings-once with arrestment subjecting him during the incarceration to numerous indignities, and on several other occasions used direful threats in order to curb his irritating tongue. A positive character like his, and that he was in those days for all the words imply, quite naturally chafed in no little degree under such impending authority, and could not well at that slightly later period be reconciled to the fact of there existing anything good north of "Mason and Dixon's Line." He was, therefore, not slow in deciding against all northern institutions and in favor of my selection, consequently as he controlled largely the purse I felt that an early realization of cherished hopes was assured. During vacation several letters passed between Professor Venable and myself pertaining to entrance, necessary arrangements, etc., and in one of these he advised my reaching the University a few days before the session opened, in order to get located suitably by the time work began in earnest a suggestion gladly followed.

CHAPTER IX

MAIDEN TRIP TO WASHINGTON AND VIRGINIA

Leaving home for the University; visit in Baltimore at my uncle's; short stop in Washington; first inspection of the Capitol; view of the White House, Arlington; made a friend of the brakeman; Alexandria-its seeming antiquated appearance; Orange and Alexandria Railroad; Henry Knox, the courteous and obliging brakeman; Fairfax, Bull Run, Manassas-Confederate cemetery-Bristoe, Catletts, Warrenton Junction (Calverton), Bealeton, Rappahannock, Brandy, Culpeper, Rapidan, Mitchell, Cedar Mountain, Orange, Madison (Montpelier), Gordonsville, etc.

THE morning of Thursday, September 26, 1872, broke in with beautiful sunshine, such as soon mellowed the early bracing temperature into that which brought discomfort to every exposed man and beast. I donned my best, a trifle heavy, breakfasted hurriedly, and now was to be the saddest dutysaying farewell to mother-for whom I recognized the parting painful, as by nature she could repress poorly, womanly emotions, while for me a sharer of that weakness, if weakness it be, I felt it absolutely impossible to refrain the tear that moments before had so boldly been defied. To her my going meant so much-the breaking of a hitherto continuous companionship, the unmistakable separation by a long distance, the likely escape from maternal domination, the possible disregard of pious teachings, and the probable beginning of the end of paternal home life. To me it implied equal concern-few ever had stronger attachment for home or parents, and now both measurably were to be sacrificed in going to a strange land. Besides it marked the beginning of the self-reliant stage, when for every turn one's own head had to be taken and held responsible-true a condition some natures crave and court, but from which my own then recoiled and shrank. I was entering upon a new and all-important drama of life, which properly played would lead certainly to a desirable reward, but poorly, to discouragement and disappointment. The going away to college centers upon one at least some slight

attention from acquaintances and friends, and I fully realized that from then on they occasionally might cast an eye in my direction-looking for the good or bad developments that henceforth my doings were expected to count for something. None of this was incident to the more youthful years at the Seminary, for there I was among my people-" a prophet without honor "-within easy driving distance of home, where each Sunday was spent, while standing and results in studies had little effect outside of self and family. I frankly confess to having even at that age an ambition for becoming something beyond the ordinary, and an intuition that a few others had for me bright hopes and expectations, so it was not strange that those separative moments claimed thoughts most serious -far from idle and frivolous. And yet a vein of pleasure, indeed satisfaction, pervaded the hour through confidence in this outward step into the world being the only proper one to take.

Father drove me one mile to the nearest railroad station, for the 7:25 A. M. train, which soon arrived giving only time for checking trunk, and bidding him and the several local well-wishers a hearty good-bye. No ticket was needed as I enjoyed complimentary privileges on that portion of the road -a fact causing me to cover the route often, to know well the train's crew, and to be considered by father just a trifle careless and risky. Indeed his last counselling words were: "Be careful on trains, take care of yourself, and be a good boy "-possibly not an unusual admonition to sons first departing from home. The journey to Baltimore was without special feature, as it had frequently been taken with the same dual changes, Clayton, Delaware Junction, and could not be expected to offer any unforeseen complications. All I could hope for was to pass acceptably the hours in transit through reading a morning paper, viewing familiar scenes, and reverting occasionally to the just enacted sad home-parting. Our train reached President Street Station at 1:05 P. M., where I found awaiting me the trusted coachman of my Uncle, to whose residence I soon was conveyed, only to receive from all a most hearty welcome. That night I accompanied Uncle and Aunt to the theater-surely a pleasant treat, and one in which I felt not the slightest ill-at-ease, in spite of my semi-puritanic