66 the Chapel Sunday School, she sent for him in order to impress the necessity of instilling into the children as far as possible the forms and services of her church. My friend responded gallantly to the summons, and after listening through her appeal, quietly replied: Why, Mrs. Peyton, I am a staunch Baptist, believing in the least possible church form, and besides the University is known in our broad land as being non-sectarian, consequently I would be dishonest to my teachings and her traditions to foster the ritual and creed of any specific church or denomination." Her great surprise can well be imagined, as she had taken him to be a highorder churchman until that moment. In the embarrass-ment, however, he treated her gentlemanly, but upon returning to his room, next to mine, stopped in and related the circumstance with no little surprise and feeling. Shortly after my day at the University the family had its share of sorrow, as Bernard, the shining star, in the flush of manhood and a brilliant career, as a railroad magnet, met an untimely death in the wrecking of a train, while Miss Champe, the embodiment of ambition and hope, did not long survive her advent into womanhood. All four-father, mother, son and daughter -now rest in the University Cemetery, near where in life they contributed so much to so many enjoyable scenes. The "Major" lived to be nearly sixty-nine years of age, dying April 16, 1897. HENRY MARTIN-It would be unpardonable in these personal enumerations not to include, at least, something concerning this most respectful and courteous colored janitor, whom we variously called "Henry" or "Old Henry "-Sweet Bellringer—and whose duties for years, nay, generations, consisting in ringing on and off the hourly recitations, taking charge of the Rotunda fires and lecture-rooms, have been performed most faithfully. Indeed, material is not wanting for him to receive a very generous consideration, as his personality seems somewhat imprinted or interwoven with nearly every student since the day he first began tautening the pendulous rope. Each of us could relate some pleasant episode or circumstance in which he would creditably figure, for to all he was so friendly -professor, student and stranger receiving alike that indis criminating urbanity which always commands genuine admiration and respect, the more from it not being forced or over-indulged. He defended the professors and never uttered a preference for anyone, although often importuned—they all in his sight were fine gentlemen and that was invariably his expressed opinion. He knew his part in life and played it well. There was no goading to duty needed, because he regarded himself one of the wheels in the clock very essential for the correct working of the mechanism, therefore, that he perforce must live up to every obligation or else friction and irregularity would ensue. He also fully recognized that he was neither a professor, a student, nor a white man; that he did not own the University and that she could get along satisfactorily with some one else in his stead. Possibly above all that commended him was his strict attention to his own business and the non-meddling with that of the others—unless approached. In my experience I do not recall the bell pealing out of time, and yet that must have occurred to prove human error and fallibility. In spite of his many duties he was always ready to do a service, provided that be possible, and whether the monetary compensation was forthcoming or not, that which was less expected in those than these days, mattered little to him-for to serve was his delight. He has told me repeatedly, always with an evident degree of pride, that he, an infant, was brought down from yonder mountain, Monticello, the very year of Mr. Jefferson's death, 1826, having been born about that time a part and parcel of that estate, so soon thereafter scattered, as by the four winds. He was a dark mulatto with yellowish-brown skin, about six feet two inches high and weighed one hundred and ninety pounds. His head was well-shaped, rather large and apparently intellectual; hair abundant, blackish and almost straight; forehead curved but broad and high; cheek-bones prominent; mouth large, as was also his nose, this latter being well proportioned; eyes rather large and grayish-blue. He wore a moustache and goatee, both thin, black and of long fiber. For several years after leaving the University I returned to the "Finals," always having a hand-shake and talk with Henry, but there followed an interval of fifteen years without seeing those classic shades save from a passing car window. 66 However, in 1894, my wife and myself, en route to Asheville, N. C., decided to stop off at the University for a day and night, and in doing so soon ran upon Henry. After a few words of salutation I remarked: Well, Henry, of course you do not remember me?" To which he replied: "Yes, I do; I cannot call your name but you are from Delaware and you were a student here eighteen or twenty years ago." We hear so much of retained identity and remembrance that I was glad to have had a witness in my own experience to even this extent of accurate memory. But to show how his mind had weakened in three years, when in 1897, on our way to the Hot Springs, Virginia, we spent an equal time at the University, he had forgotten not only my personality but our former recent visit. He then asked me if I would not like to have his picture, and upon my thanking him for the compliment, he expressed the intention of having some taken in the near future when I should have one. True to his word a year later, September, 1898, he sent the photograph which has been reproduced in this volume. I have seen him several times since, the last being April, 1905, when the changes brought by age were very noticeable. As I look back upon the record of that colored man, recalling the various phases of his character, his uniform courtesy, his diplomatic and inoffensive nature-never irritating even the youthful southern blood-his manly, truthful and straightforward manner under all times and conditions, it seems to me he was worthy a tenement of whiter clay. Too true his type will soon have passed away, and possibly in his color, "I shall not look upon his like again." CHAPTER XXIV SUMMARY OF UNIVERSITY LIFE-DUTIES VERSUS PLEASURES University life falsely understood by many; in truth exacting and filled with cares, but had a bright side. Unusual condition at the University for close study and thorough scholarship. Methods of diversionpleasurable walking, ball games, gymnasium, skating, theatricals, minstrels, short trips, attending church, Bible and public lectures. Social visiting-dancing, receptions, games, horseback riding, driving, musical instruments and practice; debating societies; secret fraternities. University laws seldom violated, etc. MANY who have never enjoyed a college or university training incline to surround that life with a halo of diversified pleasure-such as from their own viewpoint contributes simply to passing the time acceptably. Most of them remember well their individual experience in acquiring the education they possess; their joy or pain at the closing of the final student-page, and their delight or sorrow at the retrospect as the years come and go. Beyond this false conception some believe that those with advancement sufficient to enter the higher institutions have done so less through personal effort than an inherent aptness for absorbing all things unknown; that this being a fact the equation of study need enter little into the so-called student's daily doings, and instead thereof he breathes an atmosphere of perfect comfort, ease and indolence verging sometimes on to raillery, debauchery and possibly lawlessness. Those who have entered the silvery portals know better how to speak, and I am confident if all were entreated for an expression of opinion their verdict would come in no discordant sounds, but in a single emphatic monotone-university student-life is exacting in its demands, and like every other successful business has daily problems claiming from all serious attention. Of course in every aggregated mass of humanity assembled for a specific purpose, and having in common the same ultimate object, there will be always a few either more matured in years, excessively bright or stupid, over or under prepared, or wayward by intentiondissenters, nay sometimes disturbers-but these are so over |