University of Virginia Library

In spite of this great prospective event in the history of the
University, the session of 1874-75 differed little from those
that immediately preceded or followed, as students according
to custom went their busy way, intent solely upon daily duties,
apparently unmindful of any "casting of shadows before."
It is true, however, that the numbers were increased slightly
over the few previous years; that several fraternities held conventions
and reunions, bringing together from distant parts
men of more or less reputation, and that the Young Men's
Christian Association had an unusual list of distinguished
divines to make public addresses, but otherwise the session was
unmarked until the Ides of Commencement.

The first memorable event came early in the session, Sunday
night, October 11th, when the venerable "blind preacher,"
Rev. Dr. W. H. Milburn, for many years chaplain to Congress,
delivered a most impressive discourse upon, "Vanity of
vanities, saith the preacher (vanity of vanities); all is
vanity." During the week he also gave a series of sermons
in Charlottesville, which attracted multitudes that were
charmed by his matchless oratory, rare descriptive powers, and
profound familiarity with the sacred writings.

On Thursday night, October 15th, the Delta Kappa Epsilon
fraternity, in annual convention, held an open session in the
Public Hall, which was attended by most of the students and
many visitors to their unbounded delight. Here for the first
time the majority had the pleasure of seeing and hearing the
two literary celebrities—Bayard Taylor and Daniel B. Lucas.
The former gentleman presided at the meeting, and seemed to
be about fifty years of age with Teutonic characteristics—possessing
a commanding appearance and physique, kind frank

face covered largely with moustache and beard, good suit of
hair inclining to be curly, an affable smile and pleasant manner.
His address was the embodiment of eloquence and oratory,
his language inspiring, chaste and simple, his delivery
easy and graceful, and his tribute to youth highly encouraging,
especially in the sentences: "Rivalry in the race of distinction,
friendship that wholly confides and believes itself
eternal, manly honor and honesty—these are no illusions!
Let the cynic sneer and the philosopher smile! We will
cherish these attributes of youth until they turn age itself into
an illusion."

After this came an oration by Mr. Henry Wickham, outlining
the principles and aims of the Fraternity, which, to every
one's delight, was followed by a song of the muse—a poem,
"The Love of Letters," by Mr. Daniel B. Lucas, a gifted
gentleman, our University's product, who had only come
home to bow at the mother's knee, as he again did several
months later at the Semi-Centennial, and to add fresh garlands
to his favorite temple of knowledge. He was about forty
years of age, possessing a large head covered with a heavy
suit of hair parted on the left and brushed upward; broad forehead
and cheekbones, square broad chin, thick moustache.
Unfortunately his body was dwarfed somewhat through a
permanent spinal injury produced in infancy, by the proverbial
fall from a negro nurse's arms. A few stanzas may well be
reproduced here:

The method of electing the Final officers in the Jeff. and
Wash. Societies at last became so discreditable and unsatisfactory

that at a Faculty meeting, November 2nd, the following
regulations were adopted: "Whereas it is made the duty
of the Faculty to regulate the public exercises of this institution;
and whereas the working of the present method of electing
the representatives of the Societies is unsatisfactory, the
Faculty deem it due to the interest of the University and the
welfare of the Societies to appoint the following plan of selecting
the orators and medalists for the final celebration: At one
of the meetings in November, each Society shall appoint a committee
of five members to select three members of the Faculty
for each Society, to act in the character of an electoral committee,
to select the final orators and medalists of the Societies.
The electoral committee shall attend at least four meetings of
the Societies—say one in January, one in February, and two
in March—after the last of which the selection of medalist and
orator of each Society shall be made from the debaters and
speakers of the Societies by the electoral committee. The
selection of medalists and orators by the electoral committee
shall be final."

These regulations were addressed to each society, and ratified
by overwhelming majorities—the Jeff. selecting Professors
Cabell, Smith and Southall—the Wash.: Professors
Holmes, Venable, and J. S. Davis.

As I glance back to those turbulent days and society election-nights
prior to this new regime I fail to recall the inauguration
of a more salutary change, or one hailed with greater
delight by the better thinking students. For while it was true
that the presidents were still to be elected by the members, the
severity of the contest had been minimized by delegating to
wiser heads the filling of the most responsible positions—those
that formerly had caused endless contention and strife.

Our chaplain, Rev. Dr. S. A. Steel, took unto himself a
life partner, November 5th, the fortunate lady being Miss
Mollie Burns, of Petersburg, where the ceremony was performed.

An event that cast a gloom over the University community
for a period was the sickness and death, November 7th, of Mrs.
Margaret N. Cabell, wife of our much beloved Dr. Cabell.
She was a lady possessing many sterling qualities—unusual
grace of person, mind and heart, whose every instinct implied

President Edwin A. Alderman, LL.D., at forty-four
1861—

Inaugurated April 13, 1905

FACING 286

See page 349

that which was noble, generous and elevating. Her funeral
was attended largely by the student-body and those who treasured
highly a friendship in life. The interment was in the
University Cemetery by whose side her venerable husband
was laid a quarter of a century later.

In accordance with the spirit of the Faculty's decision, the
two Literary Societies at one of their meetings in December
announced the dates, subjects, and participants for the debater's
medals: