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EMORY UNIVERSITY
Bishop Daniel A. Payne, D.D., LL.D.,
First President of Wilberforce University
Under the Auspices of the A. M. E. Ciiurch
1863-1870.
SCHOOL DAYS
— at —
WILBERFORCE.
_ by —
REVERDY C. RANSOM.
TO THOSE WHO, AS TEACHERS,
HAVE GIVEN TO WILBERFORCE
THE FIRST FRUITS OF THEIR BEST YEARS,
TO THE FRIENDS
WHO HAVE WORKED AND GIVEN,
TO THE STUDENTS WHO,
THOUGH SCATTERED ABROAD, RETAIN FOR
WILBERFORCE KIND REMEMBRANCE AND LOVING REGARD,
TO THE CLASS OF '86,
THIS BOOK
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.
PREFACE.
My object in writing this little book is neither
money nor fame. I shall offer no apology for either
its matter or its style. It has cost me little labor, and
I hope it may cost the reader less. I have written of
Wilberforce as I knew it, and therefore have used the
past tense in describing the college and college life.
But Wilberforce remains to-day substantially as it
was, with the exception that the State of Ohio has
established a Normal and Industrial Department there,
erecting a handsome building for its accommodation,
and with the further exception that as I write Bishop
Benjamin W. Arnett, D. D., is making herculean ef¬
forts to establish a Connectional Theological Seminary
there, to be known as " Payne Theological Seminary."
If from what is contained herein the reader is able to
get a picture of the every-day life of the Px*ofessors
and Students of Wilberforce, and have his sympathy
and interest in this institution quickened thereby, I
shall be amply repaid for the transcription of these
lines. R. C. R.
THE NEW ERA CO., PRINTER, SPRINGFIELD, OHI
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
En Route i
Wilberforce 4
Matriculation 10
The Faculty 16
"Study Hours" 22
Moral and Religious Influence 32
The Boarding Hall and Clubs 40
Literary Societies S3
Recreations 60
Social Life 64
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
Daniel A. Payne ii
Benjamin F.Lee ... viii
Wilberforce University 5
S. T. Mitchell, A. M "
Benjamin W. Arnett . . 17
J.P.Maxwell 23
T. H. Jackson 41
J. P. Shorter 41
W. S. Scarborough 41
Ladies' Normal Building 61
Rev. Benjamin F. Lee, D. D.,
Second President of Wilherforce University,
1S7G-1884.
School Days at Wilberforce.
EN ROUTE.
The first Monday of September, '81, marks a mem¬
orable epoch in my little history, for on this very day,
at 12 M., with mother's parting message, "God bless
you, son ! Study hard," ringing in my ears, I left the
quiet hills of old Guernsey for Wilberforce. How
proud I felt that day ! or, at least, a part of it; for as
the train-men called out the name of station after sta¬
tion my spirits fell. I began to feel lonesome and far¬
away. Nevertheless I felt important, felt like a stu¬
dent, and wondered if any one knew I was on my way
to college. But if any one was in doubt as to my des¬
tination, abundant light was shed upon the subject by
my inquiring of the conductor about every half hour,
"What time do we reach Xenia?" "Do you know
how far it is from Xenia to Wilberforce University?"
But at last, as the September sun was setting, we ar¬
rived at Xenia. I, in company with two other stu¬
dents, took a carriage and was soon speeding over the
three and a half miles that lead from the city to the
college.
I little thought that night how, in coming days, I
would often walk that road tired, penniless, and some¬
times cold and hungry. Some of the conversation in
which the accompanying students engaged during the
drive is most vividly recalled. They spoke of " Profs.,"
2 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
"Juniors," and "Sophs.," the titles of books and their
contents. As they talked I sat awed to silence ; for
surely I had never before met such superior young men,
to whom this mode of high discourse was most famil¬
iar. Thus I sat and thus they talked, as we sped along
through the fading twilight, past pretty fields and farm
houses. As we neared our destination a turn in the
road soon brought us to the stately pines which hide
from view "Evergreen Cottage," the beautiful home
of Bishop Daniel A. Payne. Adjoining this, loomed
up with unobstructed view the clean white front of
the commodious home of Bishop James A. Shorter.
Here lived and died a master spirit, a man of God's
own choosing, and one who, as a worker in the vine¬
yard of the Lord, was neither a bungler nor a sham.
We next passed " Homewood Cottage," the beautiful
home of the greatest elocutionist the American Negro
has yet given to the world—Miss Hallie Q_. Brown,
were at the college gate. A moment more and we,
passing up the gravel drive beneath the great hick¬
ories, oaks and maples, found ourselves at the door
of the President's home. Here I was ushered in¬
to a room, against whose walls stood large cases
of books. I was told to sit down, that the Presi¬
dent would see me in a momert. After I had stu¬
died the various designs of the carpet and wall pa¬
per for a half hour or more, some one came to the door
and said that Professor was in Europe, that his
EN ROUTE. 3
horse had got loose and that the President had gone to
catch him, but would return in a few moments. With
this information I endeavored to comfort my tired and
excited mind. In the mean time I sat there and im¬
agined I could see the President as he chased the run¬
away steed across the continent of Europe. Just as
the chase was becoming interesting it was suddenly
brought to an end by the appearance of no less im¬
portant personage than the President himself. The
quiet dignity of his cordiality was most reassuring.
After a few preliminaries he assigned me a place to
rest for the night. It fell to my lot to be delivered up
to the hospitality of one Mr. Bi'ooks, a young man
from Kentucky. No sooner did Mr. Brooks get me
safely housed in his little room, than he set himself to
investigate the extent of my scholastic attainments.
After his stock of questions was exhausted, I modestly
inquired oi him what he was studying. He replied
that he was studying " Switzlupecackeroo," or, that is
to say, in other words he was studying "Kickero."
What this profound book might be I did not know,
nor did I further inquire, but silently and meekly I
prepared to retire. Nor shall I soon forget that night's
Test, or rather unrest. He had filled his bed-tick that
day with good country straw. The straw stood up in
the center of the tick hay-stack fashion, and each par¬
ticular straw did stand on end, with prickly point
•erect, while nothing but a thin sheet intervened.
4 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
WILBERFORCE.
There is a kind of inspiration in work when the
fruit of each day's toil brings us nearer the goal upon
which we have set our hopes. It was indeed a happy
consummation of years of hoping and months of econ¬
omy and toil to stand at the door of Wilberforce,
knocking, and qualified to enter.
Wilberforce is situated three and one-half miles
east of Xenia, Ohio, in Greene county. The real es¬
tate of Wilberforce consists of fifty-two acres of land,
finely timbered, and abundantly watered with mineral
springs. The campus embraces about ten acres, five
in front and five in the rear. " It is traversed by a
ravine, which, at certain points, becomes so deep as to
eclipse the apex of the cupola, ninety-two feet high.
Its meanderings are east, southeast by north, flanking
and moulding the rear of the campus into graceful
curves and slopes, producing the form of a miniature
tableland, sharply defined and beautiful. The' front is
level, with a slight indenture running southward. It
is shaded by forest trees and a few evergreens." The
main building is of brick, three stories above the base¬
ment and is 44 by 160. It embraces a center and two
wings ; the center is 40 by 52, the wings are 40 by
60. This building contains a chapel, eight recitation
and one lecture room, an art and one music room, one
library and a museum. It has also five dormitories
\A.vLis^CH-A.iKrn aoHOdnaauM
G SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
with forty bed rooms—the left wing as you approach
the front being occupied by the gentlemen and the
right by the lady students.* The basement consists
of fifteen rooms, which embrace kitchen, pantry, din¬
ing hall, store rooms, etc. On either side of the cam¬
pus are two rows of frame cottages, ten in number, in¬
habited chiefly by students and families who come to
educate their children. Wilberforce as an institution
of learning is not great in the sense that Harvard and
Yale are great. It was born amid war's alarms and
the death throes of slavery. It was bought by Bishop
D. A. Payne, on the ioth of March, 1863, "between 9
and 10 o'clock p. m.," from the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Without a dollar in hand he made this pur¬
chase, having faith in his God, faith in his church, faith
in his race and faith in himself, believing also that his
people would not only be able to pay for it, but to per¬
petuate it. One of the declarations of the charter of
the school was, that there shall never be any distinction
among the trustees, faculty, or students on account of race
or color. The Bishop associated with himself in this
purchase Rev. James Shorter and Mr. John G. Mit¬
chell. Almost thirty years have demonstrated that
their faith in their people was not misplaced. . Where
does history furnish another example of a people ig¬
norant and enslaved establishing an educational insti-
* Both wings are now occupied by the gentlemen, the female students oc¬
cupying the beautiful and commodious Normal and Industrial Building.
WILBERFORCE. 7
tution in the midst of their thralldom ? Scarcely had
the ink become dry on Lincoln's immortal proclama¬
tion of freedom, before the Negro, with his face lit up
with a hope born of the dawning of a brighter day,
was establishing an institution for the education of his
children.
Wilberforce University is a standing rebuke to those
who still persist in branding the Negro an inferior be¬
ing. It was purchased by the Negro, is maintained by
his efforts, manned by his intelligence, and has pro¬
duced and is producing students who, when brought
into actual competition, compare favorably with grad¬
uates from other colleges.
Wilberforce is a monument to the Negro's civiliza¬
tion, intelligence and Christianity. Its aim is to pro¬
mote Christian education. Recently by act of the legisla¬
ture of the state of Ohio, an industrial department has
been added. But yesterday "the law's delay" made
the Negro's education a crime ; "the proud man's con¬
tumely" proclaimed him not a man, but groping some¬
where in the darkness, he touched God's right hand,
that touch gave him inspiration and by its guidance he
is advancing to the light.
Almost before the benevolent and Christian North
began to establish schools for the Negro's elevation,
they who knew not the advantages of learning were
in barber shops, hotels, over the wash-tub and on the
plantations of the South, saving from their scanty earn-
8 • SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
ins a few dollars here and there to assist in paying for
Wilberforce.
While men noted for their intelligence were pro¬
claiming that the Negro lacked capacity for receiving
a higher education, he was at Wilberforce mastering
theology and the classics. Wilberforce has not the
facilities of some of our more favored schools. She
has no rich and powerful friends. She is poor. Who
can say but that her poverty is teaching the Negro a
lesson he much needs to learn, the lesson of self-
help, of taking a larger and livelier interest in his
own elevation, by giving more liberally and sys¬
tematically of his means, to support his own in¬
stitutions. Wilberforce is giving practical solution to
the "Negro problem," by preparing the Negro for citi¬
zenship, imbuing him with the spirit of Christianity,
training his mind to think, his hands to work and quali¬
fying him for the demands of a high civilization.
This is indeed a classic spot. The institution has
gathered around it a community as intelligent, refined
and Christian, as can be found anywhere in our land,
nor is Wilberforce "a race school" any more than
Oberlin or Yale are race schools. The latter are owned
and controlled by white men. Wilberforce is owned
and controlled by colored men, but her doors are open
to every nationality and race. " It is provided that
none shall be excluded from the benefits of said insti¬
tution, as officers, faculty, or pupils, on account of
WILBERFORCE. 9
color."—Articles of Association, Wilberforce Univer¬
sity.
There are three classes of schools, of which we shall
speak before here concluding.
1. There are schools such as Harvard, Princeton
and Yale, whose doors God has opened to colored stu¬
dents, that in the same class room with the best brain
of the country from day to day they might demon¬
strate their ability to equal and in some cases to ex¬
cel it.
2. There are colleges such as Howard University
and Lincoln, which are established for colored stu¬
dents. Here under the support and control of white
men they have filled all requirements and surpassed all
expectations.
3. There are schools like Wilberforce, Allen Uni¬
versity and Waco College established, maintained and
controlled by the Negro. And it is here, be it said with¬
out disparagement, that the Negro is learning along
with the highest intellectual attainments, race pride,
self-confidence and self-respect. Of the schools which
are an inspiration to the highest endeavor of the Negro,
Wilberforce is a bright and shining example.
10 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
MATRICULATION.
While reading the names of students in a college
catalogue, perhaps few ever stop to conjecture what
causes operated to place them there. Almost every
one thinks that students go or are sent to Wilberforce
" to obtain an education." Here a distinction must
be drawn between students who go to college and those
who are sent. Many students have entered here, be¬
cause they not only had a thirst for knowledge, but al¬
so desired to equip themselves for a life of usefulness.
The means for their support they have earned in the
barber shop, on the farm, and in the kitchen, the school
room and in hotels. Others are sent because their par¬
ents, having little else to bestow, desire to give their
children that which is of higher value than silver or
gold—an education—which would enable them to
make their way in the world, be useful to their fellow
man, and an honor to their family and to God. In the
fulfillment of the desire to educate their children here,,
we have known mothers to seek employment as do¬
mestics and to take boarders and washing. Formerly
it was true, whatever changes may have taken place
in recent years, that aside from the self-supporting stu¬
dents, the majority were assisted in their support sole-
ly by their mothers.
While Wilberforce does not profess to be a reforma¬
tory institution and will not admit students without a
President S. F. Mitchell, A M
Elected, 1884.
12 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
certificate certifying to their good moral character,
parents have sent their daughters here to get them
away from an objectionable suitor, or in the hope of
diverting them from wild and ruinous ways. Some
have sent their sons in the hope of removing them
from evil companions or to reform their dissolute hab¬
its. Others have sent their children in the hope that
they would become Christians. And some have come
hoping to secure, not an education, but a husband or a
wife.
The first two or three weeks of college life are usu¬
ally full of excitement, novelty and home-sickness. To
the "new student" at Wilberforce, one of the most im¬
portant persons is the Secretary of the college. To se¬
cure your room you must go to the Secretary. Before
you can recite with your class you must pay your tui¬
tion to the Secretary. Are you in need of a textbook?
The Secretary can supply you. Do you want a ham¬
mer, a nail or a string ? Go to the Secretary. If you
are expecting a letter, inquire of the Secretary ; he is
postmaster, too.
The most important and absorbing thing that the
" new student" has to do, is to get his room fixed up
for the year, The university supplies each room with
chairs, wash-stand, stove, bed-stead, mattress and we
would like to say two pillows. But that name sug¬
gests comfort and repose, both of which commendable
qualities the average pillow in our day most sadly
MATRICULATION. 13
lacked. Ours were filled with a dark substance, which
looked like coarse hair. And to this day I cannot rid
myself of the thought that my pillow was a living
thing.
Sometimes that pillow would have an undulatory
motion, again it would swell up large and full, at other
times it would shrink almost to nothing, and again at
times the thing would twist itself into a long, hard roll,
then stretch itself diagonally accross the pillow case.
At such times as these no amount of coaxing, shaking
or pounding would induce it to change its shape. The
other home comforts each student must provide for
himself. The score of conveniences which the new
arrival has enjoyed all his days now become suddenly
important. A coal bucket, a lamp, an oil can and a
broom must be bought and used. Each student is re¬
quired to sweep and cleanse his room and make his
bed.
This last is one of the most forcible reminders to the
male student that he is away from home. Many have
been able to excel in mathematics and the classics,
but never as artful bed makers. An effort to keep the
rooms neat, they must be kept clean, prevails, some
wearing quite a home-like appearance. In the midst
of all these preliminary arrangements, a most interest¬
ing person appears upon the scene, one who for good
or ill will in some degree influence all the future
course of the student's life ; especially is this true if he
14 SCHOOL D \ YS AT WILBERFORCE.
or she be young. This person is your room mate. No
one is allowed the exclusive privilege of occupying a
room to himself. Two students are assigned to each
room. Any two students who may desire can usually
arrange to occupy the same room.
It requires more skill, more patience, and more for¬
bearance to live peaceably and harmoniously with the
majority of room mates, than in almost any other volun¬
tary association between two human beings. Was it not
for the knowledge that this association was to be of
short duration, in many instances it would be almost
unbearable. There is always an agreement between
room mates to divide the responsibilities, one making
the bed and sweeping, the other carrying the coal, wa¬
ter, etc. But the weight of these responsibilities, some¬
times gravitates from one to the other in a most un¬
pleasant manner. Sometimes one is mated with a per¬
son who is continually losing his things and borrow¬
ing yours.
Or again it is the love-sick room mate. One of
these will sit for hours and gaze into the fire or look
out of the window. They will, at times, destroy the
labor of an hour, which you have bestowed on a les¬
son, by breaking in upon you to expatiate on the vir¬
tues of the one upon whom they have bestowed their
affection. But the student who has added to lessons
which are difficult to prepare a room mate who, while
studying, makes a noise like the buzzing of a swarm of
MATRICULATION. 15
tees, is deserving of profound commiseration. Then
there are those who are ever genteel and considerate,
whose moral and intellectual atmosphere is so high
and pure that to associate with them is most beneficial
indeed.
Though perhaps imperceptible at the time, the in¬
fluence which one room mate has over another is not
small. The many little traits of character unconscious¬
ly imitated, the ideas and conceptions borrowed are
not few. A student should choose his room mate with
great care. If a new student has a disposition to be
friendly, the old students take to him as kindly as
though he had been one of them for years. There is a
disposition on the part of all to make strangers feel at
home. There is no danger of " a new boy" being
" hazed." Wilberforce in all her history has never
developed a genuine case of hazing. The most that
ever befell a new student in our day was some harmless
little joke. If he were well supplied with money,
some one might induce him to buy a cozy little lunch,
to partake of which a chosen and congenial few would
vbe invited. The new student rapidly becomes old.
After his first year he is an old student, and with this,
as is ever the case with the aged, come weighty res¬
ponsibilities. He is made the repository of anecdotes,
reminiscences and traditions which have been handed
down with yearly accummulations, from one genera¬
tion of students to another. There is a new genera-
16 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
tion of students about every five years—except a few
old land-marks, who have lived through many genera¬
tions, being first in and then out of school, every few
terms, changing from one department to another,
watching the old depart and welcoming the new, hav¬
ing no goal and, like the babbling brook, seemingly
destined to go on forever.
THE FACULTY.
The magnificent bequests to colleges and the univer¬
sal establishment of institutions of learning by muni¬
cipalities and ecclesiastical bodies, are proofs of the
high esteem in which the cause of education is held.
In almost every civilized community the wealthy are
patrons of learning, and the masses have great respect
for the learned. To trace the influence of the college
upon the course of history would have proven a diffi¬
cult task for all the learning and ingenuity of the great
Guizot. The conflict of arms which, from of old, has
been so prominent in the affairs of men, is giving place
to the conflict of ideas. He who trains the mind to
think is greater far than he who " teacheth the hands
to war."
The Faculty of a college is looked upon with a res¬
pect amounting almost to veneration. The confidence
and approval of this august body is an honor of which
'"fin.
Bishop Benjamin W. Arnhtt, D. D., LLD.,
President of Trustee Board of Wilberforce University,
Founder of Payne Theological Seminari.
18 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
every academician feels justly proud. When the vir¬
tuous and the learned meet together, it is the highest
point of contact between human beings. He who is
in daily contact with these great ones enjoys one of
the earth's highest privileges. This privilege may be
enjoyed at Wilberforce. The Faculty is composed of
professors who are not only proficient, but some have
achieved distinction in some of the departments of
knowledge. They have skill not only in imparting
knowledge, but, better still, the chief end and aim of
all eductional processes are kept in view. They do
not simply teach the'student " how to think " and "how
to study," but also how to get hold of himself.
In the past the Negro has been too prone to see
himself as others see him. He has had little faith in
the capacity or ability of men and women of his race,
in those relations of life which call for the exercise of
the higher and nobler powers of man. When the Ne¬
gro engages in any enterprise, unassociated with ser¬
vitude and drudgery, and does it freed from the lead¬
ing-strings of his ancient lords, his enemies are eager for
him to fail and his friends doubt his ability to succeed.
The Afro-American's participation in business, philan¬
thropic and educational movements, has been, in the
beginning, and is now, necessarily humble. Because of
this, it has been attempted to cast discredit upon his
work and to ridicule his efforts by bringing them into
comparison with those who are centuries in the lead.
MATRICULATION. 19
Deceived by the unfavorable light in which the
work of the Negro is made to appear, many who, be¬
cause of their affiliation and interest, should give their
voice and support to Wilberforce, too often withhold
their influence and speak of her in terms of deprecia¬
tion if not of ridicule. The writer of these lines, pre¬
vious to visiting Wilberforce, had never seen a colored
professor, much less a Faculty composed of colored
professors, presiding over a college owned and con¬
trolled by colored men. While he believed Wilber¬
force would do much for him, he did not believe that
a college owned and controlled by colored men was as
good as one owned and controlled by white men.
Neither did he believe that a Faculty composed of col¬
ored men was as good as one composed of white men ;
nor yet did he believe that a colored teacher was as
competent as a white one. There are thousands who
think to-day as he thought then. Nor will "mixed
schools" with white teachers go far toward changing
this view. Great walls of brick and stone cannot give
to a student intellectual capacity ; neither can learned
and dignified professors advance him further than by
his ovon efforts he is willing to go. But suitable build¬
ings and learned professors are both necessary and in¬
dispensable. The Faculty of Wilberforce was in our
day, with one exception, composed of colored teachers.
Whatever of doubt, either through ignorance or preju¬
dice, I may have entertained as to teachers of my race
20 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
was soon dispelled. The professors were all men and
women of recognized intelligence and ability. In some
of them the aspiring student found inspiration to put
forth the highest endeavor. But there was not one
professor who was not overworked and underpaid,
when we consider the amount and character of the
service required and performed. For example, the
professor of ancient languages taught all the classes oi
Greek and Latin, from the first lessons through the en¬
tire course. The professor of mathematics taught all
classes, from arithmetic to trigonometry and astrono¬
my. The work of the theological department was
done by one professor, though each of these professors
was usually assisted by undergraduate tutors. The
work of hearing classes recite consumed so much time
that the professors had little leisure for investigation,
study or research.
As for recreation, they got it out of the wood pile
and the soil, each male professor being a farmer on a
small scale. I have never seen the lady teachers tak¬
ing out door exercise. Aside from the work of teach¬
ing, the Faculty has another very important function
to perform—the administration of government. Man¬
kind is not easily goverened. We grow restless un¬
der prohibitions and restraints. Even the inspired
narrative of the beginning of human history opens with
the sad account " of man's first disobedience, and the
fruit of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste brought
MATRICULATION. 21
death into the world, and all our woe with loss of
Eden." Our own poets have sung—
" I am owner of the sphere,
Of the seven stars and solar year,"
But they find no inspiration yet to sing of the mastery
of man over man.
To hold in check and conform to a set of rules a
hundred or more healthy, well-fed and well housed
boys and girls is a difficult thing to do. Wilberforce,
like most all American colleges, is under rigid govern¬
ment. The students in the theological department
are governed by the same rules as those in the college
and preparatory department. The rules do not recog¬
nize class standing or age. They are the same for all
departments. When serious offenses against the col-
lege government come to the knowledge of the Facul¬
ty, which they rarely fail to do, the intelligence that
the Faculty is going to meet fills every guilty conscience
with unrest. In troublous times these Faculty meet¬
ings are great events. When this body is trying a
case, it sits as court of inquiry, judge, jury and plain¬
tiff. Innocent indeed is the one who can run the
gauntlet of these functions, which are vigorously
exercised when occasion requires. The student who
is found guilty of any great immorality is promptly
expelled and sent away. The Faculty labors as hard
to instill correct moral principles and to maintain a
high moral tone in the college as they do to develop
22
SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
the minds of their scholars and preserve for the col
lege a high intellectual standing.
All honor to that noble company of teachers %vho
have made Wilberforce what it is to-day. Receiving
small pay and often less sympathy, with their depart¬
ments butmeagerly equipped, making many sacrifices,
they have advanced this college to a recognized place
among the educational institutions of the land. Their
graduates have not been inferior to those from other
schools of like grade. This assertion has been abun¬
dantly verified by competitive examinations, trials of
strength upon the rostrum and more abundantly by the
work they have done. Wilberforce University and the
corps of teachers who preside over her different de¬
partments with so much learning and ability give to
the Negro respectable rank among the lovers and pro¬
moters of higher education.
" STUDY HOURS."
The authorities at Wilberforce have taken every pre¬
caution to prevent students from wasting their time.
They endeavor to guard, not only against waste of
time, but also to see that it is spent to the student's
greatest profit and advantage, in respect to health,
morals, and the acquisition of knowledge.
Persons of irregular and careless habits, who have
24 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
been used to going and coming at will, leaving les¬
sons unprepared to loiter about the streets, or ramble
through the woods and fields and keep late hours, will
find here a restraint as beneficial as at first it will seem
disagreeable and exacting. During our school days,
the hours and the manner of their employment were
divided as follows : The first morning bell rang at 5
a. m., and all early risers might get up. At 6 a. m.
the second bell rang. At the ringing of this bell all
students must get up and set their rooms in order for
the day. To fail to arise at this hour was a violation
of the rules and must be reported as such. The time
from six until eight o'clock was otherwise employed
in breakfasting and attending prayers in the college
chapel. From 8 a. m. until 12 m., from 2 p. m. until
4, and from 7 p. m. until 9 were devoted to study and
recitations ; these are " study hours." The intervening
time might be spent in recreation. The regulations
of the college are very strict regarding the observance
of study hours. During these hours the students are
not allowed to visit each other's rooms, nor to talk
loud „or make unnecessary noise. No matter how
brightly the sun shines, nor how enticing the beauti¬
ful campus and the cool woods on pleasant days in
Spring and Fall, students are not allowed to leave
their rooms during study hours unless it be to recite.
When the surroundings are considered, it will be seen
that there is no undue severity about these rules. The
"STUDY HOURS." 25
students prepare their lessons in their rooms and meet
their teachers in the recitation rooms at the appointed
hour to recite. Most all of the students are in the
main building and in adjoining rooms, hence if not
restrained, the noise and interruption would be great.
Although a strict observance of study hours is en¬
forced, students may, when necessary, obtain permis¬
sion to visit each other's rooms, or to be out of the
building or even off the college grounds during these
hours. There are those who disregard authority and
break the laws. Sometimes in mid winter we have
known students to run out of coal, and as necessity
knows no law, neither does a student so situated.
One of these unfortunates would come shivering into
a fellow students room " to borrow a warming," to
"borrow a little heat" or, "to study by your fire."*
We have known students who were out of fuel and
without means with which to buy, to visit the differ¬
ent rooms for an entire term, studying by some one's
fire. Sometimes one thus situated, rather than expose
his poverty, would go to bed in order to keep warm
while preparing his lessons. Some who were out of
fuel would go to the woods and gather chips and bark.
I remember one student, who, having neither fuel nor
money, burned chips for several weeks. Added to his
pecuniary embarassment there was another : in com-
* The college building and the normal and industrial building are now
heated by steam-
2(5 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
ing from the woods with his bag of chips it was ne¬
cessary for him to pass directly in front of the room
where dwelt the object of his affections. Rather than
expose his poverty to her he would bring his chips to
the edge of the woods, leave them there and persuade
some of his friends to go out and carry them in tor
him.
Students who were out of oil would go to another's
room to study by his light. It was almost impossible to
borrow oil, especially from an old student—they had
been caught too often. When the professors caught a
student out of his room during study hours, (all rooms
must be accessible to members of the Faculty at any
time) the favorite excuses were—"Well, Professor, I
was out of oil," or "I just ran in a moment to see
where the lesson was." If the professor inquired of
the host why he was entertaining company during
study hours, the reply would probably be,—"I was
not entertaining him. I ordered him to go, and he would
not do so " The bell which rang at 9 p. m. was for
students to prepare for bed. For these preparations a
half hour was given, which the devout spent in read¬
ing the Bible and in prayer. Othex*s less religious
spent it in the many profitable and unprofitable ways
which only a student could devise, while there were
a few who spent this time in going from one room to
another in search of something to eat. At 9 130 p. m.
all students were required to extinguish their lights
"STUDY HOURS." 27
for the night and go to bed. Some who desired to re¬
main up until a late hour, in order to avoid detection,
would pad the transoms over their doors, plug the key
hole, close every chink under the door, pull down the
window blind and as a greater precaution hang a bed
quilt over it. Then they would sit in there and study,
or have a quiet chat with a friend. But, sometimes
two or three friends would get behind these fortifica¬
tions and have a " fry," perhaps of eggs, pork chops or
sausage. As the appetizing odor of toothsome sausage
cakes floated through the dormitory hall, it would
awaken almost every student on that floor. Soon
voices would be heard in the hall calling out: " Some
body's cooking meat," and, guided by the odor, the
boys would sniff their way along the hall until they
came to the room where the cooking was in progress ;
then rapping at the door would plead in under tones—
" Boys, -please let me in !" Within all was silent. Again,
■" Boys, please hand me out a bite !" When from with¬
in the answer would come,—"Ain't got any to spare."
About this time a professor would appear upon the
scene, but by the time he got far down the hall the
fry" would be put under the bed or up in the clothes
press and every one would be snoring. So profound¬
ly wrapped in slumber on these occasions would every
student be that the professor would have to knock
loud and long before he could gain admission to any
one's room. When he inquired the cause of the noise,
28 SCHOOL DA.YS AT WILBERFORCE.
of course no one knew, for, as appearances proclaimed,,
all had been asleep. While these breaches of authori¬
ty did occasionally occur, and we fear even to this day-
are not unknown, there were always students whose
respect for authority was so great as to act as a check,
upon the willful.
Except it were a case of some immorality or per¬
sonal matter it very rarely happened that the short¬
comings of a student were reported by another. Oc¬
casionally a goody-good fellow, or professional tattler,,
would report to the Faculty the misdeeds of his-
fellow students. But for a student to do this, unless-
the offense were grave, was considered an unpardonable
sin. The one thus offending was regarded as " the
common enemy and oppressor of all."
The requirements of the college, with reference to-
the observance of study hours, prove in the end bene¬
ficial to all. They teach the student the value of time
and how to economize it. They teach him orderly
and systematic habits of study, by which is gained the
power of passing from one subject to another entirely
different, while being able to comprehend and retain
the knowledge set forth in them all. We believe that
under this system there will be more rapid progress and
less failures than where the student is at liberty to choose
his own hours. There are, however, many causes which
influence students to apply themselves closely to study
aside from the love of it. The most powerful of these
"STUDY HOURS." 29
is class rivalry or a desire to excel, the penalties at¬
tached to failure, such as being compelled to take a
study over while the class passed on to othei's, and the
fear of being looked upon as inferior by professors and
students, are enough to induce every one to strive to
maintain a respectable class standing.
While study hours are generally observed, the odd
~ways in which some students apply themselves to their
lessons differ so widely that we mention a few. We
remember one student who could not study with his
collar on ; another could not study sitting down. We
remember another who, when his lesson perplexed him,
would take the book and beat it with his fist, ceasing
only when, as it seemed, he thought sufficient chas¬
tisement had been administered to cause the book to
mend its difficult and perplexing ways. There was
another who would strike himself across the head
when unable to retain a lesson, the apparent object
foeing to arouse and call into action his alleged intel¬
lectual faculties. We recall still another, who had a
ten-bushel store box setting in the middle of his room,
into which he always went to read his Bible, to pray
and to study his Greek.
The hours of intermission were spent in many dif¬
ferent ways. Some devoted these hours to general
reading, spending the time in the library or reading
rooms ; others devoted the time to out-door exercise,
and there was an amphibious crowd, who on bright
30 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
days spent this time in drinking water. The pump
from which drinking water is obtained is situated in
the middle of the campus. Here many would often
resort and tarry long ostensibly to drink, but in fact
to exchange a few words with the opposite sex. While
assosciation with the opposite sex is forbidden, the
civilities of every day life are not. Profiting by this, a
young gallant would run the entire length of the cam¬
pus to pump a pitcher of water for a lady and receive
her thanks and a smile. The recitations begin at 8 a.
m., the time allotted to each class being usually
three quarters of an hour. Each professor has a recita¬
tion room where he meets his classes. All are required
to meet promptly at the appointed hour. Each stu¬
dent is given ample time to recite without interrup¬
tion all he knows of the part assigned him. If it
be made known, no point in a lesson is passed over
until it is made clear, if possible, to the dullest mem¬
ber of the class. After a student has recited, the pro¬
fessor grades him according to the knowledge of the
lesson he has displayed. The students were graded
on the scale of ten. Seven was the passing mark. All
grades or averages below seven were failures. A stu¬
dent who has failed in a recitation may often retrieve
his fortunes by reciting another portion of the lesson on
which a class-mate has failed. In all our school days
at Wilberforce we never saw or heard of a " pony" or
"key" being used. Whenever the study is of such a
"STUDY HOURS."
31
nature as to render it possible, the black board or writ¬
ing tablet is freely used. Wilberforce is now and has
ever been strong in her preparatory departments and
in the departments of philosophy and languages. The
study of geology, mineralogy and zoology is greatly
aided by a small but well chosen museum. In the de¬
partment of natural sciences this institution does not
aim to turn out specialists, but to give a general
knowledge of the great departments of learning. While
the college is but meagerly supplied with apparatus
for teaching and illustrating chemistry and some of
the branches of higher mathematics, competent pro¬
fessors require a thorough theoretic knowledge and
mastery of the principles.* During the college life of
the writer the boys were as a rule superior to the girls
in scholarship, especially in mathematics, but it gives
us pleasure to record that there were some bright and
notable exceptions. In our geometry class, we had a
young lady who usually took her morning nap while
the proposition was being demonstrated. A ruse to
which students often resorted when unprepared to re¬
cite, was to introduce some topic either foreign or ger¬
mane to the lesson and spend the whole hour in dis¬
cussion in order to prevent the professor from hearing
recitations. But the professor always got his revenge
by assigning an advance lesson for the next day, re-
*A small chemical laboratory has recently been added, greatly increasing
the thoroughness with which this branch is taught.
32 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
quiring also the one unrecited. The anxiety, the fail¬
ures, the humiliations, the pleasures and the triumphs
of the class room are not soon forgotten. The knowl¬
edge gained by many hours of toil we cannot now re¬
call ; much of it has gone from us, we fear, never to re¬
turn. But on brightest days and darkest nights through
all the multiplying years, the kind faces of professors
seem to beam upon us, shedding light upon our way ;
and, if not the contents of books, the living contact we
once had with noble minds and loving hearts remains.
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE.
" I do not wish that my subjects should be learned
at the cost of religion, nor religious at the cost of learn¬
ing."—The King of Bavaria at the founding of the
University Munich.
The preservation and dissemination of knowledge
have from of old been largely the work of priests'and
clergy. In the Christian faith nearly all great colleges
and universities have been founded, and by Christians
they have been perpetuated and sustained. Outside
of academic halls many teachers have arisen who have
disciples or scholars in many languages and many
lands. Some of them are worthy to be followed, but
to many of these " thinkers " is due the intellectual
superficiality and moral degeneracy, under scientific
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE. 33
nomenclature, that mark our times. The stability and
strength of a nation depend largely upon its attitude
toward systems of education, especially upon which
system. Educational systems purely scientific or phi¬
losophic—concerned with intellect alone—may give
mental acuteness or intellectual dexterity, but never
strength. Under such condition, affair of government,
questions comfnercial, and intercourse between man
and man, will ever be matters of " policy " or " expe¬
diency" rather than of right and wrong. As the
highest building, the loftiest pyramid or tower rests
upon the earth as well as the most miserable hut, so
the most powerful intellect as well as the weakest
must rest upon the moral nature of man. This foun¬
dation wanting, the moral vacuity must be filled by
the " made ground" of philosophy. The chai"acter
and quality of action will never rise higher than
the moral strength determining action. We see great
intellects who, having lost all trace of God within
themselves, are trying to reason Him off His throne.
But the human mind wandering, like Noah's dove, over
the wastes of philosophy finds no place of rest. It is
to those trained under correct moral and religious in¬
fluences that the learned professions must look for men
to maintain their high character and properly apply
them. Here must government, capital and labor look
for wise laws, just stewards of this world's goods and
honest hands to direct and move the wheels of indus-
34 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
try. The idea that a student forms, while at college,
of the universe, his relation to it and his mission in it,
will greatly influence, perhaps decide, all his future
career. For a young person entering college, the abili¬
ty of professors and the studies of the curriculum are
not alone important; the moral principles there in¬
stilled, the religious views there held, are subjects of
greater moment and concern. The view of education
held by our Christian colleges is that all the powers
of the student should be drawn out and trained. But
it is of Wilberforce we write, and she proclaims her
mission to be Christian education. This she hopes to
impart by training the whole man in the principles of
religion, knowledge and virtue. American literature,
when it touches on the " Negro problem," proclaims
loudly not only the low moral condition of the Negro,
but also his low conception of morality. If the Negro
is permitted to judge himself by the same rule that the
Anglo-Saxon employs when passing judgment upon
his own race, we will take the Negro at his best, not
at his worst. It is from the study of the institutions
of a people we may learn what they are or have been.
In establishing an institution for the training of his
children, we would expect the Negro to give expres¬
sion to his conception or idea of morality, and to ap¬
ply that idea in the practical workings of such insti¬
tution. We could also judge the effect of the moral
idea practically applied by the effects produced upon
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE. 35
the character and life of those to whom applied.
Wilberforce University has proclaimed to the world,
for more than a quarter of a century, the Negro's idea
of Christian education. Search where we may among
Christian institutions and communities, none can be
found where the highest ethics of nineteen centuries of
Christianity and civilization are more fully held and
practiced than here ; none where the morality of the
New Testament is more generally received and obeyed.
Within the jurisdiction of the college intoxicating
drinks are not allowed ; no profanity or obscene lan¬
guage is permitted ; the true moral distinctions in re¬
gard to right and wrong in all dealings and associa¬
tion are recognized and enforced. Immoral books and
papers, fire-arms, card-playing, games of chance, etc.,
are expressly prohibited and forbidden. Cleanliness
and regular habits-must be observed, economy and in¬
dustry practised. One may reside in this community
for years and never hear a profane word or see an
intoxicated person on or about the college grounds.
The high moral tone of the university has attracted
around it a community as intelligent, refined and mor¬
ally pure as is anywhere to be found. It cannot be
said of this community that the presence and influence
of " intelligent and Christian whites" are here to edu¬
cate and restrain " an ignorant and immoral race."
The universal intelligence and moral uprightness of
the community are due to the teaching and example
36 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
of professors and residents. Nor have they in the
name of "progress" left "optional" or "elective"
that ancient morality and religious observance enun¬
ciated by the Savior of men, but they are kept steadily
before the student's mind. This little community
when viewed in the light of the past and present, be¬
comes a rebuke, a verification and an inspiration. It
is a rebuke to those who in the past have prophesied
and at present do declare that the Negro left to him¬
self will not advance, that left to himself he will de¬
generate rather than maintain a high standard of mo¬
rality, that his religion is superstition and his morality
a sham, and that his presence in a community is a
cloud upon its intelligence and a stain upon its morals.
This college and community are a verification of the
Negro's humanity and manhood. It proves that darkest
centuries of heathenism, and other centuries black
with crimes against the life of the soul, have not been
able to rob the Negro of his humanity or destroy with¬
in him the image of God. In the light of what the
Negro is to-day, the fanaticism of John Brown becomes
like that of Jesus, Luther and Paul—sublime confi¬
dence in the right of every man to enjoy the freedom
of himself and a weapon of mightiest powers against
all fetters upon the body, the conscience, or the soul.
In less than a generation of freedom the most confident
predictions of the great Liberators have been fulfilled.
Wilberforce is an inspiration to the Negro to believe
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE. 37
in himself. It should encourage others laboring in his
behalf. Taking Wilberforce for an example of what
the Afro-American has done and is doing in the realm
of moral and intellectual culture, he has put to shame
all false accusations and sneers ; gathering inspiration
from the achievements of the past and the hope of the
present, he will stand with the leaders of the world's
progress. The Afro-American has never verified the
predictions of his enemies, nor disappointed the hopes
of his friends. If those who would aid him in his ef¬
fort to rise are timid and seek assurance, or, if others
are skeptical and seek for proof, we point them to
Wilberforce, which now happily stands not alone, but
speaks none the less eloquently of the Negro's real
progress and worth. We have said elsewhere that
before students are admitted here they must present a
certificate of good character, and as long as they re¬
main a good character must be maintained. While
those possessing the above named quality are wel¬
comed, it is the desire of the Faculty to induce all to
become Christians. They seek to gain this end by
bringing all under Christian influence. The students
are required to attend "prayers" in the chapel morn¬
ing and evening of each day except Monday, that be¬
ing a holiday. On Sunday they must go to church
morning and evening and to " student's prayer meet¬
ing " on Monday evenings. The students assemble in
the morning for prayers at 7 :40. This service, which
38 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
is usually conducted by the President, consists of sing¬
ing a hymn, a prayer and the reading of a portion of
Scripture. In the evening at 4 the service is the
same, except that the students take no part in the
Scripture lesson as in the morning, when they read
every alternate verse. In our day each student had a
seat assigned him in the chapel, in which he was re¬
quired to sit at all meetings or services held by the
school. But prayers was not to all either a solemn or
sacred assembly. While the devoutwere paying their
vows unto the Lord, one not so engaged, if irreverent
enough to look around upon the worshipers, would
doubtless see some of the young men and women pay¬
ing their vows to each other in the form of little notes
which were passed to and fro. At prayers we were
occasionally treated to some student oratory. The
death of a prominent man, or some event of unusual
interest generally furnishing the text. The exhibitions
usually came in the morning, just before we marched
from the chapel. The orator having previously ob¬
tained perm'ssion to present his matter to the school,
would arise grandly in his place, and in tones that to
us seemed menacing, exclaim, "Mr. President! " when
would follow a neat little speech, a preamble and some
resolutions.
On Saturday morning after prayers the roll was
called, at which time each student must report with
how much fidelity he had kept the rules. As the
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE. 39
names were called responses would come back about
as follows,—"Perfect," " Nothing to report," "Burning
light after half past nine," " Off the grounds without
permission," "Talking with the opposite sex." All
failures reported were recorded by the Secretary of
the Faculty, and the student "black marked" accord-
ingly. When a student received ten black marks he
was expelled. But for such failures as those noted
above, if a reasonable excuse could be given, the Pres¬
ident would excuse the offender, and at roll call he
would report " excused." The preaching on Sunday
was usually by the President, the professor of theology,
or one of the students in the theological department.
When it was one of the latter who arose to face his
fellow students and break to them the bread of life, it
often happened that his inspiration took wings and
fled from him, the result being confusion to him and
amusement rather than edification to his hearers. Each
year of our stay at Wilberforce the school was visited
with stirring revivals of religion. Sometimes the re¬
ligious feeling would run so high that students would
fall down in the class room and plead with the Lord
to pardon their sins, while others would arise and pro¬
fess faith in Christ, so that for a whole day recitations
would be suspended. The percentage of professing
Christians among the students is always high. One year
ninety-nine per cent of the students were professors of
Christianity. Because of the strong religious senti-
40 SCHOOL DA.YS AT W1LBERFORCE.
ment here, the idea has gone abroad in many quarters
that they try to make a preacher out of every young
man sent to Wilberforce. But this "they" do not try to
do. Students, if qualified, are free to pursue any course
of study taught in the University, no influence being
brought to bear for the purpose of affecting their de¬
cision in any way. In fact, the number of students in
the theological department has never formed but a
small percentage of those enrolled at any one time.
The moral and religious influence of Wilberforce is
now being felt by scores of communities in almost
every state in the Union. The students who go out
from her halls are not religious at the cost of learning,
nor learned at the cost of religion, but with intellect
and heart well balanced and trained they are going
forth to direct and lead their fellow man in paths of
true progress and success.
THE BOARDING HALL AND CLUBS.
Where is the student who can forget his boarding
house? Though he may forget, though signs and
wonders fail, and all mysteries be revealed, yet will
the place where "student's board" is furnished leave
much to be hoped for and vast continents of complexi¬
ties unexplained. Breathes there a man with soul so
dead, as to find life worth living while his cook is angry
Prof. J. P. Shorter, A. M.,
Professor of Mathematics.
Prof. W. S. Scarborough, LL. D.,
Professor of Ancient Languages.
Key. T. H. Jackson, D. D.,
Professor of Theology.
42 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
with him? Or who has sufficient courage to boast of
his ready cash while covered by his landlord's eye ?
Believing that the pertinence of these interrogatories
will appear to every present or ex-patron of a "stu¬
dents' boarding hall," we shall proceed to speak of the
boarding hall and clubs of Wilberforce. The board¬
ing hall, situated on the ground floor of the main
building, is leased or rented by the college to some
responsible person. The proprietor of this establishment
during my school days added to his accomplishments
that of a poet. I don't know that he ever wrote any.
It was spontaneous, and his conversation literally
sparkled with rhymes. Some of his polished lines are
well remembered, of which the following are a few
examples :
" Fine day
For making hay.
" We farmers are in a fret,
Because it is wet.
We can't plant our corn, you bet."
" The meat
I give you to eat,
Is tender enough for the money."
We paid $1.50 a week for board, bill of fare corres¬
ponding to price. In addition to the payment of a
dollar and a half, each boarder was required " to go
on duty"—wait on the table—one day each week.
There was more pleasant recreation in waiting table
than work, there being usually as many girls as boys.
THE BOARDING HALL AND CLUBS. 43
But if a young man became too marked in his atten¬
tion to any of the young ladies, he was not permitted
to serve the same day with her. The Matron presided
•over the table. It was necessary, if one was late at
meal time, to present an excuse to her for such tardi¬
ness, but her forgiveness was not always forthcoming.
The penalty of being late at meal time was often the
forfeiture of a meal, in which dilemma it was necessa¬
ry to appeal to the cook, and if one was not in favor
with this absolute monarch of the kitchen the only al¬
ternative was to bribe one of the waiters. The stu¬
dents usually maintained good order and decorum in
the dining hall and at table, the Matron having little
occasion to exercise her prerogatives. It became
necessary sometimes to commit pardonable offences
against table etiquette.
We were not served separately, but all the meat,
vegetables, etc., were put on the table in large dishes.
My first day in the hall I waited until the ladies helped
themselves. When I asked them to pass the meat to
me, one of the young ladies smilingly handed the plate
to the waiter. He took it from her, set the empty
dish on table, saying that the meat "was out." I dis¬
covered that by this time the butter "was out" also.
Profiting by this experience, I followed the example
of the others, helped myself and then passed the dish
to my neighbors. We rarely got meat but once a day,
which was at the dinner hour, nor was the meat plate
44 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
or butter dish often refilled at the same meal. But of
bread, apple-butter, beans, hominy, rice and other
wholesomes there was at all times a sufficiency. On
Sundays we sometimes had chicken or turkey, climaxed
with pie or cake. In addition to the college boarding
hall, board was furnished by one of the cottagers liv¬
ing within the grounds, and those who could afford it
could secure first class board in the neighborhood. But
there were a few who were not able to pay even the
small sum of a dollar and a half a week. Some of
these secured board by working for the professors ;
others boarded themselves, the larder being occasional¬
ly supplied with a box of provisions from home—pro¬
visions from home, which mother's own hands have
prepared ! There are jellies and canned fruits, some
doughnuts and a cake, a roll of butter and some bread
made with mother's own hands, some sugar, a little tea
and some coffee and, just to fill up the empty corners,
are placed here a handkerchief or two, there a towel
and here a pair of socks with a little money tied up in
the toe. No one but the happy recipient can ever
know the cheerfulness and sense of security that little
pine box brings into the room. No fortified city more
secure than he, while the contents holdout. He hears
the breakfast and dinner bells ringing, and looks out
at the window with pity upon the "regular boarders"
as they go unfilled with pleasant anticipations to their
morning hash and midday beans. Another quite famil-
THE BOARDING HALL AND CLUBS. 45
iar mode of living on limited means was, and still is,
for five or six students to form a "club," rive paying
each a dollar a week, the sixth cooking for his board ;
or frequently, as in the club to which the writer be¬
longed, the work was distributed according to the do¬
mestic and culinary knowledge of the members. One
would make fires, carry coal and water, another would
cook and another wash dishes, etc. The young men
of our club cooked by turns, each serving a week. We
baked our bread most of the time, and it was in this
particular art each in his turn endeavored to surpass
his predecessor. Light bread was never attempted,
save by an adventurous youth, whose experience served
as a solemn warning against all future attempts. He
announced a week before that when it came his turn
to cook he had a rare treat in store for us. The morn¬
ing he took the reins of government over the kitchen
he called us up and with much gravity told us he was
tired eating so much heavy bread and that while he
was cook we might expect plenty of good light bread
"just as good as a baker could make."
We listened to this announcement both with in¬
credulity and amusement. If his courage needed an
additional spur our evident skepticism was sufficient.
" Why," said he, " that's not hard to do. I've watched
my mother make it many a time. All you have to do
is just get a cake of yeast, mix it up in some flour and
let it stand over night. That's what you call sponge
46 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
Then you get up next morning and mix it up of course.
Then you make it into loaves and put it in the oven
and bake it." Our faith was greatly strengthened by
the fulness of knowledge displayed in his explanation
of the process, and immediately incredulity gave way
to admiration. Accordingly that evening a cake of
yeast was procured and the "sponge" made. The
next morning it was duly " mixed " and kneaded into
plump little loaves. At this juncture some one volun¬
teered the information that his mother always waited
for her bread to "raise" before she baked it. Upon
this advice we waited several hours for it to "raise
but as it failed to do so, our patience being thread¬
bare, we concluded to bake it. We placed it in the
oven and stood guard for an hour or more, much of
which time was spent peeping into the oven to see if
it was done. Finally our baker said it had been in the
oven long enough, and the little hard loaves were
taken out. When the bread was cut, although the
crust was half an inch thick, the inside was not done,
and in short could not be eaten. Our adventurous
friend was much chagrined. He gave many explana¬
tions of the causes of failure, none of which were due
to his lack of knowledge. But ever after in our club
" light bread " was a very tender subject. Our " heavy
bread" was fitly named. After eating it one would
sometimes feel for hours as though within him was a
heavy weight as of putty or lead. To this day it is a
THE BOARDING HALL AND CLUBS. 47
settled belief that the petition which before each meal
we addressed to our Maker—"Sanctify this food to
the good of our bodies"—alone preserved us from death
or dyspepsia. The cost of living' was so cheap as to
atone, in a measure, for the many ills we bore. Eighty-
five cents a week for each was the highest mark ever
reached and twenty-two cents the lowest. Once in a
very long, long time some of the neighbors would give
us a good, wholesome meal. Among this number was
the good Secretary's wife, Mrs. Martin R. Delaney, and
the sainted "Ala" Shorter, wife of Bishop Shorter. It
was she who, when our grocer had refused us further
credit, and the steward of our club was returning home
with nothing but a pound of bacon in his basket, called
him into her house and, as. though our extremeties
were known to her, placed around that lonesome piece
of meat some potatoes, a jar of fruit, a glass of jelly
and a loaf of bread. The one who has received her
benefactions alone can tell with what grace she could
bestow a gift. Ah, to the sweetness of that sainted
face heaven can little add. Our kitchen was almost
void of those conveniences which every housewife
deems indispensable. One of the professors who once
visited our club was very unfavorably impressed with
the sanitary condition of our kitchen. One morning
after prayers he arose in the chapel before the whole
school and called attention to our kitchen. He said
that a person could travel through England, Ireland,
48 SCHOOL DAYS AT W ILBERFORCE.
Scotland, Italy and California, seeing many wonderful
sights, but at Wilberforce there was a sight that all
should see, namely, our kitchen. This recital called
forth a hearty laugh from all save those concerned.
We felt the criticism and exposure to be unjust, and
at each meal we proposed and discussed many plans
for repaying the injustice. Finally our indignation
was voiced by a member of the club, who resorted to
poetry as a means of retaliation and defense. The
following is the poem, which was read at a public
meeting of the Sodalian Literary Society.
PROLOGUE.
" To hominy and potatoes,
To soup beans and jugged tomatoes,
To bacon and to cabbage,
To the fruit of many a forage,
To the chairs and the old table,
To the rats up in the gable,
And to fruits without a label;
To sick headache from bad cooking,
To peering eyes o'er looking,
What to them could matter little,
If we'd neither pot nor kettle,
To the doctor of all knowledge,
Generalissimo of the college,
We now inscribe this story,
May it not bedim his glory,
But prove a Ransom most effectual
For his happy little jokes."
THE BOARDING HALL AND CLUBS.
POEM.
" If you listen I'll tell you a story
That was told me long ago,
By a learned theological doctor—
Skilled in mystical science, you know.
It has grown to a beautiful legend,
Oft repeated by maiden and sage,
For time lends a charm to its beauty,
Which grows brighter and brighter with age.
As the silvery stream in the mountains
Threads its way to the valley below,
And joins with the rivers and oceans,
Which wash all lands with their flow,
So the exalted source of this legend,
Like Homer and Virgil of old,
Has lent it a force and a motion,
Till it comes to be twice told.
*******
It fell on the month of November,
In the year of eighty-five,
When the school had assembled together
As bees resort to the hive.
The opening hymn had ascended
Like incense upon high,
To join the sweet notes of the angels
Which float through the crystalline sky,
And the merciful ear of Jehovah
Had bowed with a fatherly care,
To catch every note that was uttered
Of the touchingly beautiful prayer.
As in silence we waited the signal,
Which would send us our lessons to scan,
This learned savan us confronted
SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
And thus he softly began :—
'Although many books have been written
Of the lands beyond the sea,
Yet every year many tourists
Still travel, their beauties to see.
They go to the shores of old England,
'Mid abbeys and palaces roam,
And admire the artistic beauty
Of their shapely and towering domes,
Or the land of the patriot Emmet,
On beautiful Erin's Isle,
They drink in its objects of beauty
While their leisure there they beguile.
Or treading the heather of Scotland,
The home of the Plowman of Ayr,
They roam mid the regions of beauty,
Which the voice of his muse did inspire.
But some go to sunny Italy,
Where the heavens are tinged with a hue,
Like the tinseling of angel's fingers
Writing in heavenly blue.
Or treading their way to the westward,
Some lovingly, fondly roam,
'Mid the crags and peaks of the Rockies,
And drink in the scenery of home.
But to Wilberforce all are invited,
Its beautiful sights to see,
And when you have rambled at pleasure
I'm sure most delighted you'll be.
Among its objects of interest
There's a kitchen that all should see,
If before its portals you enter
Well perfumed with Calimus* you be.
But perhaps before you go thither
•'■'Calimus, a corruption of the name of a member of our club.
THE BOARDING HALL AND CLUBS.
In a Kirkf it is better be,
That there you may get a Ransomf
Which will let you go Scottf free.'
*******
Now this is an innocent story,
For 'twas told by a most worthy man,
But just to dispel an illusion
I shall attempt as best I can.
The walls of this famous kitchen
Are not hung with paper I know,
For its inmates are only poor students
Here seeking for knowledge I trow.
On its floor is no carpet or matting,
Its table is common and plain,
Though its inmates have seen better days,
Cheered by hope are content to remain.
Yes, their fare is common and plain,
Yet, they never murmur a word,
The heart rending sigh and grief riven tear
Are only known to their Lord.
Now perhaps if our most learned friend
Had haped in a similar case,
When the winds of adversity blew,
They'd have blown him away from the place.
Or, perhaps if when studying here,
All support had been taken away,
Instead of a learned D. D.,
He'd have been a maker of hay.
If the fruit from the toil of his hands
Had been his support and his all,
Though our room be common and plain
He would have had no kitchen at all.
When surrounded with money and home
t Names of members of our club.
52 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
It is easy to laugh and to joke
At the load which the poor student bears
While wearing poverty's yoke.
If you cannot lighten our load
(For you know we never complain)
Do not make us the objects of mirth,
While the truth we now labor to gain.
The echoing strains of a beautiful hymn,
Soft through my memory steals,
Which mother sang in the days of old,
While preparing her savory meals.
But our little room is unknown to the care,
Which only a woman can grace,
To make harmony reign and order sublime
And neatness in poverty's face.
I trust by and by when D. D's. we become,
Or professors or anything grand,
We shall always remember wherever we go
To extend to the helpless our hand."
After the reading of this we felt our vindication
complete. Not even the adverse criticism of a profes¬
sor could stand against such poetry. Perhaps some¬
thing herein said will leave the impression that table
comforts are lacking at Wilberforce. No greater mis¬
take. There is not a better feci community in the
world. Students who desire to do so can obtain, at
reasonable price, first-class table board. As concerns
the boarding hall, the only wonder is how [board so
wholesome and abundant can be furnished at so small
a price. Those who " batch," or board in clubs, what¬
ever privations they suffer are voluntary and self-
LITERARY SOCIETIES. 53
imposed. It is from this latter class some of her
ablest alumni have come—students who, by the rug¬
ged road of poverty and self-denial, have graduated
with honor ; some of whom have been elected to the
legislature in different States, some have been elevated
to the bishopric, while others stand high in the ranks
of the Christian ministry. In this list are college
presidents, school teachers of high rank, lawyers and
capable business men. Fortunate the one who can
escape these privations, but more fortunate the one
who successfully endures them. For in the battle with
adversity a perseverance and tenacity of purpose are
developed which will win many victories in the time
to come. Fortunately the world does not ask us upon
what our bodies were nourished while at college ; its
chief concern is to know what work we come quali¬
fied to do. In after years the boarding hall and clubs
are not among the most unpleasant memories of col¬
lege days.
LITERARY SOCIETIES.
uNon Scholce sed Vitce Discimas."
Wilberforce has no fraternities. But.it has excel¬
lent literary societies, fitted to qualify their members
for our loquacious American life. In our day there
were but two literary societies, the Sodalian, composed
51 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
of young men in the academic and college depart¬
ments, and thePhilomathean, composed of young wom¬
en in the same departments. In recent years two
more have been organized, the Payne and the Dodds,
for the benefit of students of lower classification. The
Sodalian furnished an excellent school for the cultiva¬
tion of literary tastes and oratorical skill. The mem¬
bers were merciless critics. Deficiencies and failures
were not overlooked and but rarely excused. Many
students when they come to college are self-conceited
and puffed up. But there is no better place to cure a
self-important young man or woman than at college,
and especially a college literary society. Here they
meet persons their equals in every way and many who
far excel them. In literary work they find themselves
excelled, in parliamentary tactics outgeneraled, in de¬
bate defeated and in oratory surpassed. The mere
imitator is ridiculed, the blundering parliamentarian
is laughed at, and the literary pirate is treated as a
pirate. Everything tends to put one on his mettle
and bring out the best that is in him. Thete is no
place where hard work and true merit are so fully and
freely recognized as in these societies. If one reads
a meritorious paper, its excellence is instantly discov¬
ered and commended ; if he skillfully carries a point,
he is heartily applauded, and if he delivers a good
oration or is victorious in debate, many take him by
the hand, speaking words of congratulation and praise.
LITERARY SOCIETIES 55
In the Sodalian the election of officers was always an
exciting event. There were always two factions, each
striving to gain for itself the ascendency in the man¬
agement of affairs. Sometimes these contests became
very bitter as the supporters of each ambitious aspi¬
rant for honors strove for victory. At times we would
have two presidents attempting to occupy the chair,
until one side or the other was outgeneraled, when
things would move on peacefully for a time. The so¬
ciety had a Prosecuting Attorney, whose duty it was
to bring to trial all offenders against the constitution
and by-laws. The accused could either plead his own
cause or choose some one to defend hirn. These trials,
always interesting, became sometimes very stormy.
The Attorney, who was successful in securing many
convictions, had great influence in the society, and
was sure of promotion to higher honors ; while, on
the other hand, the one who had established a reputa¬
tion as a great criminal lawyer, by the number of ac¬
quittals he had secured, was always in great demand
and the recipient of many favors. Much attention
was given to literary composition, but oratory held
the first rank, and was the thing in which all most de¬
sired to excel. Once a month these societies hold a
public meeting, the exercises consisting of essays,,
orations, a debate and usually a lecture. The partici¬
pants make great preparations for these meetings, and
the exercises are usually of a high order. Of the in-
5« SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
ternal workings of the Philomathean, the ladies' soci¬
ety, we have no personal knowledge, as the writer's
gender disqualified him from entering its sacred por¬
tals. But we have been told that they addressed the
chairman as "Miss President," rose to points of
order, became unparliamentary, and even noisy at
times, just like their brothers. In the Sodalian we
had a Sergeant-at-Arms, whose duty it was to pre¬
serve order. In the exercise of his perogatives it
sometimes became necessary for him to eject unruly
members from the room. If his authority was re¬
sisted, which often happened, he could deputize any
number to assist him, in which case the unruly
member was seized and carried or dragged bodily
from the room. But we were not always so suc¬
cessful. In one instance the combined efforts of
the whole society were not sufficient to eject an unruly
member. He backed himself into a corner, faced, and
defied President, Sergeant-at-Arms and the whole
society to put him out. We advanced upon him, and
for some moments the scrummage raged ; when the
smoke of battle cleared there were many trampled feet,
furniture had been overthrown and clothes were torn,
but our offending brother held his corner defiant and
unmoved. It must not be inferred from this that such
things ever occurred among the Philomatheans ; for of
course a society of young women could never survive
a mortal combat. The public exercises of the young
LITERARY SOCIETIES. 57
ladies, consisting of essays, orations, select readings
and recitations, were always excellent. But these
societies are not the only means of training the stu¬
dents in literary composition and the art of public
speaking. The school is divided into rhetorical divis¬
ions, to one of which divisions each student is assigned.
Over each of these divisions one of the Professors pre¬
sides, criticising the composition and instructing in the
art of oratory. Between the rhetorical divisions and
literary societies, with their disputations, orations, es¬
says, declamations and recitations, no student can pass
through the college without much instruction and
practice in all these particulars. A few weeks before
Commencement is a time when many are exercising
themselves in composition and oratory. The young
gentlemen of the graduating class, already burdened
with much self-consciousness, become more serious
and grave. They are forging oratorical thunderbolts
for their Commencement orations. (Be it known, to
speak in mild figures of speech, that during the Senior
year one stands with the college under his feet. For
their are great oceans of Greek and Latin, mountains
of mathematics and continents of philosophy between
other undergraduates and the Senior. The Senior is
held in admiration to a degree not exceeded by that
paid to the President of the college). But we drop
our parenthesis and resume. As Commencement week
draws near we see the pretty brows of the young
S8 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
ladies haunted "by the pale cast of thought." They
are meditating pretty sentences to connect the poetical
quotations which must find a place in their gradating
essays. Indeed, we now see many young men and
maidens with knitted brows and thoughtful mien;
they are the orators, the disputants, the essayists, pre¬
paring to compete for prizes and to represent the liter¬
ary societies Commencement week. The woods be¬
come vocal ; the orators are practicing their orations.
What sermons have been preached, what speeches
have been made under the trees round about Wilber-
force ! They have heard the first sermon of many a
young minister ; they have been the silent auditors of
Commencement orations for more than a quarter of a
century. Ah, me! could they but give back to us
some of the sweet voices, grown silent now, that once
mingled with the rustle of their leaves ! Each suc¬
ceeding year the unprotesting trees stand silent as be¬
fore, while the glorious valedictorian, the graduate,
and the representatives of the societies pour forth
their thoughts on their deeply pondered themes. But
this practice, this exercise, this instruction, has been
fruitful.
There are many able writers and orators among us
who first discovered their talents and their power in
the rhetorical and literary societies of Wilberforce.
Among the graduates few poor speakers or writers
can be found. No particular style of oratory or writ-
LITERARY SOCIETIES. F»9
ing is taught, but aside from the correction of absolute
errors each student is left free to develop in the way
most natural to him. After one has passed through
the literary societies and rhetorical divisions of Wil-
berforce, he is able to express with ease what has been
learned in the class room. The toil, the defeats, the
humiliations that all must meet who would pass these
literary departments, are, after all, but the precursors
of victories to come. These departments have sent
forth men and women who, with voice and pen, have
been and are now potent influences in the diffusion of
intelligence and the advancement of truth.
GO SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
RECREATIONS.
Wilberforce has no gymnasium. Many of her stu¬
dents have for years secured their physical culture by
chopping cord-wood and performing manual labor on
the surrounding farms, thus securing not only strength
of muscle and limb, but also the means for continuing
their studies. Many of these have now reached the
years of maturity, and their robust health, their sym¬
metrical development of muscle and limbs, will com¬
pare favorably with those who have sought to secure
like results by swinging Indian war clubs and twist¬
ing their bodies into dangerous looking attitudes on
the horizontal bar. There were, however, aside from
profitable work, many modes of exercise and recrea-
'tion in which the students engaged. Base ball in
season was the favorite game. Usually once a week
there were games between the university nines. Our
picked nine played with the boys from Antioch col¬
lege at Yellow Springs and the club from the Sol¬
diers' Orphans' Home at Xenia, besides contests with
the local clubs of neighboring towns. To the credit
of the Wilberforce boys, be it said, they were almost
invariably successful in these contests. When visiting
clubs came to Wilberforce the young ladies and mem¬
bers of the faculty usually attended and took lively
interest in the sport. There were a few brave enough
to engage in barbarous foot-ball, but this was by no
LADIES' NORMAL BUILDING.
62 SCHOOL DAYS A.T WILBERFORCE.
means a favorite game. We had foot races, walking
matches, jumping and boxing with its concomitant
bruises. These continue now as in the past to be the
principal games and sports. How the young ladies
secured exercise is a mystery, for of course they
took no part in the robust sports of the young men.
A few weeks in the year they played croquette, but,
judging by the number of persons usually seen on their
grounds, this diversion was enjoyed by but few. Once
in a very long time the Matron would take them out
for a walk, and aside from this they had the freedom
of half the large campus through which to stroll dur¬
ing the hours of intermission. It may be that this>
with fresh air and pure water, accounts for the good
health at all times enjoyed by the students of Wilber-
force. It is most invigorating to take an early morn¬
ing stroll through the grounds and drink in the pure
air and purer water, which bubbles up in the springs
every moment fresh from the bowels of the earth. But
Wilberforce needs and should have a well equipped
gymnasium. About half of the school year the
weather is such that out-door sports cannot be in¬
dulged. The students for the most part make their
homes in the buildings where the classes recite and
the meals are served ; thus they have few calls necessa¬
rily taking them out of the house. Under these con¬
ditions the statement contained in the catalogue that
"the location is healthy" needs no further proof.
RECREATIONS.
G3
Were it not, the mortuary list (only two students have
died in more than a dozen years) would be much
larger. But we trust the movement already seriously
considered of establishing a gymnasium will meet
with sufficient encouragement to guarantee its success.
C>4
SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
SOCIAL LIFE.
A college is not a place where people are wont to
assemble to indulge in social pleasures. Least of all
is this true of Wilberforce. "Association with the
opposite sex is forbidden;" This foregoing prohibi¬
tion is enforced with all the vigilance the Faculty can
command. But at a college, as elsewhere, law-break¬
ers may be found. So here there were those who
would sometimes seek clandestine meetings with the
opposite sex. But if one really had something to say,
these stolen interviews were unnecessary, as the pro¬
hibition of association with the opposite sex was not
absolutely inflexible. Once a month, between the
hours of 7 and 9 P. M., we were permitted to hold "a
social" in the parlors of the University.
" Social night" came just often enough to cause it
to be thoroughly appreciated and heartily enjoyed.
We spent these two precious hours, which sped by all
too quickly, in rendering vocal and instrumental selec¬
tions of music, parlor games and social converse. The
ubiquitous Matron was always present, but for this
one night at least all must admit that she was gracious.
But if we spent the greater part of the evening in the
company of any one person, although she seemed not
to note it at the time, she had discovered where our
weakness lay, and knew thenceforward where to
look for our infirmities, so far as "association" was
SOCIAL LIFE. 65
concerned. Our "socials" were not only pleasant, but
profitable as well. They were a means of social cul¬
ture, and enabled us to know each other better. They
served also as a safety valve to the school; for
young men and women living in the same en¬
closure, meeting daily in the class room and at prayers,
will find, if none is given, a means of social intercouse.
No college where men and women are educated to¬
gether could long survive disaster if they were not per¬
mitted to meet socially at stated times or within cer¬
tain bounds. We always went from these "socials"
back to our work refreshed and more light of heart, for
during these moments many hearts unburdened them¬
selves of the words or feelings which for days they
had been longing to express. As the "socials" came
and went we knew each other better, and as we now
recall our backwardness and ackward gallantry we
smile, but the memory of these experiences remains
among the most pleasant of our college days.
Sometimes during Christmas and Spring vacations,
different families in the neighborhood would make
pleasant little parties and invite students to their
homes. We were also permitted to attend lectures
and concerts in Xenia. We generally went to these
entertainments tout ensemble in the University omni¬
bus, Matron present. But a few of the most trusted
ones were permitted to take young ladies in buggies
or two seated conveyances. These entertainments,
66 SCHOOL DAYS AT WILBERFORCE.
with merry-making and a pleasant ride, were ever
welcome events in our quiet and rather secluded lives.
With lessons and examinations, games and social
pleasures, so pass our school days all too quickly by.
Commencement comes, bringing with it the culmina¬
tion of our college studies and our college joys. Of
all the year Commencement week is the gala week,
with its Baccalaureate sermon, annual lecture, socie¬
ty anniversaries, oratorical contests and class day exer¬
cises. From all parts of the country trustees are pres¬
ent to enact laws for the government of the school.
Of all the days Commencement day is the gala day of
the year. Visiting strangers come by hundreds from far
and near ; The University is regaled in holiday attire
to receive them. There are flowers and music, gradu¬
ating orations and the conferring of degrees, diplomas
and congratulations, and the valedictorian's pathetic
farewell.
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