Hampden Sydney College - Kaleidoscope Yearbook (Hampden Sydney, VA)

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3423022 Qlvrtain Eulinga nf ihr illarultg at illnng Efime Agn fThe extracts given herewith. having passed the censor as material innocuous, admonitory. rather hortatory, and profitable for ensample, it is hoped the lay reader will be interested. ln the perusal of these sentences it should be remembered that: l. The postoflice was then at the Courthouse, a place now called Worsham, near which was a Medical School. 2. That the period was around the Mexican War, and somewhat rowdy everywhere. 3. That the last clerk of the Faculty in the record was the father of President Wilson. It is very plain that manners were changing during the twenty years-certainly from chapel at sunrise to chapel at twenty minutes of nine. The College was in straits for much of this period., Nov. l Nov. l 5 Nov. 22 Mar. 3l Jan. 2, Sep. 25, IS37-Morning chapel, 30 minutes after sunrise. Afternoon chapel 4 P. M. l837 -Resolved, that the annual exhibition being abolished, each professor will present a suitable prize to the best student in his class and that the presentation of these prizes form a part of the public exercises of the day. IS37-Resolved, that the breakfast hour be established at 7.30 A. M. and I838 at 8 A. M. the door of the Stewards' Hall be closed to the admis- sion of any student. -Resolved, that on Wednesday the l8th, at 8 A. M., the several classes attend chapel, where the exercises will be commenced by a prayer. The names of the most distinguished students will then be announced and prizes awarded to the most distinguished student in each department. The President will then deliver a concluding speech and the ceremonies close with a prayer. l838-The faculty met and prescribed the usual times for recitations to be I838 reviewed on Monday next. Chapel in the morning at 6.45 A. M. Breakfast at 6. Dinner at lZ.30 P. M., and afternoon chapel at 5. Supper at 5.30 P. Nl. -Resolved, that after a connection that has subsisted for some years and which has been marked by an unison of opinion and of action, this faculty cannot view the secession of Dr. Carroll from this body without feelings of deep concern, and that they desire to convey to Dr. C. their united sentiments of continual esteem and their best wishes for his happiness. 20

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W 7 door and thus saved himself for an honored and useful career. He is now President of Ward-Belmont College, Nashville, Tennessee, with a faculty of sixty ladies and a student body of six hundred girls. It would be difficult to imagine a purer religious atmosphere than that of Hampden- Sidney in the late Seventies. It was a peculiar community, made up almost entirely of the faculty and student bodies of the College and Union Seminary, with a small number of families intimately, but not officially connected with these institutions. There was an entire lack of the degrading element so often found in small country communities. The Seminary students exerted a salutary influence over the college boys. They were honorary members of the literary societies and sometimes attended the meetings. Many of them belonged to the College fraternities. In these and other ways they touched the lives of the boys. The faculties of both College and Seminary took a genuine interest in the religious welfare of the students. The social life was simple and elevating. To the young men of today our social activities doubtless seem tame, but to us they were quite satisfying. There was no danc- ing on The Hill. Afternoon walks, with the Via Sacra as a favorite route, were much in vogue. In the case of close friends, a young man would make an engagement, running through the entire session, to walk with a young lady on a certain afternoon each week. So numerous were their engagements that the ladies had to enter them in what they called their ul-lim Books. The young ladies had so many callers in the evenings that for their protection, the unique custom was devised of having the head of the house tap on the parlor door at ten o'clock as a delicate hint that it was time for the young men to go. This custom was almost universal on The Hill and was called knocking outf, After the speaking at the joint public meetings of the literary societies, all would ascend to the halls of the society on the upper floor of the central part of the College building. There the young people could promenade by the hour around the tables in the spacious and elegant rooms. The boys would break in on a promenade just as they now ubreak in on a dance. The local ladies had many friends and received much attention. Some- times for a visiting lady with a limited acquaintance a relief committee would be secretly formed. This committee was composed of boys who signed a written agreement to promenade with the lady in question. Thus she became a belle in short order. From the viewpoint of the student, theoutstanding feature of the social life at Hampden-Sidney was the hospitable welcome given to the college boys by the residents of The Hill. Homes of culture and refinement were opened to us with a gracious and generous hospitality. Few communities of its size have ever equaled this in the charm of its social and intellectual life. We would be ingrates, if we did not keep fresh in our minds the affectionate recollection of those that admitted us inexperienced youths, so freely to their homes and their hearts. No young man ever threw himself sympathetically into his work at Hampden- Sidney and took deep breaths of its inspiring atmosphere without having his life profoundly affected for the better. That was true in the late Seventies. It is doubtless true today. 19

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DR. DRAPER .W , 'V Wf f my W T ,f, sea , WMM f M0 jar V I jj y My Z? f 4' ? .-4' '-'xv 'W-,f . ,,,,, 1 ,,,, A A .... ,,., 2 QU? A ' . f ' ,,, f ..,,, Q:1: WWWWM Nov. I, I838-The faculty met.-Present PRESIDENT MAXWELL PROFESSOR BRANCH PROFESSOR F. H. SMITH 5644 Morning chapel at 7.45 A. M. Evening chapel at 4 P. M. Nov. 5, l839-Morning chapel at 7.30 A. M. Evening at 4 P. M. Nov. l9, l839-The following resolutions were adopted: viz., That henceforth the Jan. ' I7, l840 time for morning chapel be at sunrise, and the study hours from that time until 8, from 9 to l2, from 2 till 4, and 7 until bedtime. Resolved, that commencing with the youngest member the faculty by turns visit the rooms of the students. The Tutor was authorized to purchase a lantern for the use of the faculty in visiting the rooms by night. P By order, MOSES D. HOGE, Secretary. -lt was determined that any member of the faculty may grant leave of absence to a student, unless he desires to attend a ball or party at a tavern, in which case the permission of the whole faculty must be obtained. May ll, l840-Resolved, that the students be permitted to go to the Post Office June 12, I 840- during play hours without asking leave of absence from the faculty. Any student may leave the College ground at any time, not in study hours, for the purpose of business, exercise, or lawful recreation, without censure, provided he shall return by the next study hour, and provided he shall not, during his absence, visit any tavern, or shop, where liquor is solcl, or any place of public exhibition, without special leave, first had and obtained. , The Professors and Tutors shall take it by turns to visit the rooms once a day, to see that the students are pursuing their studies with diligence, in the following Order: MR. I-IOOE MR. BRANCH MR. GARDNER MR. EWELL Dec. 3, 1841-It was unanimously resolved that Prof. Ewell be appointed a delegate of the College to attend the Convention on the subject of the Virginia Literary Fund, to be held in Richmond on the 9th inst. 21