Mississippi College - Tribesman Yearbook (Clinton, MS)

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T HE field of activity over which Missis- sippi College sends her men to be felt and considered as mighty factors is no more extensive than the fame of the insti- tution. Throughout the breadth of the Union they are found as actors on that great stage where forcefulness of intellect and the power of thought turn the balance in favor of sturdier and a more intelligent citizenship. Especially is it true of the men who have devote ' d their talent to instruction in our greater colleges and universities. Doctor Charles Hillman Brough was born in Clinton, Mississippi, July 9th, 1876. His father was the Honorable Charles Milton Brough, a prominent mining man and banker of the West, and his mother’s maiden name was Flora M. Thompson, a sister of Mrs. Hillman, and for many years principal of Cen- tral Female Institute. He was graduated from Mississippi College at the early age of seventeen years, dividing the first honors of his class with Nelson G. Webb, and enjoying the distinction of being the youngest man who had ever received the bachelor’s degree from the institution. He was an enthusiastic advocate of all kinds of athletics, but his greatest excellence was reached in his literary attainments. He completed the difficult postgraduate course at Johns Hopkins University receiving the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in political economy, history, and jurisprudence in 1898, being at that time the youngest Ph. I), in America. While at this celebrated institution of learning he was awarded the fellowship in political economy, a prize of five hundred dollars, based upon scholarship and his doctor’s dissertation, entitled, “Irrigation in Utah.” This scholarly and handsomely bound volume was consulted by President Roosevelt in framing his recommenda- tion for the reclamation of arid lands in the West. Since his graduation from Johns Hopkins, whether as a law student in the University of Mississippi, or professor in our leading colleges and universities, from his facile pen have gone out productions which adorn the literature of the plat- form, and enrich history. His lectures on “ The Glory of the Old South and the Greatness of the New,” “America’s Conquest of the World,” “Mississippi of Yester- day, Today, and lomorrow, ‘ The Wit and Wisdom of Great Americans, ” and God in History have attracted favorable notice throughout the Union. He is the author of “Irrigation in Utah,” “The History of Banking in Mississippi,” “Taxa- tion in Mississippi,” “The Clinton Biot,” “Historic Clinton,” “The Industrial istory of Arkansas, ’ “ Historic Battlefields and Homes of Arkansas,-” and “ Poli- tical Problems of the Present. ” In 1903, he accepted the professorship of economics and sociology in the diversity of Arkansas. The great work that Doctor Brough has done foretells a still more brilliant future replete with its versatility and intrinsic value. 2 7 C. H. Brough, ’94

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H OW often is hardship the foster-mother of greatness! Born and reared on the farm, his mind yearning after know- ledge and obtaining only so much as could be had in a two-months term each summer, roaming his native hills and searching nature in his youthful quest for truth and knowledge, the life of O. M. Johnston reads like a veritable romance. Ilis career is deservingly wonderful; brilliant, but accurate in its scholarly acquire- ments ; meteoric but characterized by a pains- taking thoroughness and permanence hardly implied in the description. The two great experiences of his may be associated with two hills. The first of these hills was on the old farm in Louisiana, where his father and mother, unable to give him any material assistance, expressed theirwillingness to liberate him from all the cares of home and give him an opportunity to educate himself. The second of these hills was also in his native State, and to be remembered, because there he accepted the Savior of mankind into his life. This influence and support has ever been the guiding principle of his life. He entered Mississippi College in 1885, and was graduated five years later with the B. A. degree, being at that time twenty-four years of age. His college life was one continual struggle. Without any means of consequence, for five years he did manual labor sufficient to support himself and pay his tuition, economizing by supplying and cooking his own meals. Notwithstanding the hardships and reverses of his course, he received the first honors of his class, leaving a record as a man and a student unsurpassed in the annals of the institution. Three years after the completion of his college course, he entered Johns Hopkins University, choosing French and Italian as principal and first subordinate, and history as second subordinate. During his stay at this great center of learning, he obtained a scholarship and a fellowship, and received his Ph. 1). degree in 1896. While at the university, his summers were spent in France and Italy, and, since his graduation, he has several times returned to Europe, spending altogether two and a half years in travel on the continent and in study in the great libraries of the Old World. In August, 1897, he was married to Miss Florence Boggs, of Urbana, Illinois. He taught for one year in Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, and went from there to Leland Stanford, Junior, University, where he has been ever since, being at present associate professor of Romanic languages. During the eleven years that he has been in California, in addition to his constant duties as a teacher, he has done considerable research work, having published about thirty original studies along the line of his special work. These studies have appeared in the different American journals for the Romanic languages. Doctor Johnston is preeminently a scholar, and whatever success he has achieved as teacher may be attributed to effort, a hunger for knowledge, and a love of his profession. 26 O. M. Johnston, ’90

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H enry lewis whitfield was born on a farm four miles from Bran- don, Rankin County, Mississippi, on June 20th, 1868. He is the son of Robert Allen Whitfield, and his mother was Mary Fitzhugh, who died January 8th, 1884. After receiving his early education in the k annin High School, he commenced teaching in the public schools at the age of sixteen, and first entered Mississippi College during the session 1885—86. Because of lack of means, he attended no two sessions in succes- sion, and did not graduate until 1894. He was annual orator of the Philomathean Society, and was awarded the Trotter Medal for the best oration delivered by competitors of the Junior Class. As a student, he entered into the full life of the college. Believing that col- lege life should be more than an academic grind, he devoted much of his time to library and society work, and was and is yet a great believer in athletics. He studied several sum- mers at the University of Mississippi, finished the law course at Millsaps College, and has attended numerous courses of lectures given by the foremost instruc- tors of America. Proving his extraordinary ability as an educator while principal ot the est- ville, and later of the Steens Creek, high schools, in 1898 he was appointed State Superintendent of Education by Governor McLaurin, to fill the unexpired term of the Honorable A. A. Kincannon, resigned; and was elected to that responsible position for two full terms, without opposition. On July 11th, 1907, while a can- didate without opposition for a third term, he was unanimously elected president of the Industrial Institute and College at Columbus, Mississippi. As Superin- tendent of Education, he canvassed the entire State, building up a sentiment for longer school terms, better schoolhouses, stronger teachers, larger attendance, and, in fine, for better schools. He holds that the causes of our ills are not so much external as internal, that we will not be able to take part in doing twentieth century work until the masses of the people are prepared to meet the demands o the complex work required by a high civilization. The president ot the largest school in the South, one supported by the State, he regards it the function it college to prepare women for leadership in every sphere of endeavor open to them. President Whitfield was married to Miss Mary Dampeer W lute on August 20th, 1907, and two children have been born to them, Knox and Robert. Politically, his record is unique. He has never applied for a position, has never been forced to give up a place, and has always been elected unanimously. His name was very generally mentioned for governor in 1907, and many strong influences were brought to bear on him to become a candidate, but he saw his duty otherwise and declined to make the race. 28