Tulane University - Jambalaya Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

Page 20 text:

has iven evidence of the brilliant qualities of his fei ' tile mind. His profound observations and well founded opinions on the needs of Southern Civilization have been noticed and appreciated by the most eminent political economists in this country and abroad. From a practical standpoint also, Colonel Johnston has been an eminently successful man. In 1880, he accepted the presidency of the Louisiana State University at Baton Rou e and, in the four succeedina; years, he thoroughly reorganized that institution and laid the foundation of its present prosperity and usefulness. In 1888 Colonel Johnston married Miss Margaret Avery, a lady of culture and refinement, in all respects a most worthy helpmeet of our respected president. In 1884, he was invited by the administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund to accept the presidency of the Tulane University of Louisiana, which had just come into existence. With what success he has since filled that posi- tion is attested by the rank which Tulane takes as the great University of the Southwest. His administration has been broad and conservative, and under him the University has prospered steadily. His geniality, broad-mindedness, and thorough sympathy with the needs of student and professor have admirably suited him for his position, his wise unbiased judgment has enabled him to guide the university through many a storm, and, in addition to all this, his unfailing courtesy and brilliant qualities of mind enable us to rank him as one of that glorious band, the typical Southern Gentlemen. 10

Page 19 text:

Col, Wm. Preston Johnston. Col. Wm. Preston Johuston, eldest son of General Albert Sidney Johnston and Henrietta Preston, was born January 5, 1831, in Louisville, Ky. His early education was acquired at L. V. Wo mack ' s classical school and at the Western Military Institute, Georgetown, Ky. Being obliged by ill health to discontinue his studies here, he carried on a desultory study of law until 1850, when he entered the class of ' 52 at Yale. While there, Colonel Johnston distinguished himself as a scholar and as a writer. His studious disposition immediately pro- cured for him a leading position in his class, and his brilliant mental qualities enabled him to capture not only the Townsend prize for composition, but the Clark prize for essay, which was, at that time, the second honor of the University. After graduation, he returned to Kentucky and completed his study of law at the University of Louisville. Having now completed his education, he married Miss Rose Duggan, of New Orleans, and settled down in Louisville to practise law. Ten years later, when the war broke out, he was among the first Kentuckians who enlisted. After serving for some time as Major of the Second Kentucky Regiment, he was trans- ferred to the First Kentucky Regiment and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. When that regiment disbanded. Colonel Johnston, at the invitation of President Davis, became a member of his staff and, in his capacity of aid-de-camp, was a constant companion of the President until his final capture after the close of the war. Being captured with Mr. Davis, he spent the two following years as a prisoner in Fort Delaware and as an exile in Canada, but finally returned to Louis- ville and successfully resumed his interrupted practice. In 1867, he accepted the invitation of General R. E. Lee, then president of Washington and Lee University, and for ten years filled the Chair of History and English Literature at that institiition, much to his own credit and to the benefit of the University. At this time was developed that literary talent which has since made him famous. The appearance of his ' ' Life of Albert Sidney Johnston ' ' brought to the author an enviable reputation, which his subsequent productions, among others the Prototype of Hamlet, a series of lectures published in 1890, have greatly increased. As a poet also, Colonel Johnston is not without honor, as his two volumes of excellent poems, My Garden Walk and Pictures of the Patriarchs and Other Poems, are well known and greatly appreciated, although intended chiefly for private distribution. In his many addresses before Uni- versities, educational assemblies, and other cultured audiences. Colonel Johnston

Page 21 text:

Introduction. No longer the tender infant, nor yet the jovial, playful child, but a sturdy youth, full of hope and coxu-age for the future, does Tulane ' s third annual go out from us, its foster-parents, to gladden the heart of the student and to better acquaint the stranger with our great University. Following the advice of Solomon, Train up a child in the way he should go, ouv predecessors have greatly lightened our labors with this youth, whose education, mental, physical, and moral, has been left to the tender mercies of the board of editors of ' 98. And while we fully appreciate the greatness of our debt to the aforementioned predecessors, to whom Jambalaya owes its exist- ence, and, to a great degree, its present character, and while we have profited at every stage of our work by their experience, still we feel that we have not proved altogether unworthy the task entrusted to us, and that we may take a pardonable pride in the result. 11