University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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' Illiamii James Battfl-r [IS PORI S tell us that toward the end of the Roman period, wave after wave of barbarians --wept westward and southward from the Teutonic hive in the German forests. These hordes brushed aside the barriers of the Empire and made them- selves masters of the provinces and finally of Rome itself, everywhere setting up kingdoms of their own and laying the foundations of a civilization stronger and more enduring than that swept away. s n was with the Teutons then, so is it with Harvard now. From this northern hive wave alter wave, if not of barbarians, at least of professors and deans and presidents have swept westward and southward where they have taken possession of the land and built up educational kingdoms of their own. The first of these waves to reach the University of Texas brought on its crest only one Harvardian, Leslie Waggener, but he. nothing daunted, proceeded to make himself founder of a new Harvardian dynasty. The second wave brought David Franklin Houston. Sidney Edward Mezcs. and the subject of this sketch, who, maintaining the Waggenerian tradition, have followed each other in stately procession through the various professorial and adminis- trative ranks to the deanship and the presidency. The two former have found other realms of conquest, while the latter is still with us and few there be amongst us who do not wish that his stay may be long continued. For historical completeness it should be said that later waves have brought us Harry Yandell Benedict. Milton Brockett Porter, and many others, and there seems to be little reason to doubt that similar waves of barbarians will continue to arrive for years to come. While it cannot be said that Dr. Battle was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, it is certain that he was possessed of a good appetite, for at an early age he began to eat up Latin. Greek and other indigestibles. A college man from his very birth, his father being pro- fessor of history and afterward president of the University of North Carolina, young Battle took his bachelor ' s degree before his eighteenth birthday, having annexed various academic honors in the process. He then spent several years in Harvard where he received two advanced degrees and landed in Austin in the fall of 1893 as associate professor of Greek. Soon after his arrival in Austin an amusing incident occurred when Dr. Battle met Francis R. Lubbock, the veteran war-governor of Texas. Governor Lubbock, my name is Battle, said the youthful newcomer, holding out his hand. I ' m very pleased to meet you. Mr. Battle, said the veteran in gray. And where are you from, Mr. Battle? My home is in Chappel Hill. North Carolina. said the youth. Well, well ' said the octogenarian. I ' m proud to learn that the reputation of our young university has spread abroad to such an extent that students are coming to us from such distances. Whereupon the blushing stranger was forced to acknowledge that he was not a student at all. but that he had already taken his Doctor ' s degree at Harvard and was the new professor of Greek. Having arrived in the state at so tender an age. Dr. Battle soon became as good a Texan as any native — better, he maintains for he is a Texan by choice and not by the accident of birth. And certain it is that no native of the state has ever served it with greater devotion and singleness of purpose. He is one of the best instructors the University has ever had, an able administrator with a genius for detail, a scholar, a gentleman, a man without guile. At no time in the history of the University has its internal administration received such careful scrutiny as during his administration as acting president. C. 6 Polls.