University of Virginia - Corks and Curls Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

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4 . CORKS AND CURLS VOL.XX Young Page was taught at home by his father. who was an excellent class- ical scholar, and attended for a while the school of C. L. Minor, the distinguished educator. He entered Washington and Lee College, then under the presidency of General Lee, and took the college curriculum at that institution. In 1873 he entered the University of Virginia and studied law. At the University Page was noted for his bonhomie and genial nature, but was a hard-working student, and stood well in the law class, then under the supervision of that great teacher John B. Minor, and that kindly, witty and beloved Professor, Stephen 0. Sonthall. He was a member of the Delta Psi Fraternity, but his friendships were by no manner of means confined to the members of his fraternity. He took his proper part in the social and intellectual student life, and was popular with the large body of students to whom he was known. A severe spell of illness at the close of the session prevented him from stand- ing the flnal examinations, but by special leave he took the examinations at the beginning of the next session and was graduated with the degree of B. L. The life of Doctor Page as a practitioner of law in Richmond was about that of most young lawyers entering into the practice of the profession in a city, but he soon became recognized as a lawyer of no mean ability, and One who gave to the business confided to him care, energy and zeal. He began to build up a most excellent practice and in 1887, married the beautiful Miss Anne Sedden Bruce, the fair daughter of one of the prominent and wealthy families in the State. Dr. Page prior to his marriage, had done some newspaper and magazine work which attracted public attention, and when in the year 1884 hisiiMarse Chanii appeared in the Century Magazine, it was at once recognized that a new star had appeared upon the literary horizon of the Southern States. Seldom, if ever, has there appeared a short story which: has attracted more wide-spread attention and had more of true merit than this exceedingly beautiful little story. Not only from the general public, but from literary characters of high reputation, did this story receive unqualiiied praise. It is said that the late Henry W ard Beecher used to love to read the story aloud to his friends, and on more than one occasion remarked that he knew where to go for a good cry when he felt the need of tearsethat he had only to read NMarse Chan? a This success was soon followed by stories like iilVICh Lady, tiUncle Edin- borois Drowinm and other stories of a similar character, which at once established Dr. Page,s place in American literature. He very soon abandoned the practice of law for the more genial profession of literature, and for a short while edited one of the departments in Harperis Magazine. His flrst novel, known as iiNew u n . r L Q J 9 a' 1 p i 3'. i L i

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1907 CORKS AND CURLS 3 Dr. Thomas Nelson Page R. THOMAS NELSON PAGE was born in Hanover County, Virginia, iAer 23d,1853. IlexwasthecndestsontnfhlathJo n Page and NHss E. B. N elson, his wife, who were both grand-children of Governor Thomas N elson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Commander of the Virginia forces at Yorktown, and Governor of Virginia. His father was the grand-son of John Page of Rosewell, Governor of Virginia, and the descendant of the distinguished family of Pages so long and well known in the history of Virginia. '7 1 The County of Hanover, being one of the strictly agricultural counties of the State, in which there were largeplantations, with a great number of slaves, the negro servants being thrown in constant contact with their masters, who them- selves were gentlemen of the highest birth and breeding, were of an unusally high order of intellect for the negro. The house servants and the servants around the place of that kindly and gentle disposition which no period will ever see again, and with ape-like facility which the negro has for acquiring manners and customs, took upon themselves much. of the polish and manner of their masters, the manner becoming mannerism, whilst the polish took upon itself the queerest sorts of shapes During young Page's childhood and early youth these old ante-belluln negroes still hung around the family mansion, and were a part and parcel of the house- hold. Page was therefore, as all southern boys are, made well acquainted with the best class of the Virginia negro, a class whose fidelity and loyalty to their masters, whose kindliness of nature, and whose superficial polish alluded to, made Hwnitnnque. likezleHrgn a boys heluulthernd.VHrghna1nannny;lmyknemr well the old Virginia negro butler, coachman and held hand and his playmates were the little clarkies to whom the new freedom was as yet only a dream. Of a quick and retentive mind, these early associations of young Page impressed themselves deeply upon him, and as subsequent events show, made him peculiarly lit to write the best description of the old Virginia darkey ever committed to paper. , , i l . l l l

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1907 CORKS AND CURLS . 5 Found River? showed. that Dr. Page,s ability was not conhned to the short story, and his next novel, entitled NRed Rock? written as a study, in part, of the iiRecon- structionh period in Virginia, was a work evincing marked ability, and whilst conceived in a most conservative and yet truthful manner, gave a thrilling account 01: that time of storm and stress, interwoven with lovely pictures of home life in the old Commonwealth. It obtained, as it deserved, a large circulation and most favorable criticism. Subsequently Dr. Page published a novel of Southern life called HGordon Keith? which was popular and well received. Within the past year he issued a volume of graceful and well-conceived poems which showed that Dr. Page,s talent was not coniined entirely to the prose side of literature. Between the times of the issuing of his novels and since, Dr. Page has made contributions to the leading magazines of the country, not only in the way of short stories, but in articles of more serious character relating to the political and social condition of affairs in the Southern States. T here is probably no writer of today who more thoroughly understands the negro character, and whilst Dr. Page recognizes the so-called negro question is one which the future alone can solve, 'he has contributed to its discussion more than one paper, showing careful thought and wise suggestion. He has at various times been called upon to make various addresses through the State of Virginia, and elsewhere by the patriotic and literary societies, and these addresses have been characterized not only by Dr. Pageis well-known literary skill, but by his- torical research. The University of Washington and Lee has conferred upon Dr. Page the degree of LL. D. i His first wife dying very soon after their marriage, Dr. Page married in 1893 Mrs. Florence L. Field, a great-granddaughter of Governor James Barbour, of Virginia. Dr. Page has reproduced in the City of W ashington one of the old Colonial-mansions, in which he now resides and where he and his wife dispense the old Virginia hospitality, and are centers of social and literary attraction. To the University of Virginia Dr. Page has ever been a steadfast, liberal and loyal son, and This wife has united with her husband towards the substantial wel- fare of this great institution in large and liberal Contributions to the general Alumni fund. i Dr. Page has been twice the President of the General Alumni Association, and continues up to the present day his lively and constant interest in the welfare of the University. R. T. W. DUKE, JR. Mtg: 463. 3-4241 : A.u...:.- 4;; r: 22:: i' gay-.- 7. e . j. : -:I,m ' n...v--.-4; uvi Fa-DLK'VWTWv T-w c .:M;W..