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

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6 CORKS AND CURLS VOL.XX The First University in America HE University of Virginia, whose paternity, Thomas Jefferson, its founder, deemed a prouder epitaph than even the fact that he had been President of the United States, and had almost doubled its area, is the mother University of the present University system of the country. But a long prior to its founding; prior even to the founding of Harvard College, a . 'tLi'niversityi'i had been projected in Virginia, and this University was the first educational institution ever planned and begun on American soil. 3331:21'1Tw1a ,:ae' t : So little is known of it that it is mainly ignored in histories of the United - States, and only the barest mention of it is to be found in, any histories whatever. M , For the following facts relating to it, I am indebted mainly to the works of the late AlexanderBrown, Esquire, of Nelson County, Virginia, whose pious 1i labors in collecting the records of the early Virginia Settlement and publishing 3; them in his great work, ttThe Genesis of the United Statesf have placed under ?;H itribute of gratitude all historians who desire to know the truth touching the ifounding of this country. The three chief enemies which the colony which first settled this country '1 i and established here the Anglo-Saxon civilization had to face, were the Hsal- i vagesj, as they termed the Indians; itthe SiCk116SS,,, as they termed the malaria, and ignorance of the best methods to govern the new country. Virginia was the first colony that England had ever planted, and all of these dangers were novel to the experience of these people. It will give some idea. of the cost of plant- ing this first settlement to state that by the time the next settlement was planted on the shores of N orthern Virginia, in 1620, the Virginia Colony had cost in. money what would be the equivalent now of over a million dollars. But the real cost had been in the sacrifice of life which had attended its final accomplish- ment. Captain John Smith states that it had cost ltneare eight thousand livesfi. Later, and less conjectural statements show that of the first seven thousand three hundred,emigrants who sailed for Virginia, over six. thousand perished in the first twenty years of the colony's existence. It was to meet all of the three great enemies above mentioned that Sir Thomas Dale was borrowed by Prince Henry, the patron of Virginia coloniza- S LXZ'VTTH..;.'3 .A. 13 ...2 . 2-2.41111.W ': i f'ma...un$mi;:l 1' 1 . L . A V V '

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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..

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1907 . CORKS AND CURLS 7 tion, from the Dutch in whose service he had for some time been employed. He had been fighting in the low countries against Spain, and he was selected for the Marshalship at the suggestion of Henry, Earl of Southampton for tithe ability of his body as well as his mind? Dale arrived in Virginia and anchored off Fort Comfort on the night of May 22d, 1611. He brought with him about three hundred people and stores and stock necessary for the Colony. F inding many affairs in, a somewhat run- down condition, owing largely to the sickness which had prevailed in the pre- ceding summer, he set to work with characteristic energy to repair and restore the forts and public buildings and to erect new buildings. He, moreover, pro- oeeded to institute some much needed reforms. He abolished the inefficient system of comn'iunity of interest under which the colonists had hitherto worked, and set apart lots in severalty to be cultivated separately on a proper rental to the Colony, He promptly suinmoinedvthe Council and on May 3Ist it was ttdetermined with Godls grace, to go up into the Falls word to search for and advise upon a site for a new T owne, orders to establish which had been given .in England. I Having made his search, Dale finally selected lia highland environed with 'the Mayn Riverf, and here in the loop of the James near Dutch Gap he laid off the new t0wn of Henrico; named for Henry, Prince of Wales, King James, promising son, to whom Sir Walter Raleigh had dedicated his history of the world. Here, towards the middle of September, Dale having selected from three hundred to three hundred and fifty men for the work, proceeded to build the new town, Hfrom whence might be no more remove of the principall seatef, Within ten days he had iistrongly fortified seven English acres of ground, by january he had erected strong wateh-towers at each corner of the town; a hand- some church and store houses; also houses for himself and men, and had made Henrico iimuch better and of more worth than all the work ever since the Colony began therein clone? The first story of these houses was of brick burnt by his men, and some idea may be had of the development of the colony by the fact that a little later, in February, 1612, uthey were building an hospital with four score lodgings, tand beds alreadie sent to furnish themy for the sick and wounded or lame, with keepers to attend them for their comfort and recoveriefl This was the first hospital ever built in America and the place Where it probably stood in Henrico County is still called liMount Myladyf, possibly a corruption of Malady.