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

Page 16 text:

SERPENTINE WALLS Hvlsiu

Page 15 text:

1913 CORKS AND CURLS 7 deadly foe of political organization for the purpose of securing fat offices for private individuals. I-le knows that political gratitude is the foundation stone of political corruption, and he may be relied upon to appoint no friend or supporter to office solely because of his friendship or support. i - Most of his fellow-students at the University of Virginia probably regarded Woodrow 'Wilson as, all in all, the foremost man among them. The Writer has ever since regarded him, as he regarded him then, as the most re- markable of his contemporaries. More than ten years ago, when he little dreamed that the American people would ever be so fortunate as to elect him President, the Writer remarked in conversation that he considered him the best fitted man for the office in the land. There are other Americans, it is true,'With hearts as-big as his, others with courage as great and Wills as in- flexible as his, others as incorruptible as he, others with heads as level and clear and strong, others with equal gifts of tongue or pen, others with knowl- edge as comprehensive and accurate as his, others as unselfish and as public- spirited as he, others as courteous and kind, others as genial and humorous and full of personal charm. - But, if there be another living man who combines all these qualities in so remarkable a degree, he hasthus far -concealed him- self from the public eye. The University of Virginia, then, is proud of her great alumnus, and the author of these sentences, dedicating this book to a man so worthy of the Universityis loftiest traditions and ideals, considers it a privilege to have been selected as the mouthpiece of Corks and Curls. A r RICHARD HEATH DABNEY. Illlllll 1 N ' , l l i ,iaf::2:1:::iq,.. .r l g l l l al 1 . ll lf ' - ' mui1s'rWlllllll F1P'i'zwf..n

Page 17 text:

1913 CORKS AND CURLS 9 Glimpses of the Lawn A Short Treatment of Life and institutions at the University of Virginia. The University of Virginia, as a theme, is not a subject that affords the writer a wide play of originality. ' The bibliography is extensive and the treatment has been diversified. The later writings, and especially the correspondence, of Thomas Jefferson breathed the hopes and inspirations that its eminent founder entertained for the establish- ment of a national seat of culture and refinement. From neighboring Monticello, the statesman sage outlined its curriculum, planned its lawns and buildings, and permeated it with his ideals for lofty service to the country. He saw the curtain rise upon -his pet project for democracy and independence in learning, and died with the 'ichild of his old age exhibiting remarkable viability in spite of the inchoate symptoms of occasional student disorder, brought on by the sudden realization of untrammeled freedom. ' Jefferson died in 1826. l-lis plantations and his manors were sold under the auc- tioneer's hammer to pay his debts. A nation-wide contribution returned his estate to his family, but did not obviate the effects of a discovered Haw in the legal Jeiferson an Originator not a. Founder. title to them. Thus, his heritage to the University was a Wealth of ideals rather than a purse of gold. l-le founded the University as an artist paints a picture or a poet composes a sonnet, but not as a latter- day money baron confers a financial rating by swelling an educational exchequer. Per- haps, he was, then, an originator instead of a founder, as he is popularly termed. At any rate, his legacy has borne interest in subjective rather than worldly aggrandizemenr.