Virginia Intermont College - Intermont Yearbook (Bristol, VA)

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10 SENSE AND NONSENSE. Born, cradled and reared at Glade Spring, the Institute out- grew the vestments of its childhood, and in new robes it made its debut in Bristol — boasting a curriculum second to none — competing with the male, and outstripping the Southern female colleges. Mr. Jones has always occupied the chair of m ental and moral philosophy and logic, and it is in that capacity that he garners the rewards of his sowing. He sees for himself the work the school is doing. When he applies the touchstone of his teaching to the minds glowing in a healthy perspiration, and fresh from other departments it is as teacher that he knows he is laying the cornerstone in many a polished marble palace of character. He believes each mind in itself a Klondike, without its famine, without its cold, without its bankrupt seekers after the yellow lucre. Its food is knowledge, its fires, the ardor of inquiring minds, and the enthusiasm and zeal of ambition. He leads the delvers through the devious ways of learn- ing. He points out to them with patient care the veins of precious metals. He shows that the glittering sandhills that allure the unwary and unwise with its thousand twinkling eyes embosom but worthless soil, and under surfaces rough and forbidding only deep down in the breast of earth beats the heart of pure gold which only can be reached with pickaxe and spade. But once possessed, it is beyond the price of empires, and the largest purchaser of Life’s rarest and fairest gems, Happiness and Contentment, and the name of this treasure of the Soul is Truth — and this is our Mr. Jones. Even as he bears aloft in a golden train of golden deeds the single golden standard of spotless integrity and honor, unimpeached, his own example and golden rule will paint on his Life’s sky a glowing, living picture in colors rich, warm and unfading. A scene whose breadth will margin every cloud with a golden border — of hues so bright as to penetrate and illumine every care-laden shadow, so lasting as to defy the washings of all storms and every one of his eleven hundred girls who proudly carry the orange into twenty-three States

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SENSE A NE NONSENSE. 9 and well-being of the Institute much at heart, being in close touch with Dr. Harrison and in the sunshine of his fervor and enthusiasm, not to speak of the subtle influence of Mrs. Jones, who always shared her father’s causes and made his hopes and ambitions hers. Mr. Jones, with the keen discernment of the professional man and with the prophetic insight of the lawyer, realized the fine possibilities that were latent in the life of the school. When in 1889 the presidency was offered him, he found himself confronted with a perplexing problem. Perhaps Mrs. Jones was the power behind the throne, perhaps Dr. Harrison, our Anchises — perhaps Fate that urged our H£neas to brave the inevitable storms and difficulties and place our colors foremost and permanent among the colleges of this land. It was no small sacrifice to give up a healthy and lucrative law practice, a chosen and loved profession, and enter a new and untried field of labor. The Institute then was but an infant, but evinced unmis- takable signs of precocity and future greatness. It needed but a fostering hand to take the youngling and steady its first steps. Southwest Virginia Institute, born under a lucky star, has always been fortunate, but the good-luck vein in her career was never more successfully sounded than when Mr. Samuel D. Jones declared he would take the toddler under his fostering care and protection. Perceiving at once the delicacy and greatness of the responsibility he was asked to shoulder, he was like — “The traveler that setteth on his journey oppressed with many thoughts, Balancing his hopes and fears, and looking for some order in the chaos - He walketli straight, in fervent faith, and difficulties vanish at his presence ; Confident and sanguine of success he goetli forth conquering and to conquer — While the labor lasted, while the race was running Many times the sinews ached and half refused the struggle, But now all is quietness, a pleasant hour given to repose, Calmness in the retrospect of good and calmness in the prospect of a blessing. Hope was glad in the beginning and fear was sad midway, But sweet fruition cometh in the end a harvest safe and sure. Uncertainty no more can scare, the proof is seen complete, Thus the end shall crown the work with grace, grace unto the top stone The work shall triumph in its crown with peace, peace unto the builder.

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SENSE AND NONSENSE. 11 of our Union will bear an impress of this picture in their own lives, and upon this foundation-rock of many a character will be traced with a pen of iron the influence of Samuel D. Jones. So in pure love and gratitude we bring this volume, not as a literary but as a heart offering, and lay it reverently at his feet. Since writing the above the news of Mr. Jones’s resignation has fallen like a bombshell among us. It is the one fell blow that severs many a connection with the hub of our tender associations, and at the moment of completest triumph shrouds in a mist of doubt, prospects that were glowing. It is with deep regret that we see the Institute like a ship without a pilot, sailing under a flag of distress. While the loss is incalculable and we know full well another Mr. Jones can not be procured, we earnestly hope that the Trustees may again show that wisdom that they exercised when they elected Mr. Jones our President, and at least get the next best man. We can not write those things that we keenly feel in regard to the severance of Mr. and Mrs. Jones from us. Pens have never yet probed the depths of emotion, and those sentiments that are here feebly expressed are but the surface depths of our real sorrow and regret. And we simply bid them God-speed in their future course, knowing full well that they both deserve whatever befalls them of the best and brightest of fortune’s store. And for them and their family let me say, “ In your heavens may there be no clouds, or if some there be, may they have the color and the odor of roses, — Be in good health and happiness.” K. P. C.