The student body at this time was composed very largely of men from States south of Virginia, the Senior class of that year having been wholly from South Carolina and Georgia.
At this session Professor Landon C. Garland was inaugurated a full President, after having acted as such since Dr. Olin left for Europe. We looked up to him with marked reverence, though he was not quite thirty years old. It was his dignity of character which caused us to do this. Few men ever possessed more than he. No man ever trifled in President Garland's lecture-room. The rules of discipline were felt rather than seen. His familiar designation was "Old Landon."
President Sims was much like President Garland in his official character and conduct. He was a high man in person and every way. Thoroughly imbued with the love of his native English, he threw his heart and mind into his teaching. Unable to get text-books in Anglo-Saxon, he wrote the elementary exercises on the blackboard. Some of these are remembered to this day. We did not realize nor appreciate the fact that our classes were the first in a course which is now magnified in all the colleges and universities in the land.
Professor Duncan was the genial, humor-loving Irishman. His shillalah was ever ready for any exposed head, but he had no murderous intent, and did not mind when the subject hit back, but rather enjoyed a repartee. A broad smile always foretold his sally of wit, and sometimes it was so slow coming that the victim would have time to "cut." Dear, dear "Old Pad," as we called him, it was hard to say whether he enjoyed most his fun with the boys or his ancient languages, with the love of which he seemed to be fully saturated. A kinder heart never beat in human frame.
"Old Jim" (Hardy) presided in the Laboratory on the third story. He was a third-story man every way. Though a young man, and the first alumnus of the College made a full professor, his manner was austere, and hence he had but little popularity with the students. Some excuse for his so appearing was due to the fact that he had to study hard to keep up with the expectations of his classes.
"Old Zeke" (Blanch) our tutor in mathematics, was a fine instructor and bright every way. He, too, was fond of humor when out of his lecture-room, but very strict while in it.
Oh! for a Dickens to picture Tutor Harris. Pardon me for taking up more room with him than is given all the rest. But such a character is not often found, and deserves the space he takes.
My first classical instructor was one of the tutors. He was the first Virginia University man ever elected to fill a chair at the old College. Deeply imbued with a love for his subjects, he looked upon the ancient languages as having, potatoe-like, the best parts at the root. The "particle" was his especial delight. So much absorbed was he in discoursing on it, that he was not particular whether his pupils listened or not. They might go to sleep or do anything, so they did not break the thread of his lecture. It was amazing to see how many learned authorities in the shape of books he would daily lug to the room. Doubtless this digging at the root was very deep and thorough—too much so for the average "fresh." Some of the most scholarly appreciated the exercise, or pretended to do so. To the latter the tutor mainly directed his attention.
Not only did the tutor pursue this absorbing search indoors, but it seemed to monopolize all his thoughts, even while going to his meals and returning. It made him oblivious to all else for the time being. He would, while thus absorbed in thought, kick a chip before him for a mile, and would not recognize the best friend he might meet in the way. All he asked then was the full "right of way."
His abstraction or absent-mindedness was exhibited in many ways. Some mischief-lover barred up his door one morning and thus made him tardy at recitation hour, which gave occasion to the boys to "cut"—that is, leave and miss recitation. He went to the President and said, "Sir! is there any way to have a young man up, when you don't know who he is?" The President was a great mathematician, but he could not solve that problem.