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VOJA'MK XXIII.RECOLLECTIONSOf the Early Days of IndianaUniversity.R. Q. Roache *46 Tells About Some Grecians of HisTime.Editor Student:Your request of February ist, for “Reminiscences of my college life” is received. I would gladly recall my recollections of those halcyon old days,but I very much doubt whether tha garrulous memories of an old man of 73 would interest the readers of the Student. My writing days are over.To please you I have made a little effort, which I send you: but I think you will very properly throw it into the waste basket.My early recollections of “college life” go back dimly to the time when the citizens and students met Dr. Andrew Wylie and escorted him to what was afterwards Murphy's Boarding House opposite Hite's. I think this was in 1829, when I was only five years old and the old Seminary was still the “College.”Afterward the new building was erected, with its pepper box cupola. At ten years of age I became a student in the Preparatory Department under Dr. Joseph McPheeters, one of the kindest and best of men. Afterwards “Pap” Campbell took his place, a little sterner, but an excellent man, who started many a young man in his career toward success in life. Recollections of these old tin es crowd upon me so fast that they become jumbled.I remember well when Prof. Hall brought the first piano to Bloomington, and the crowds of country people who gatherd around the house in amazement at this great wonder—no doubt the brick house is still standing. It afterward belonged to Joshua O. Howe and later to Dr. Darwin Maxwell. Prof. Hall returned shortly to the East and wrote a book, very savage and ironical about Bloomington and the western people.I remember also the great excitement caused by the quarrel between Prof. Harney and Dr. Wylie, which resulted in a collision 011 the walk log. Harney afterwards became a very famous Democratic editor at Louisville.Dr. Andrew was one of the grandest of men rather irascible and pugnacious when opposed, but as a teacher, amible aud kind as a woman, “Fortitur in re, suavitur in raodo”—a fluent, charming writer, but no orator. His learning seemed to me like Goldsmiths Schoolmaster—I could not see how one small head could carry all he knew. No man could be kinder to the students even to their faults and foibles, if there was no meaness in them.In the lecture room he was a marvel. He made everything so clear, and his anecdotes and good humored rallying of his class impressed many a deep lesson, that would not otherwise have beentaught. I do not thiuk his toga can ever b e filled.Then there was “Pap” ParksINDIAN(pardon me for using these old pet names of the boys) odd, and very peculiar in his looks, walk and manner, but justly popular and perfect in his Latin and Greek.Prof. Harding was a typical Irishman, an old bachelor, profoundly learned, witty, full of blarney and with the most delicious brogue. He passed his Saturdays limiting with a fine old English double-barrel shot gun, and amazed our Hoosiers by utterly refusing to shoot at anything except on the wing or running. He would have Sunny Buskirk, his pet,(afterwards Judge) throw a stone at a squirrel sitting still, declaring “It was a moighty mane man that would not give the baste a chance for his loife.”Aud then Prof. Rutter, later on, who had been in France, tried to teach us to pronounce Latin in a Prenehy way, at which all rebelled, i We called him a “Dude” but he -was simply a %ice dresser and un-. usually polite'and ceremonious.Prof. Ryan was a little of the martinet, but he gave us good drill and hammered calculus into some of our dull heads.Prof. Reed was one of us. Wenever felt any hesitation in going to him for counsel, even when we got into a scrape. He was afterwards President of our Missouri State Uni versity, all of these and many others—they are still vividly in my memory— are gone to their reward, and I feel sure their works do follow them.When I come to think of the young men I knew at the University, a feeling of infinite sadness conies over me. They are nearly all gone, my classmates have all passed away. I attended the semicentennial of the University, the very week before Judge Barton W-Wilson, of Greenburg, Indiana,died and I was the only one left of the class of 1 lt;845.One of them—Geo* W. Hauser, went home and died of consumption a few7 months before graduation,and poor loveable Beza K. Archer, one of the brightest of the class, went furiosly deranged and died a raving maniac later on.William M. Simpson, of Paoli, who doubtless would have risen to some of the highest positions in the land died a few months after gradu. ation. I think all of them weregifted men and would have made their mark in the world, but death called them away early.One of my classmates who drop-ed out and graduated later on, is still living—Dr, Theodore S. Par-vin—one of the most brilliant young men I ever knew—a little wild then and fond of fun, but good as lie could be. He is now a sedate medical Professor at Philadelphia and may be said to be at the top of his profession. Another Samuel Buskirkdied one of the Supreme Judges of the State of Indiana—another, the companiou of my boyhood and classmate for many years graduated before me—Samuel T. Wylie— handsome, gifted and eloquent, to me the ideal of perfection,died just as he had started in a promising career as a lawyer at Cincinnatti. Aud poor Abe Hendricks, was killed during the war. He was a very brilliant young man.I had written more than this but I am so sure tlrnt you do not wan!it, that I stop right here.Truly yours,R. Q. Roacuk
Newspaper Details
Bloomington Student
Bloomington, Indiana, US
Wed, Feb 09, 1898
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Carole M.
USA 13 Feb 2022
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