Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 12.pdf/61

 Rh

chapel. As we were going over to the ' I am disposed to answer in the affirmative. chapel, some one remarked that Webster It is true it involved a radical change in his ought to manifest more feeling and cordial habits- and mode of life. It took him out of ity towards the students than he had done politics and from the active duties of a law the evening before. Colonel Preston touched yer's life, and put him to teaching and to his own breast and said, ' I am afraid he is managing young men. But there was but wanting in heart." The speech was again a little chance for him politically any way. a failure. I thought Colonel James Farrow, He was on the unpopular side of the leading the student who addressed him on the part political issues. And then his law practice of the college, made the happier effort of the had been scattered to the four winds by his two. During the whole of Webster's stay in absence from home and by -the demands of Columbia, I heard him but once at all inter official life. He would have had to have gone to work and built up a practice largely ested and animated in conversation or speak ing. The large dinner party given him by from the ground. For a man of his age, Governor Johnson, as Governor of the State, then, that was no easy task, and besides it was a very dull affair. He seemed deter was very disheartening. Old men do not mined not to be roused up in conversation like to have to wrestle in the court room or speaking. But he had been in Charleston with ambitious, energetic, and rising young the week before, where he had been feasted men. And the same is true in politics. till he was broken down. His conversation, After a man reaches a certain age and gains however, at Dr. Gibbes's was charming and some reputation, he prefers to lead a more quiet life — he wants to get away from tur brilliant." As I have already said, Mr. Preston was moil and strife — he longs for placid waters full of humor and liked to get off pretty say rather than the tempestuous sea. And then, ings. On one occasion he met General too, I think it was a fine thing for the col Winfield Scott, and during the course of the lege. They secured the services of an ac conversation there was some jesting as to complished scholar, -- one wlib had hada wide experience, — one who had not only their respective ages. General Scott contend After ed thatsome they playful were both bantering, about the Mr.same Preston age. j been well educated, but who was widely read and had travelled extensively. It would have told the general that when he was a boy he taken a long day's journey for the college always thought that General Scott was one authorities to have found Mr. Preston's of the characters referred to in " Plutarch's equal. There are two ways of training men Lives." The remark was so happily made for college professors. One is to put a and so complimentary in character that young man in the school-room after he has General Scott at once yielded the point in graduated, and let him learn by experience. This is the more usual and popular plan. dispute without further contention. The other is to import your teacher from Colonel John S. Preston was a brother of other professions and from the public walks Mr. Preston. He also was a splendid or of life. In this latter way the college gets ator. He was a man of fine personal appear new blood, so to speak, — receives an im ance — tall, robust and commanding. He petus from abroad and feels the elbow-touch had a great deal of dignity, and was more of the outside world. It infuses a business aristocratic in his style and demeanor, and, consequently, was not so generally popular like spirit into the teaching force. It keeps the college from becoming too theoretical, as the subject of this sketch. Did Mr. Preston act wisely in accepting impractical, and cranky in its tone and spirit. the presidency of the South Carolina College? It instils among the pupils a knowledge of