PRIDE OF THE SOUTH DISASTER OVERTAKES VIRGIN IA'S FAMOUS UNIVERSITY. The Sent of '.learning at Charlottes ville, Founded by Thomas Jcfter on. Crippled by a Fire Scheme of the Institution. I J IIE recent Are at the Univer- I eity of Virginia, Charlottes a I ville, Vb. , was a cause of prief "J not only to the gradnntos and immciliate frieuds of thnt institution, bnt aleo to a far greater number of the people who know it only by reputation as one of the most honorable teats of learning in the country, The crea tion of such an institution had long been a dream of Tbotnas Jefferson, and the juBt pride thnt ho took in its realization waa illustrated by the in scription that he prepared for his THE IiCRXED ItOTTXDA, . tombstone, which cites the fact that he was "Father of the University of Virginia" as a claim to remembrance worthy to be joined with "Author of tho Declaration of American Inde pendence, and of the Statute ot Vir- wmm (STATUE OF MB. JEFFEU-OS ET OALT. ginia for Religious Freedom." Tho chief, building of the university was ,,the rotunda, which was planned by Jefferson and erected under his super vision, and which gave the institution a distinctive character that elevated it above the usual conventional environ !ra-,-,t..v,r.,.,it,i ILL . WT3TEr.X ASPECT OP THE xneut of our colleges. The rotunda j was dobtrojred by tue fire, and so was the annex, the next building in im portance, and with them was lost the greater part of tha library. The dam age, so for as it can bo expressed in jnoney, probably reaches $150,000, The university was the favorite projeot of Thomas Jefferson for forty yearn. As early as 1779 ha conoeived the idea, but the poblie demands upon bis time for many years were so great that it was not until after the peaee with England in 1815 that he could give his undivided attention to it. 'lie proposed to found "a university on a plan so broad, liberal and modern as to e worth patronizing with the pub lio support and ba a temptation to the youth of other States to come and drink of tha cup of knowlekge and fruterniza -with us.' Such' war his language t) Dr. Priestley in 1800, and iflwf 111 W L I IJNHL ill, M ill his hops was "to draw from Europe the first characters In soienoe." In 1819 a charter was obtained from the Virginia Legislature and a location selected at Charlottesville, in Albe marle County. The corner stone of the university was laid in the presence of a great concourse of peoplp, chisf among them being Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, two ex-Presidents and the then President. The place was only five miles distant from Monti cello, Jefferson's country scat, and Jefferson daily watched the new build ings as they arose. It was the last work of his life, the crowning grace of a career spent in the tmblio service and for good of his country. A large sum of money had been raised by publio t nbscription, Jeffer son himself contributing 81000, but it was not Jefferson's idea that it should be a private institution. He intended thnt it should be a State institution, to be supported lnrgoly by the State, and this was where the tug of war rXlYF.IWITY OF VIRGINIA. came. ihe iruiuia Legislature was not accustomed to appropriate money for such objeots. The people wore poor, money came hard, and party passion was not exlinct. A very respectablo and influential minority in the btato were on posed to Jefferson on many grounds, bat more particularly on the ground of religion. Orthodoxy was still powerful, anil it was fearea that an educational institution fathered by Thomas Jefferson would teach free thinking in religion, if not atheism, Us finally conquered, however. Good' ly sums were appropriated to erect tho bandBome buildings that Jefferson planned. Three hundred thousand dollars in all wero given for the build ings a large sura of money in the early days of this contiuy and $15, 003 a year was devoted to the support ol the institution. Jefferson was the Chairman of the First Board of Trustees, end it was the work of tho lust years of his life to superintend the buildings as they wero erected, no engaged workmen, se lected timber, bought bricks, and even hired workmen to come from Italy to make tho citrviugs in stone. In the buildings he endeavored to give ex amities of every stylo of architecture. Then came the timo for selecting professors, lucre was to be no 1 res ident, all of the fasultyboing of equal rank, except that one should be chosen as Chairman. At that timo Dr. Thomas Cooper, a refugee thirty years before from England, was the foremost cbora ist of the time and noted for his tcien tifio attainments. Four States were competing for his cervices in their schools of learning, but when Jefler son invited him to Charlottesville he accepted. Tho orthodox Virginians, -rs '4 CKIVEBSITI OF VIRGINIA, however, would not stand it, for Dr. Cooper waa a Unitarian, and a storm was evoked that threatened the well being ot the nniversity. Jefferson was obliged to yield and relinquished Dr. Cooper to one of the other institutions competing for his servioes. The main body of the professors were engaged in England, only the chairs of law, etuioi and chemistry being filled from the United States, and in Murou, ioio, tne university was opened with forty students. Bofore the beginning of tho second year there were over 170 students in attendance. From the date of its opening down to tne beginning ot the Civil War the average attendance was larger, thera being representatives from nearly all the scales, though, ol eonrse, mainly irom me eouinern Btato. . Jefferson, of coarse, selected tha library, excluding therefrom all work of fiction, not because such books should not be read, but because they had noplace in the library of an edu cational institution. Jefferson's idea of college or univer sity discipline was to place the stu dents on honor, trusting thera as gen tlomen to conform to the rules of tha institution. It has worked with ad mirable success as a rule. A spirit of freedom has been developed, and while there have been individuals who have proved false, the great body ot the students have been faithful to high ideals of behavior. hen the Civil War oame the ma- orHy of the Southern students cast their fortunes with the array of the Confederacy, and the university was nbiected to a severe ordeal. When the war broke out tho average attend ance of slndents was C50. It tell at once to a score or two, but tha insti tution was kept open, and only once did the war come near it. ' In March, 18G3, General Sheridan and his cav alry was at Charlottesville for a num ber of days, but during his stay he placed guards around the grounds of the university, and preserved the property uninjured. Since the war the university has regained itsanoient prestige, the attendance being larger than ever before. The present disaster wilt be a great blow, for it cannot be restored as it was, and many of the historical as sociations will be destroyed forever. The hopeful side of this meianoholy piotnre is seen in the promptness and seal witu which tne faculty nave started a movement to restore the burned buildings, and at tha same time to provide the university with other buildings that have long been sadly needed. It is proposed to re ereot the rotunda on the old lines, and thus perpetuate the outward evidence of Jefferson's work as the founder of the institution. The estimated cost of this restoration is $30,000, and a new building is desired to replace the annex which shall cost 90,000 ; while other structures that are needed at the earliest possible moment will call for SYO.UUU, and the purchase ol new books and the proper endowment of the library 859,000 apieoe a grand total of 8:110,000, towards whioh in surance and endowments in hand will provido 838,000. Tbero is thus re quired, the faculty estimate, 8288,000 "to rehabilitate our alma mater in a manner not unworthy ot her illus trious father and her devoted sons.' A confident appeal for help will be made to the Virginia Legislature, but pending its action, the faoulty invite the alumni of the institution to share in the work. "Nor should the call roach only graduates of the univer sity," says the New York Post. "Its tallest equipment is a matter ot Na tional importance, and no friend ot education in any part ot the oountry could do better service for tho op- building of the South, and thereby of the whole country, than by a contri bution to this fund." Au Interesting Feat. Here is a simple little experiment that any ot yon may try. We know that steel is much harder than niokel or silvor, but a steel needle is so very slender it seems impossible to force it through a coin. In the accompanying lllustrat.on, lound in the Philadelphia TO riEItCB A NICKEL. Times, it is seen how easily tha icat may be accomplished. The first thing is to insert a needle in a oork so that the point barely comes through. If the large end of tbe needle projects nt tho upper end ot the cOrk, snap it off with a pair of heavy shears, so that it may be flush with the surfaoa of the cork. Place a nickel upon two blocks ot wood, and put the oork on it with the sharp end ot the noedlo down, of course. Give tho cork a quick, sharp blow with a hammer, and the needle, being nnable to bend, owing to the support given it by the oork, will easily go through the niokel. A silver quar ter may be used in plaoe of tho nickoL Ancient Hearts. Tho transfer of Eoaqiusko's heart to II. H- L T .l . . iuu casus at nupperawiii, owiizeriana, recalls many stories ot the Crusaders, who, dying on the Holy Land, sent their hearts to friends at home. So, afterward, Sir Robert Peckbam died out of England in 15G9, bub his heart was not buried until 1580. The heart of John Baliol was embalmed by his widow's desire, and inclosed in an ivory casket enameled with silver. And she, the loving Devorgilla, placed this casket on her table every aay at meal time and ordered it put on her own heart when she was borne to the tomb. Then there is tbe heart of tha Bruce, dear to elocutionists and stamp speakers. For strange tales about beartB sea the "Lives ot the Troubadours" and that dreadful story by Barbey D'Aurevilly, "At a Dinner of Atheists. Boston Journal The Queen's IHrlhplaco, By the Queen's wish, the room in Kensington Place where Her Mujesty was Dorn, and whioh was olosed for years, has been specially done up this year, so as to present tbe exact ap pearance as it did in 1810. It is understood that Her Majesty will in future allow the room to be visited by speoial friends of the Court. The gold and brass work of the room, although much worn, is Btill in a fair state of preservation. New York Press, Sit FASHION'S FIAT CniNCIIf LTjA decreed the fur OF TUB SEASON. Description of a FashlonnMa Cnpe of Illnck Astrakhan Waists or Brown C'repon and Velvet New Use for Old Copes. F1 ASfllON declared early in the fall that cliinohilla should be tbe fur of the season, and since then the leading fnrricrs have bsen putting their experienced beads together in designing new and becoming chinchilla wraps. Great has been their success. The victorine of chinchilla, with its quaint collarette and long stole ends, is one of the most effective fur garments imaginable. It Is exquisite when worn with a dark velvet costume. Chinchilla capes, which hang in soft, bewildering rip ples, are tha most correct wraps for FASHIONABLE CAIE OF theatre wear, not only because of the popularity of tho fur, but because it is light enough in weight not to crunh the voluminous sleeves beneath. Chin chilla as a trimming is much in vogue this year in tho form of wraps. Among the othor furs in favor with fashionable women are Russian sable, stone marten, sealskin, wolverine and Persian lamb. Black astrakhan is the material rep resented in the handsome and comforta ble cape piotured in the double-column illustration, the lining being of rich brocaded satin, which is rendered soft and fluffy by an interlining ot wadding. The storm collar is made double and stiffly interlined, to be worn raised or rollod over, as the weather indicates. The cape is of fashionable length, ex tending to tho hips, and is of ample although not exaggerated width, i rom its oiroular shaping it tits smoothly at the neck and falls around the body in rippling folds. The cape can be cut with or without a seam in centre back, as best suits the fabric used. The mode is especially well adapted to heavy, warm materials, such as seal or fancy plush, velvet, astrakhan, Per sian lamb, or other furs, reversible cheviot, or other cloakings that enn be seasonably trimmed with fur or plainly completed. The quantity of ol-inoh wide ma terial roqnirod to make this capo for a lady having a M2-inoh bust measure, is 11 yards; for a 3C-incb size. 11 yards; for a 40-inch sizo, 1 yards; for a 4'J iuch sizo, "i yards. A IIAXDSOMB WAIST. Tho materials used in the waist ropresontod in the second don-ble-oolumn Illustration are shaded brown oropon, combined with velvet of the darkest sbado, handsomely deo WAIST OP BltOWIT orated with twine-colored guipure over yellow satin and jet sequins. The fashionable bertha, with slashed front, is the distinctive feature of this styl ish basqne, the rather fanoiful ar rangement of which is made over glove-fitted linings that close in cen tre front. The full fronts droop slight ly in oentre, in French blouse, and join the fnll back and smooth under arm gores. The upper portion of front is covered to round yoke dopth with yellow satin that shows through the guipure laeo, the smooth fitted high oollar boing covered to match and closed under a bow of satin rib bon in baok. The bertha and slashed front ot velvet is lined with yellow satin, a stiff interlining of crinoline the edging of jet sequins. TwiBted velvet .finishes the lower edge of basque' with bow oa side. Fall gigot sleeves stand ont fashionable above tha elbow, from gathered fullness at the top, the close-fitting wrists boing plainly completed. Waists of silk can be thus made to wear with separ ate skirts, ot black crepon, silk, satin or velvet. Tbe quantity of 41-inoh wide ma terial required to make this basque for a lady having a 32-inoh bnst measure Is 8 yards; for a 20-iuoh size, 8 J yards ; for a 40-inch size, 4 yards. NEW t?3B POn Ot,T CAPE?. Bo many women are just new groan Ing over the possibilities (or impossi bilities) of their fur capes, which have been left over since Inst season, or longer, that a timely suggestion, says tha New York Herald, might be offered for nsing thera. Often these garments are ot good fur, and presentable as to outside, bnt the shape is hopelpssly out ot date and the lining worn, There is so littlo fur in one that it will only make a small oollar it remodelled and BLACK A9TRAKIIAS. is soarcely a foundation for one of tho new loon wraps, the cost of transform ing being almost the same as tbe prioo ot a new cape. For the many wom?n who wonld be glad to ntmzo this lelf over material this design will be just the desired thing. The lining should be ripped out and saved for a pattorn. Then the fur A TIMELY BCOOESTIOy. should bo out np in long points, ono in the back, one in the iront, one over each shoulder and others between, making eight in all. The lower por tion of the cape is made in velvet, and mar be out by any good circular pat tern and the fur laid on and basted into plaoe. The points should be out' lined with a fancy jet passementerie, covering the raw edge of the fur. CREPOS AND VELVET. After this trimming is all sewed on firmly the lining is to be pat in. This may be easily contrived by nsing tha old lining, with the pattern by whiob the velvet is cut, combining the shop, of the two. SATIN BEAVER. The new material for handsorio eloaks and toagowas is the satin beaver, whioh oombinos tbe lustrous effect of satin with tha dopth of oolor in plash or velvet, and, wonderful to say, it does not oruah in wear and is modorate in price. So many advan tages are certain to insure its prompt adoption and oonseqnent suooes. There are 181,000 foreigners living In Paris, inoluding 45,000 Belgians, 20,000 Swiss, 21,000 Italians, 13,600 English, 0000 Russian. CBAIL0 MAJOR DOUSE. (apposed to He the Oldest Dwelling In This Country. Contrary to cenersl emaciation. says the Now Ybrk Times, the famone Crailo manor house is not to be de molished. This will be extremely in teresting news to many people throughout the United Stater, bnt more particularly thoje of Eastern Ifew lork. The historical old plaoe OLDEST DWELLINO l THR tTJTCOH. stands in one of tbe pioturesque streets of Qreeubusb, just across tbe Hudson Kiver from Albany. It was near this house that "Yankee Doodle" was written. For years tbe old blook bouse has been fast decaying under the ruthless ravages of time and the elements. The Society of Colonial Dames, recognizing the value of this, the oldest house in the United States, has leased it for a term of fifteen years.' When tbe improvements now in prog ress shall have been completed a cus todian will be placed in charge. By tbe payment of a small entrance fee it will be accessible to all visitors. The building was ereoted in 1C42 as manor house and plaoe of defense, and was known as Fort Crailo. It was cneral Abercrombie's headqntrters while that doughty warrior was march ing to attack Fort Tioonderoga, in 1759. It was at the cantonment east of this house, near the old well, that the Army Surgeon, It. Shnokburgh, composed the immortal song, "Yankee Doodle." The house is the original . homestead of the younger and larger branoh of the Van Rensselaer family, after whom the county was named. According to the best histories, the building was erected by Killion Van Ronsselaer for his so a Johannes be tween the rears 1030 aud 1C42. The building is a two-story and attio brick structure ot most substan tial construction. The walls are of great thickness, and are still pieroed with two of the nine stone loopholes whioh onoe commanded the ap proaches. The beams of hewn pine are of unusual sizo, some of them be ing sixteen inches square. About the middle of the eighteenth century the rude fortressdike dwelling was trans formed into a handsome residence, and an addition was made in the rear in 1740. The main entrance is in the middle of the river front and gives acooss to a small hall, from whioh open doors leading to the main rooms on either side. At the end of the hall springs an arch, the imposts and sof fits of which are ornamented with delicate garlands in low relief. A seoond and muoh larger paneled hall, opening upon the porch at the loft, intersoots this hall at the centre of the houso. The old Crailo manor house is most curiously planned. All the rooms connect with eaoh other, usually by means of closets, but as there are several lovels on the same story the doors in some oases open several feet above the level of tho floor of the lower room. There is no ap- fiarent reason for this differenoe of evel, unless it was parposely designed to increase tbe difficulty of capture in the event of the house boing taken by an enemy. Tho building some years ago passed out ot the hands ot the Van Ilemtse laers, and the property was in litiga tion for nearly two years. Daring that time it was the retreat of a band of young ruffians who broke the win dows, defaced the woodwork, and de molished the mantels and balusters. Prior to that time tho old manor was visited by people from all parts of tha United States. It is famous in history and song. A Chicken Kills a llairk. A spring chicken is not always ten der game, as a bloodthirsty hawk found to his sorrow at Samuel Weav er's farm, at Beigelsville, Penu. Tha hawk pounced jauntily npon the fowl, which at onoe began to peotc and claw the bird of prey tiercoly. Mr. Weaver found the hawk dead half an hoar later. A Hospitable Invitation. He stayed a whole month with his friend in Paris, and on his departure shook his host warmly by the band, and tbanke 1 him effusively for his hos pitality, saying: "It ever you are oat my way I shall be very offended if you don't come straight to me, and let ma find yon a good hotel I" In the Same Boat. "Is it true that yon caught the riohest man at the beach last summer? I beard yon were engaged to him. " "Of course I was engaged to him I Do yon think I wanted to be tUe only girl that was not T' Truth, . - . M
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers