CHAPTER VIII

CONDITIONS DOMINATING THE SELECTION OF THE

UNIVERSITY

Luther M. Reynolds-academic and professional_education-Professors Allen, Horsford, Norton, Porter; his trip to Pennsylvania and Kentucky, where he frequently saw and heard Henry Clay make impressive speeches; other experiences related and personages encountered that enthused my youthful mind; his high appreciation of college training, and estimate of various institutions, including the University of Virginia; factors that led me to select that University, etc.

My uncle, Luther M. Reynolds, a Delawarean by birth, a Marylander by adoption, enjoyed a divided collegiate course— the first half within his native State, at Delaware College, where, entering in 1844, he came under the guidance, as was often his delight to relate, of four young but afterwards noted educational characters: George Allen, Eben Norton Horsford, William Augustus Norton, and John Addison Porter, a quartet not long together, being a few years later drawn into broader and more useful fields. Professor Allen was called to the chair of Ancient Languages in the University of Pennsylvania; Professor Horsford to the Rumford chair of Applied Science in Harvard University, where he encouraged Mr. Abbott Lawrence to found the Lawrence Scientific School, and originated the world renowned acid phosphate and baking pow der; Professor Norton to the Sheffield Scientific School, where he taught for thirty-one years, becoming the author of popular works on astronomy and natural philosophy; Professor Porter to the chair of Chemistry in Yale College, where he married the daughter of Mr. Joseph E. Sheffield, whom he influenced in making the liberal donation that founded the scientific school bearing his name.

Mr. Reynolds, owing to circumstances to be related, completed his academic training at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1847. Two years later, June 1849, at the age of twenty-five, he graduated

from Yale Law School, and while there, near the end of his course, had determined for himself by a chance method his future scene of activity. A number of companion students one day, according to usual custom, were resting carelessly in chairs and on tables in the law library, when stoically the subject of their prospective careers was introduced. Some had fathers already well-established in legal practice, to whom the problem was of easy solution; others were close to members of the Bench and Bar, or to statesmen of acknowledged power and influence, while Reynolds was simply the son of a wellto-do farmer, with little following to aid advancement in a professional line. On this day he made no secret to these associates of his future, just then, being without plan or purpose, so that all, interested in his welfare, made suggestionssome indeed worthy of serious consideration. In the "confusion of tongues," he arose to the occasion in rather a selfassertive manner, proclaiming his ability to settle the matter thus: "I will stick my knife at random between the leaves of this law directory and write to the man whose name is nearest the edge of the blade to take me in his office." Suiting action to the words revealed the name of Samuel Tyler, Frederick, Maryland. Then and there, in presence of the multitude, a letter was written and mailed, which in due time brought a courteous reply from Mr. Tyler to the effect, that at the then present his office had sufficient force, but within the year he expected a vacancy, which, if agreeable, he would reserve gladly for his new correspondent.

Leaving Yale, Mr. Reynolds returned to his home, Golden Ridge, a farm near Willow Grove, Delaware, from which during the early autumn he entered the law office of Mr. Martin W. Bates, at Dover, nine miles distant, where he remained a year-then accepted the position that had materialized with Mr. Tyler. Upon reaching Frederick he was received kindly by his new preceptor, taken to his home and there domiciled. A few days' intercourse convinced Mr. Tyler that the ambitious young man already was well-equipped for the Bar, requiring chiefly a familiarity with the Maryland "Code "-a fact gladly realized, as he was having issued then from the press a legal work, "Tyler's Practice," and needed some one to aid in proofreading. This labor Mr. Reynolds willingly shared, in spite

of the great desire to make rapid progress in his legal studies, and although serving two masters that half year he was admitted to the Maryland Bar by Judge Purviance, February 19, 1851. This accomplished, the road would seem to have been clear, but in those days, as now, opportunities had to be created by the great majority, and where these could best be realized was problematic. Young Reynolds' friends in Frederick, and they were many, with one accord would listen to no other selection than Maryland's accepted metropolis, Baltimore, and to that end they armed him with letters to her most eminent judges and lawyers. These he visited, and the welcoming hands were so sincere and cordial that without hesitation he decided to make Baltimore his permanent home, where he lived for more than fifty years, enjoying a lucrative practice, and ever loyal to her people and best interests, yet never losing perceptibly the fondness for his native State and place of birth. He loved his parents, brothers and sisters, possibly passing understanding," and his ter-annual visits to homeland continued until death, December 12, 1901, with unabated pleasure to both the visitor and the visited. His own home was always most hospitable, sheltering in and out of season all relatives, near and remote alike, and turning aside no worthy Delawarean, though perhaps a positive stranger. He was well-conversant with the genealogy of his State, taking unusual pride in locating doubtful members of his own and other families, and holding out to all the comforting friendship, of there being for them in the Monumental City only one stopping place-his residence. The longer and more frequent the visits of those near to him the greater was he pleased, and he thoroughly recognized that towards him all relatives bore a reciprocal feeling. With such an “open sesame " the writer was no small boy when first aware that hotels were needed in cities, especially Baltimore-believing that all visitors thereto enjoyed similar favorable privileges-and now looks back with surprise at the freedom, second not even to possession, always extended and realized by that delightful fireside.

Although uncle's Christmas visit to Delaware was by rail and usually hurried, those in the spring and autumn were more deliberate and made invariably with his private team— a necessity for the greatest comfort in calling on those of his

direct line and a few congenial friends scattered over considerable territory. His horses, a source of great pride, were of high order, becoming wherever seen objects of comment and admiration; his carriage, a Brewster or Rogers, was commodious, attractive and easy, far excelling the prevailing styles of that community, and his driver, of the colonial colored type, now sadly almost extinct, was trusted and tried, having served the family far beyond a generation. As a rule uncle was accompanied by his wife, and sometimes his very congenial mother-in-law, making a companionship of three or four extremely happy souls. The route was either by Chester River to Rolph's Wharf, or by Choptank and Tred Avon Rivers to Easton or Oxford, thence driving the twenty or thirty miles to their destination. So long as his parents lived their home was his headquarters, and to them the coming was always a joyful event, as, indeed, it was to the entire family circle. Reunion dinners were given every day either at the paternal abode or those of his brothers' and sisters', and abundant good cheer pervaded every one's nature until the parting farewell was given. The younger generation-nieces and nephews— was not slow in catching the pleasure contagion incident to these occasions, for they meant a substantial remembrance in some form or another and contributed much delight to an otherwise dull and monotonous rural life. After the death of his parents (1874) these visits were continued just the same, restricted, however to brothers and sisters, and a cousin bearing his father's name, for whom he entertained the strongest affection.

It was during his autumn visit of 1871, when spending a night or two with my parents that in my presence he inquired of mother (his sister) concerning the progress I was making at school and contemplated educational plans. He expressed himself earnestly in favor of college training, enumerated many potent reasons therefor, and related a number of school-boy experiences, for which he possessed an unusually retentive memory, and I an appreciative as well as receptive mind. One of these at least deserves preservation, as it not only concerns several public characters, but reveals some extraordinary realizations-the kind that served then to have a decided influence for good upon a callow youth just beginning to see the light:

"In the summer of 1845 I returned home from Delaware College complaining with a pain in my side, which the doctor pronounced the result of liver complication, but readily amenable to treatment. Father, however, concluded that a trip might do more good than medicine, and quickly arranged for me a visit to his cousins, John, Thomas and George Reynolds -three brothers living at Jefferson, Pennsylvania. My old teacher in Smyrna, Mr. Morgan, for whom I had unbounded respect and admiration, had moved to Clarksburg, West Virginia, and I determined it would be opportune to look in upor him en route. I left home early one morning by stage for Smyrna Landing, thence by boat to New Castle, by train to Frenchtown, by steamer and train to Baltimore, reaching the latter point, President Street Station, at 8 o'ck, P. M. Mother advised me to patronize always the best hotels, so Barnum's was selected for the night. Next morning I continued my journey, purchasing a ticket to Paw Paw, a station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and in course reached Martinsburg for dinner-this being announced by a waiter beating vigorously a large triangle. Upon arrival at Paw Paw I took the Paw Paw and Parkersburg stage-line to Clarksburg, some ninety miles east of Parkersburg, where I remained a week, seeing much of my former teacher and riding around the various mountains on horseback-trailing chiefly along partly overgrown footpaths, there being no roads for vehicles save the Parkersburg pike. One day I strayed to Beverly, a distance of fifty miles, stopping often at the little farm houses along the way to talk with the occupants, who, as a rule inclined at first to be unfriendly. But as our conversation progressed, and I announced myself a stranger to that section, a resident of Delaware, their attitude quickly changed, since they all were descendants of Revolutionary soldiers of the Delaware line their ancestors having taken that land, a contribution by the State of Virginia, as a pension. None, however, seemed to know from what part of Delaware they came originally. After this delightful rest I proceeded to Geneva, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where I spent a Sabbath, putting up at a hotel kept by Mr. Everhardt. This was a Dutch town, but in conversation with the proprietor soon learned that he was from Delaware, as were the Davenports, who