A history of the University of South Carolina online

We'll toast the lasses of our hearts, at Billy Maybin's, O !

While our spirits are uprising, our liquors ceaseless flow,
And every man begins to feel "a little how come you so."
The whiskey-punchy feeling and the old convivial glow
Comes unaided o'er us stealing at Billy Maybin's, O !
To fail in love or "flash" in class brings keen heart-rend-
ing woe



344 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY

To those who glory in the name of handsome college beaux,
But the bold frequenters of "the Hole-' don't care for this,

you know,

But sink their woes and drown their cares at Billy May-
bin's, O !

Though we love all wholesoul fellows and approve of drown-
ing cares,

Don't forget still to be moderate and think of morning
prayers,

Lest when the bell is chiming to matins for to go,

You should think 'twas clanking of the plates at Billy
Maybin's, O!

The ladies of Columbia all drinking do forego,

Their tender hearts thus tempting them, an example for to

show;

But still the stubborn fellows, contrary, as you know,
Will never cease to laugh and sing at Billy Maybin's, O !

When the barrel brightly blazes and the tar runs out below,
And gowned fellows dance around on the light fantastic toe,
To all our tenements, alas! the Bugs do quickly go,
And woe to those carousing at Billy Maybin's, O!

Next Monday morning surely old Sheriff comes around,
And you're up before the faculty for going up the town,
"Did you go into an eating house?" "Did you take a drink

or no?"
Oh, yes, sirs ; took a drink or two at Billy Maybin's, O !

And when you and I and Joseph and all our jolly crew,
Come to part with Uncle Billy and bid a long adieu,
We'll hope that time will touch his brow as lightly as the

snow,
And students still may find a home at Billy Maybin's, O !

And when we graduate and each has taken his degree,
We'll drink that we'll ne'er disgrace the title of A. B.,
And when we've left Columbia, while wending homeward

slow,
We'll sigh o'er reminiscences at Billy Maybin's, O!

James R. Chalmers.



OF SOUTH CAROLINA 345

A note in pencil by the owner of the note book contains
the information that "The graduating class of 1852 had the
honor of being the last class who sung the above song before
the Congaree House (kept by Uncle Billy) on the evening
of the 7th Dec. after the class supper. The hotel has been
sold and the name changed since that memorable evening
when we were all gloriously inebriated."

The following lines relating to the rebellion are from the
pen of the same young poet :

"Come, white folks, listen to me, a story I'll relate,
That happened in the valley of the old Carolina State,
At South Carolina College, 'Old FossiP he did say,
That the junior class should go to him on Dr. Thornwell's
day.

Chorus :

"Old Fossil he said go, but it was no use, you know,
The junior class swore at last, be d d if they would go.

"The Juniors then did scrape and stir themselves about,
While Fossil scratched behind his head and gave the lesson

out;

But 'lecture' then they said and again began the row;
But one thousand classes could not make old Fossil lecture

now.

Chorus :

"By my own misfortunes the class has got behind,
And in hearing you upon these days I think I'm very kind ;
But I am not to be fooled with, as the Sophs already found.
I'll hear you on next Thursday though you shuffle the
benches down.

Chorus :

"The Faculty gave them holy day and said they'd give them

more.

They thanked them very kindly and left the College door,
And down the railroad whizzed along with pockets light

and free
To the houses of their dearest dads they hate so much to see."



346 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY

"ODE

"Thus in the dust we lay them down ;

For them we've use no more,
And of our 'doing all up brown'
We are entirely sure.

"No more when sounds the warning bell

To Brumby we'll repair:
These books the reason why can tell
While they are burning there.

"Far, far, we speed from hence away

With hearts as warm and true
As ever yet have seen the day
Or of a College knew.

"Yes ! let their mark upon the ground

Henceforth forever stay,
While Soph and Fresh are passing round
Three times in every day.

"Farewell ! ye scenes of classic love !

Farewell ! Ye ancient walls !
No more we'll see yon dark pine grove
Or hear of Steward's Halls.

"While in the silent dust they lie,

The books that we detest,
We unto all Eternity

From Chemistry shall rest.

"Illume the pile and feed the flame;

High let the fire rise.
Great as is Richard Brumby's shame
Bright as are Pelham's eyes.

"Now to the winds of Heaven be cast

The ashes far and near,
And far from hence may every blast
The hated ashes bear."

H. H. Caldwell

Sung before Professor Brumby's house, while the class
burned their chemistries.



OF SOUTH CAROLINA 347

TO THE JUNIORS OF 1850.

When call'd to bid our friends adieu
Our bosoms swell with sorrow true;
We ask the parting hour to tell
The pangs that tend this sad farewell.

Thrown by the Fates in union here
Our hearts in friendship met;
That tie our spirits held in joy
Nor felt one chill regret.

Time roll'd ; the more our friendship grew
And hope with music's voice
Bade all expect for years that we
In it would still rejoice.

But when your hearts true Southern souls
Felt keen oppression's hand,
They spurn 'd th' unjust, th' ungenerous word
And pledg'd its power to withstand.

And nobly stood despite the power
Unjustly sought to stay ;
The freedom of a freeman's mind
Deaf to a tyrant's sway.

The blow descended; you have felt
What despots only try;
But leaving, you will leave behind
That which should never die.

You leave behind the conscious thought
In ev'ry gen'rous breast,

That though you leave, your course throughout
Can stand severest test.

We part; perhaps our last adieu
Is now forever said;
But mem'ry still will bind us one
Till mind itself be dead.

We stay perhaps to meet what you
So proudly now do spurn;
But we will meet as you have met
Injustice in our turn.



348 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY

No proud Professor's sternness, nor

A dotage rasher still,

Shall curb whilst Southern air we breathe

Our independent Will.

'Tis thus we part : emotions deep
Within our bosoms swell;
For sorrows damp our spirits chill
As we repeat farewell.

James Wood Davidson.

These two stanzas on the "Morning Hour" are from the
pen of James B. Chalmers:

MORNING HOUR.

'Tis morning hour, the sun shines bright,

The dew drops blaze beneath his ray,
The twinkling stars their faded light

Have melted into day.
Then sleep no more but upward bound

However much you long to stay;
The Chapel Bell with tinkling sound

Is calling us to pray.

'Tis morning hour, from room to room

The wakeful fellows grumbling roar
Oh, do get up my sleepy chum,

Ere Jim shall close the door.
Then sleep no more but upward bound

However much you long to stay;
The Chapel Bell with tinkling sound,

Is calling us to pray.



OF SOUTH CAROLINA 349

LETTERS OF A STUDENT OF THE LATE 50'S.

The following extracts are from the letters of Charles
Woodward Hutson, a member of the class of 1860.

2d Feb. 1857.
Columbia, So. Ca.
Dear E

Saturday night I joined the Euphradian Society, and
W M the Clariosophic. The subject on debate in our
society was one very interesting to me, and as I had some-
thing to say on it, I rose to say it ; but words were wanting
and I hesitated and stammered dreadfully at first, but got
through at last. I will not soon again venture extempore
speaking.

LeConte called me up for the second time this morning,
and McCay just now (midday). I have only been called up
to recite three times since I have been here.

Friday night we had a beautiful sight a blackride in
the Campus. There were four or five riders half masked
with their faces blacked, dressed in red flannel coats, with
flaming torches of camphene in their hands. It was a
splendid sight to see them galloping up and down the
Campus, waving their flambeaux; and the students, who
had crowded out, yelling at the top of their lungs. One of
them rode to McCay's house and shook his torch at it. This
morning some four or five were called up before the faculty
to answer as to the part they took in the blackride, and the
serenade (tin pan) of the night before. It is reported that
they confessed to the serenade, but refused to answer as to
the blackride.

This morning we had a college meeting to appoint a com-
mittee to attend the remains of the Hon. Preston S. Brooks
home.

Another meeting was called just at second recitation time
to determine to support the men, if suspended, or to refuse
to answer if the whole College was called up, I don't know
for which purpose ; but for either one or both. As the object
of the meeting was illegal, as well the meeting itself without



350 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY

the authority of the President, I refused to attend, and with
my monitor and a few others of the class went to recitation,
where McCay wool'd us considerably, as the meeting in the
morning had prevented our studying much. A paper was
brought around to be signed after the College meeting, being
of a rebellious purport. T , M and I refused to sign any
paper whatever. The College is now in a pretty fix. If the
President does his duty now, there may be a rebellion ; if he
does not, there will certainly be one before long. I am per-
fectly disgusted at the rowdyism of the few being so per-
mitted and shielded by the many. I have heard a great many
express their regret at the present state of things, which
they say is worse than it ever was before say they know
how much it tends to break down the College, and yet they
yield to custom, attend the College meeting, and then come
away when it is half over in disgust. I have seen ten or
twelve do this. But enough of these disorders; their issue
must come soon.

10th Feb. 1857.
So. Carolina College.
My Dear Mother:

* * * We had a College Meeting this evening to send a
Committee to the President to ask leave, I believe, for the
College to attend in procession the remains of Brooks, which
will come through Columbia tomorrow. That's the latest
news. The Campus is exceedingly quiet now. Nothing
happens of any kind. Last night someone lectured up town
and the students of course got the morning professors to
lecture instead of calling up any one at recitation. The
supposition was, that we would go to hear the lecture, and
have no time to study at night. Do not think this is so
schoolboy a love for holiday, as it seems; for the hard
students are very glad to get it, so as to have spare time to
study for some other recitation.

Wednesday Night. Had another College Meeting this
evening, I hardly know what for some Committee concern
about Brooks. We are to accompany his body in procession
tomorrow from the depot.




GYMNASIUM.




OP SOUTH CAROLINA 351

I am very busy now, was wool'd this morning by Barn-
well and mean to study to make up. And that wasn't the
worst of it, for he called me immediately after recitation to
ask me about my composition on "Lyric Poetry," to which
he paid a very equivocal compliment. He told me that he
wished to find out how original it was, so as to know how
to mark me, as he said, "it showed an older hand, and more
information, than he thought consistent with my years" (per-
haps he means recitations). I did not satisfy him, for I
hardly know what true originality is. We walked together
from the recitation room to Chapel to Evening prayers, and
on the way he asked whose son I was, and when I told him
remarked that we were related, to which I assented, and
there we stopped. I don't like his suspecting me of copying,
for a suspicion it is clearly.

17th Feb. 1807
So. Carolina College.
My Dear Father:

I received your letter of yesterday at about twelve o'clock
today. I wish the mails from Pocotaligo came so quickly.
I am glad to hear you were well enough to attend Court, as
you wished.

I have not acted in the recent difficulties in the College, as
rightly, as you supposed; for on the night of the Blackride
I could not resist the temptation of going out into the
Campus and whooping with the rest. I knew at the time
that it was wrong, but could not, or rather did not control
myself.

I do not find the studies at all difficult, although to make
a good recitation requires rather more study, than I have
been doing of late. I am getting gradually to study a little
harder than at first. Everything here seems to teach extem-
porizing, except the Classics. In the Society it is something
of an evil, for there seems to be rather more extempore speak-
ing, than preparation of any kind. Personalities and
rhetoric occupy a much higher place than sound reasoning.
However I am much pleased with it, although I did not
expect so much of this sort of thing.



352 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY

The new professors seem to be quite the favourites here.
Barnwell "wools" terribly, but he is making his mark. A
lecture which he delivered to the Seniors or Juniors on
Chivalry I heard described by some of them as a splendid
thing, every point being exquisitely analyzed. They seem to
be very much pleased with him. Everyone says that the
Faculty, with only one or two exceptions, is a very able one.
If the President were only less timid, all would be right.
Since those four men were suspended, everything has been
very quiet a little yelling in the Campus and a little firing
off of crackers, but that is all. For instance a tremendous
volley of crackers carried us to the windows just now, but
all is still and quiet now. * * * *

Pelham, who goes the rounds of our Tenement, has just
called to see whether we were in, for the first time, since I
have been here. This was in consequence of the crackers
just fired off.

21st Feb. 1857.
So. Carolina College.
My Dear Mother

Attended last night a supper given by Doby, a Classmate,
and enjoyed myself tolerably. 'Twas an awfully rowdy con-
cern though, and showed most sensibly the want of female
society. We did not stay very long however, but slipped
off at about eleven to our rooms, and to bed.

The President told us this morning, that as tomorrow is
the 22nd, and 'tis customary to celebrate the day after, when
it falls on Sunday, the College exercises would be suspended
'till Tuesday morning. So, as Pelham is still absent, and we
therefore had no recitation this morning, the Fresh Class
has rest today, tomorrow and the day after.

May 2d, 1857
So. Ca. College.
Dear Father :

Received today your 1st, 2d, 3d person letter, and took
five minutes to make it out. About my not writing, the



OP SOUTH CAROLINA 353

fault must lie in the mails, for it seems to me I have written
pretty often. As for study, I can study as hard as any one
else on an emergency ; but it is an extensive bore to be obliged
to study steadily, and on an uncertainty too, whether one
will be called up or no. I will be almost satisfied, if I come
off no worse this term than last. * * *

On Sunday we read the Bible, sit down listlessly or talk
idly, besides going to church twice in the day; but we do
nothing very wrong, and don't even study, as is the fashion
here.

I suppose Charley has told you of all the fusses and con-
fusions we have had here of late. One of these is over, but
quieted in no very proper manner. Three men of the Junior
Class were suspended ; the Juniors threatened to leave, and
the Faculty were weak enough to take them back, and revoke
their sentence.

The other day too, the President tried to break through
the established custom of letting us off from morning recita-
tion, when a professor spoke the night before, and this with-
out officially informing us of his intention to do so. The
consequence was that very few went to recitation the next
morning. This may cause some trouble yet. The fact is,
the Faculty seem to leap hastily into difficulties without
having the slightest idea of the consequences, and are exceed-
ingly irresolute, when those consequences are too big for
them.

Both Charley and I have been a little sickish at different
times this week with bad colds and as a consequence general
bad feelings all over. The weather is very disagreeably half
and half at present.

We are to have an abundance of speechification at May
Celebration next week, and so will have something to talk
about together with the May parties that are to come off
soon.



23-H. U.



354 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY

12th May, 1857.
So. Carolina College.
Dear Mother,

Barnwell stayed here until very late last night talking
over all the College matters. He seems to be disgusted with
the dollars and cents system, which old Me has introduced
here. He said, he thought we were perfectly right in not
going to recitation the other morning, when Reynolds lec-
tured the night before, and based his opinion on the very
ground on which I refused to go, namely, that it was not
officially announced to us that we would have recitation,
when the custom has lately been to the contrary. So, you
see, when I rebel, 'tis with some right on my side, as far as
professional judgment can make a thing right. The truth
is, old Me is the moving cause of whatever happens wrong
in the College. The gas fixtures have been determined on,
and we will soon give up our Burning Fluid lamps. The
same fuss will be made about the gas charges, as about the
wood, speaking, as Barnwell says, "a dollars-and-cents"
spirit among the students, to which he is very much opposed.

Wednesday. Have just received your letter. Last night
we went up to the Congaree House and serenaded Keitt,
who gave us a very fine speech not in the least political, but
relating almost entirely to the College, and full of rich class-
ical allusions. I'm inclined to think 'twas not entirely
extemporaneous. He spoke a good deal against turning the
College into a University. Larey replied, and made one of
the prettiest little speeches I ever heard. We then came
back, and serenaded old Me, who told us, that the Trustees
had forbidden him to give us extra holidays on such occa-
sions. Upon which we marched in front of his house in a
groaning procession, the Music playing a dead march. After-
wards we danced a grand "College reel" in front of the
Chapel, and took exercise if we did nothing else.

We serenaded Barnwell, and called for a speech ; he came
out and told us, as "Homerus aliquando dormitat," 'twas no
wonder common mortals should sometimes he caught nap-



OF SOUTH CAROLINA 355

ping ; we would therefore have to record a flash against him.
Some of the fellows told him very kindly, that we would
take it off.

26th May, 1857.

So. Ca. College.
Dear Mother:

The College is on the eve of a breakup. Some time ago
three men of the Junior Class were suspended on what the
Class deemed insufficient evidence. McCay was so anxious
to prevent the leaving of the Class, that he misrepresented
the opinions of the Committee to the Faculty and withheld
a communication of the Faculty to the Class. The Com-
mittee then acting upon the statements of some of the Pro-
fessors investigated the matter thoroughly, showing through-
out the affair the greatest moderation. They came to the
conclusion that McCay had been guilty of doubledealing.
Me Cay begged them with tears in his eyes to say that they
believed him to have acted with good faith. They refused
to answer, as they wished to spare his feelings, and the
matter then came before the Faculty, being a question of
veracity between McCay and several of the Professors. The
Committee of the Faculty brought in their report before the
Faculty Meeting held this morning, which report one of the
Faculty moved be received. McCay refused to submit the
report to the Faculty, stating that it was false, upon which
the Faculty broke up and the professors turned their backs
on him and walked off. I do not know what will be done, as
we cannot consistently meet McCay as Professor, when the
Faculty refuse to meet him as President. The Professors
have begged us to go on just as usual, although, there being
no legal Faculty, we can break up just when we choose. I
think the students are disposed to be quiet and recite. >Tis
the strangest thing that has happened for a long time, the
rebellion being on the part of the Faculty and not the
students, and indeed the latter acting in a most exemplary
manner throughout. Through the whole affair, which was
very complicated, the Junior Class Committee committed no



356 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY

one error and indeed were very lenient to McCay. I sup-
pose, if the Students agree to cooperate with the Faculty, the
latter will appoint a President pro. tern., as McCay has
refused to act, and matters may go on smoothly. There's
no telling though, what will happen, for the men are tired
and anxious to get home. Of one thing there can be no
doubt. The Trustees may do what they please, but neither
Faculty nor students can stay here, if they sustain McCay,
for he has been convicted of a downright lie.



28th May, 1857.

So. Car. College.
Dear Mother;

The faculty and College are just waiting now for the
action of the Trustees on Mc's case. He has got himself into
a bad box and innumerable are the equivocations, evasions
and falsehoods, which he has practiced to get out of it.
Yesterday he agreed to meet the Faculty, and they drew up
their statement on the one side and he is to draw up his on
the other, and the Trustees are to meet and decide on it.
They will have to choose between the President on the one
hand, and the Faculty & College on the other. Today one of
his most direct falsehoods has just been discovered. He
wrote a note to the Committee of the Junior Class in the
beginning trying to effect a compromise. The committee
refused peremtorily to agree to his terms and returned him
the note. As he intended representing the opinion of the
Committee as favourable to his plan (and he afterwards did
it) in order that their decided refusal should not be known
by the Faculty, he very willingly agreed to say nothing about
it. The Faculty by some means heard of it, and one of the
professors taxed him with this secret note. His reply was :
"See, how they treat me! Upon my word I never wrote a
note to that Committee." He has got out of several lies
already by pleading the treachery of his memory, but unfor-
tunately for him that plea won't serve him in this case, for



OF SOUTH CAROLINA 357

the note was such an important thing, that the Committee
have had frequent occasions to allude to it during their con-
ferences, and he could not easily have forgotten a thing,
which was an awfully false step in his diplomacy. With
all his mathematical clearness and foxlike art in debating
the affair, his side has been such a bad one that in every
interview, which he has had with the Junior Class Com-
mittee, they were always able to turn every analogy he pre-
sented, to serve his case, against him. The College is going
on very regularly now, except of course that very little study
is done, as everybody is loafing all day under the trees, talk-
ing over affairs in general ; and we go to all the recitations,
except McCay's. I hope the board of Trustees will meet
soon, that we may know what to do.

14th Nov. 1857.

So. Car. College.
Dear



Last night we had a fine debate in our Society among some
four or five of our honorary members on the advisability of
turning the College into a University. Davison (or David-
son), the author of the article in the last number of Russell's
Mag. on Edgar A. Poe, made, I think, much the best speech,
though few of his audience would, I suppose, agree with me,
as he is a very diffident man and speaks like one, more accus-
tomed to the pen than the stage. His arguments were very
much the same, as those, which Father used in his piece on
the University idea. A Mr. Goodman, who was in College at
the same time with Prof. Barnwell, and is a great friend of
his, also made a very good speech, only rather long, and
took occasion to pronounce a very high panegyric upon Barn-
well. Dr. Gaston spoke very well on the University side,
but merely, I believe, for the sake of debate.

Barnwell preached a fine sermon this morning from the
same text, which Cousin Bazile took, when he preached up
here during the meeting of Presbytery. It was curious to
compare them, they handled the subject so differently.



358 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY

Cousin Bazile's bore away the palm in purity of style, sim-
plicity of diction and a straight forward Presbyterian way
of getting at the root of the matter. BarnwelPs excelled in