Sally of Monticello: Founding Mother the story continues...
89Poor Thomas. The opening of the University of Virginia thisyear, 1825, has been fraught with problems. More than once he quotedRobert Burns about “the best-laid schemes of mice and men.”I insisted on accompanying him today—Tuesday, the 4th ofOctober—for another meeting of the Board of Visitors at theuniversity. Thomas got so overcome with emotions there he couldn’tspeak.Davy Bowles and Burwell Colbert stationed themselves by theentrance, waiting for me to cry out in case Thomas collapsed. I wasbeside the open door of the meeting room, trying to lookinconspicuous and reading quietly. If anyone confronted me, I wouldsay I was Thomas’s medical nurse.Beyond early problems with getting instructors situated, therefollowed a to-do over so many pupils’ lacking preparation foruniversity-level studies. Then there were difficulties about explainingand enforcing rules for student behavior. More recently there’ve beennoisy parties and consumption of liquor in the dormitories.Capping all, today’s meeting would probe new studentdisturbances. A young man had thrown a bottle through a professor’swindow Friday night. Several students had cursed and threatenedteachers.On Saturday night fourteen masked students had caused acommotion and forcibly resisted faculty members who’d tried torestrain them. Since then sixty-five students signed a petition againstthe faculty, prompting two teachers to submit their resignations.Thomas waved off much of that. “They were having fun.” Fewothers regarded the weekend disturbances so generously.The entire student body numbering nearly a hundred gatheredfor today’s expected resolution. Their adherence to a code of honorthat would block testifying against one another slowed the inquiry.Emotions ran high in the meeting room, so I was able to hear most ofthe proceedings.When there finally came a hush from inside, I rose from my seatand peered in. Thomas had risen to break the impasse and wasaddressing the students. Soon, whether from emotion or age or shynessabout speaking to a large audience, he gave up and reseated himself.Not so much sat in his chair as fell into it, as old men did when theirjoints no longer worked well. He looked defeated. I readied to go in,setting my book on a chair.A local attorney, Chapman Johnson, took up where Thomas leftoff. My dear one looked satisfied, nodding and listening intently.Happily, the masked offenders voluntarily confessed their role inSaturday night’s events. Board members consulted the faculty,whereupon three of the young men were expelled and the other elevengiven lesser punishment. One of those expelled I recognized as WilsonCary, a nephew of Martha’s husband, Mr. Randolph.Thomas emerged from the meeting exhausted. He said the twofaculty resignations would not be accepted because the professorswere under contract. Board proceedings for the remainder of the weekwould focus on promulgating realistic rules and disciplinary standards.Though he was relieved over the outcome, he was downheartedthat the community and all Virginia might show disappointment bywithholding popular support.“It’s not that serious,” I assured him, propping him on one sidefor the walk out to our carriage.Burwell and Davy tried to take over supporting him physicallywhen we were outdoors, but Thomas waved them off. “I’m all right.”He wasn’t all right. He was growing deaf and starting to forgetthings. His other health problems haven’t subsided. Martha hasrecently insisted on increasing his daily dose of laudanum.Thomas had a new condition called dysuria, pain and difficultywhile trying to urinate, in addition to his continuing diarrhea. I’ve beenanguishing constantly over his discomforts.To me the most significant occurrence of the day was watchingThomas yield to Mr. Johnson and to seem satisfied in doing so.My living god appeared to be stepping down, making way forthe future generations he has served so magnificently.