Before a large convention of educators in Richmond, Va., Chancellor Hill so accurately, fairly, comprehensively and altruistically presented in a memorable oration the elements in the race problem of the South as to leave nothing to be desired, disarming all hostile criticism and aligning all true men under his leadership.

He

Chancellor Hill was a voluminous writer. During his crowded professional career he found time to make contributions to magazines and literary periodicals. He was a tireless intellectual worker. No one ever saw him idle a moment. slept less than most men. Often his mental powers outran his physical frame, for his body was too weak to support his ponderous mentality. He was methodical to a degree. It is said he so well systematized his work that he never lost or mislaid a paper, never forgot an engagement, never neglected to utilize odd moments. Industry was a passion with him and idleness a disgrace.

Some of his publications attracted widespread attention. Among these may be mentioned his articles on "Wit and Humor," published in the Methodist Review and his "Uncle Tom without a Cabin," in which he illustrated his views of the South's obligations to the negro.

Chancellor Hill was for many years the central figure in the temperance movement. To this reform he devoted his best energies, spending his money and using his pen and voice in aid or advocacy of its principles. Probably he did more than any man to make Georgia a prohibition State. He was staunch and steadfast in pressing his favorite reform when such a course meant unpopularity and defeat. Mrs. W. H. Felton writing to the Atlanta Journal, says: "It was my privilege to listen to his addresses in behalf of prohibition. His noble, calm, placid features were never distorted by heat or anger against the opposition, and yet he pleaded as if pleading for the life of an im

mortal soul before the bar of justice in his loving earnestness for the protection of the home life of the innocent and helpless among us. I cherish profoundest respect and undying esteem for Mr. Hill's great work everywhere for God and humanity."

The crown and culmination of the career of Walter Barnard Hill was what he achieved as Chancellor of the University of Georgia. At the very beginning of his administration, on account of his sane and catholic temper, he reconciled the foes of the institution and reunited its friends. As no other man could have done he carried to the support of the university the two great denominations of the State, the Baptists and the Methodists. As a Methodist he had lived in close contact with Emory College, and in connection with the Baptists had occupied a chair in the law department of Mercer University and so both denominations accredited him.

He reconciled the General Assembly of Georgia to the University. Before his election the State had treated its greatest school with a parsimony scarcely equaled in the history of educational institutions. Says Hon. N. E. Harris: "The few appropriations that had been made to it were secured after almost superhuman efforts on the part of its friends. They were small in amount as if the State were doling out its charity to an ungrateful child, but no sooner had Mr. Hill taken the reins than the entire policy was changed. More money has been received by the institution from the State and from individuals during Mr. Hill's incumbency than in all the pervious years of the university together, if only the appropriations from the United States government are not counted. During Chancellor Hill's administration the university received from the Legislature and from private persons the sum of $308,500, nearly three times what had come into its treasury before his election. Besides he induced the State to grant annually a maintenance fund of $22,500, which no doubt will continue for all time.

Mr. George Foster Peabody, a Georgian residing in New York, donated $50,000 to the university for the erection of the Peabody library. This magnificent donation was tendered because of the warm friendship entertained by Mr. Peabody for Chancellor Hill.

The attractive personality of Dr. Hill doubled the attendance at the university while his stainless character raised the moral tone of the student body.

As an educational statesman the great chancellor brought the university into vital touch with all the leaders of thought throughout the nation. He visited the great universities of all sections; he studied the public school systems of various States with a view to promoting every department of educational work in his own Commonwealth. He took a leading part in the movement for improving rural common schools and extending to localities the power to tax themselves for the support of such schools; he also took a prominent part in the defeat of the unpatriotic suggestion of a division of school funds between the two races in the proportion of the amounts contributed in taxes by each. In fine, he stood forth high above all temptations to partiality or partizanship and gave his rare talent and perseverance to the harmonizing as well as the development of the educational life and work of the State of Georgia.

Chancellor Hill was happily married. His wife, who was Miss Sallie Barker, of Macon, is a first honor graduate of Wesleyan College. She was always a friend and companion to him. in the highest intellectual sense, sharing all his ideals and supplementing his own brilliant mind with her native good sense and well trained powers. Two daughters and two sons survive him.

A life like that of Walter Barnard Hill is a model to all the youth of Georgia. John Temple Graves characterizes him in these words: "Fifty-four years of life have been lived without

a stain along every high and noble line of brave endeavor. Courage and gentleness have typed the union of his convictions with his manner. With gentleness of speech and softness of manner there has ever been a lion's courage in the mind of Walter Hill that sent him swiftly and unfearingly to his brave conclusions upon every theme that touohed his church, his State and his fellow-men. He has not, at any time, followed truckling or time-serving in the wake of public opinion. But, without bravado and without defiance, has followed the ranks simply, resolutely and fearlessly, behind his convictions and followed wherever they led. He furnished to the youth of Georgia an object lesson of the beauty and the integrity and dignity of his pure and honest life."

Mr. Hill was for three years a director of the Southern Education Board, a position he enjoyed because of the close contact it gave with his coworkers in other Southern States. His fight for such an Agricultural College as Georgia needed is a part of the educational history of the State. It was made against opposition and criticism and doubtless shortened his life, but the farmers now know he was their friend.

Hill the man was more than the lawyer, the orator, the author, the educational leader, the reformer, the patriot, the lover of his fellows. The good of any country or time would have recognized him as a child of the highest, brother to humanity, a citizen of the world. Nor could there be a tenderer or truer tribute than that of his successor in office, Chancellor Barrow: "After all has been said that may be said, he did great deeds. because he was great, he did lovely deeds because he was kind, he did good deeds because he was pure in heart and could see God." W. W. LANDRUM.

T

Thomas Jeffer*on Simmons.

HOMAS JEFFERSON SIMMONS practically built hia own life and died the Nestor of the bar in Georgia, hav

ing been for many years the maker and the interpreter of the laws that governed his State. His service in these two relations was rendered with a clearness of vision that went straight to the point of his aim, and a soundness of judgment that commanded the attention of those learned in the law, as well as the average citizen, who honored the justice of its administration and the righteous results of its impartial judgment. His life, though self-wrought, was full of honors, richly deserved and successes, the people were glad to crown with proud acclaim. He belonged to a generation the like of which can never appear again, because the conditions which gave it shape and direction can never be repeated in the life-work of the American people. Out of his early struggles, through strongly opposing conditions, he wrought his later success, true to himself, true to his State and true to the obligations imposed by the confidence and admiration of a long continued constituency, for the exalted positions to which the people elevated him.

This inherent, basic integrity, combined with a clear, strong intellect and untiring devotion to duty, is the explanation of his rise from the service of a farmer's plowboy to the highest judicial position in the gift of the people of the State. It is only under our democratic system of government that such opportunities come, and that such distinctions are possible for an humble life.

Judge Simmons was born at Hickory Grove, Crawford county, June 21, 1837. As there were no public schools at that