ELISHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 3 



a school at or near Greensboro, where he lived, and largely under 

 his instruction young Kerr was ])repared to enter the Univer- 

 sity — which lie did in 1847, as a sophomore. He was gradu- 

 ated in 1850, taking highest honors in his class. 



I cannot dwell long upon Professor Kerr^s University life, 

 though, in some respects, no part of his career is more deserv- 

 ing of consideration. It does not apj)car that he exhibited at 

 this time any special tendencies in the direction of his later })ro- 

 fessional work, but we must remember that in 1847, chemistry, 

 geology and natural history were all taught from text-books, in 

 the class-room, by one man, who })erforme{l other duties besides. 

 There was then no brino;ino; the student face to face with nature; 

 no inducement, no opportunity for original investigation by the 

 student; no awakening of interest in such work. But in gen- 

 eral scholarship in the University and in the debates of his 

 literary society he was without a superior among his classmates. 

 He was a hard-working, careful student, full of energy and 

 ambition, and always ready with speech and pen. 



His University life was not, however, in every respect a pleas- 

 ant one. It was a struggle against poverty, and he was proud 

 and sensitive. Here again, however, the necessary aid was at 

 hand ; the University made no charge for his tuition, and the 

 Dialectic Society, of which he was a member, made him its 

 beneficiary, and paid all necessary living expenses during his 

 connection with the institution. Some years after graduation 

 he returned to the University and brou^rht his wife with him, 

 and showing her the places familiar to him as a student, he took 

 her to a certain spot on a street in Chapel Plill, and told her how 

 once Dr. Mitchell (then the Bursar) approached him there and 

 reminded him of some small payment due the University. '^The 

 Doctor went on,'' he said, "and there I stood, and where under 

 all God's skv I could raise five dollars I did not know. The 

 agony and humiliation were too great, and T resolved to quit 

 college and give up all hope of an education." 



Fortunately for us, and for himself, he did not go, but such 

 an experience he never forgot. To help other people in like 



