The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-10-01

nized its own voice
CHAPEL HILL, n CA correspon, II
of the Boston Post gives some interesting
"reminiscences of this renowned and clas-
sic retreat.
Chapel Hill has been the scat Of the Uni
verSity of North Carolina, since its iOunda-
ton i'll 1877. Many Of the, most prominent
men Of the nation were educated here. One
year ago the "Cniycrsity" rcckoned among
her graduates, the President of the Uuted
| States, James X. Polk, the Secretary of
1 the Navy, John Y. Mason, the Minister TO
France. William r.. King, the Minister TO
Spain, Romulus NJ. Saunders. the Minister
to Portugal, Abiam Rcncher, and the
Charge 10 Naples. William II. Polk. Here
also the Hon. Thomas Hart Benton studied
mathematics and the classics for two or
three years, but believe did not graduate
here.
One Of the present professors 81 the col
lcge was claSs-mate and graduated vilh
Mr.. President Polk in 1918. He gave me
some anecdotal "reminiscences Of their col
lege days, that 20 10 show that as in most
) cases, the foundation OF future greatness is
laid in youth. lie says Mr.. Poll; was the
} most systematic, orderly and regular. and
: at the same time the most studiolle Of any in
: the class. Though there were two or three
who were thought TO be his superior in
ability, yet when he came TO speak on a
question ordebate, he almost always made
the question 90 his way. As logical and
efficient debater, and as n constant and per.
Scvering student, he had few or no equals
, Those same lessons. and that practice be.
gan in college, helped to make him RnC
give the reputation Of being "tlie best stumI
Spcakerin Tennessee" and paved the way
10 his being governor Of tlrat state. and at
terwaSdS speaker of the house Of represen
tativeS and president Of the United States
T The professor related an incident that oc
= Cured during their college days, that he ha
often thought Of since. One day, one o
i thcBoard Of Visitors of the college, gentle
, man advanced in life. was addressing thei
Il class-then the ''Junior''-and cncouragir.
them TO perSevere and aim high, "lor," sale
he, ''you are destined to be our futut
y statesmen, judges, senators, and pcrhap,
some Of YOU president OF the United States
There sat "Shocco JcncS," the Great fnan
cier y one or two who afterwards becam,
distinguished divincs; one or tso who ar,
now eminent lawyers, and there. too, Sa
s JAMES X. Polk, perhaps with weil-thumb,
: cd copy Of Virgil in his hands. Nv imgor
mant says the boys turned, looked at one
n another. and several punched their neigh
o borS with their elbows, as much as to say
n 81 think you must be that future prcsi
. dent"
Let us 20 in Imagination 70 the "slashc
Of Hanover" in the Old Dominion. Then
4 were born in the year I'm two boys; semi
: thirty years passed. and about the Sant
j. time they married. From that time the.
Il paths lay in different directions: ore nlCy
Cd 20 Kentucky, where he has ever since
:. rcSidcd-,hc other came TO Noltl Carolina
4 Henry Clay, by his practice al the bar, an,
n in the stale legislature, ard in congress, ha
: carved ont for himself name and q fam,
q that has gone 70 the remote corners Of th
i earth. Duncan Cameron, also Il lawyer
+. had all extensive practcc---waS appointc
j Judge Of the supreme court. president 9th
l.. state bank of North Carolina, and is now
millionaire.
c $50 the various turns Of fortune ponder
: understood that the Kentucky states
# man. in a conversation with the bank pre-
q sidcn.. told him that he regretted he la
n not taken a course similar 20 hi,. rs j
# that case it would now be much better 10
V his family.
q That rare political genius, the late Robci
If c. Sands, ofNcw York, speaks ofthc gate
n ofdeath as the :catcS that ope not back.
i We cannot return and live our lives owe
II again. but have to be content with the pr,
o sent, and look into the dim ard misty fl
- hrc.