Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-03-30
The Stapoat0.
''Te FOR tie STANDARD.
THE LATE ROBERT A. EZELk


but when it is one who has lived for the good Of his
fellow creatures, and whose life Adorned human na-
lure, it is inexpressibly hneltaAae. A kind and
noble soul has passed away from earth, and "soared
above the lof<y mansions Of the stars" Robert A.
lazell Is no morel On Monday the 3lst Of January,
1859, after lingering and painful Illness he died
Like cpe .h.. DAVIS he a.ps5y Of oh his s couch
To many Of his "children by adoption" scattered
in various portions of the land this sad news will
bring panss Of regret Especially in ne "old North
State1 where he had devoted twenty-five years in
the noble and arduous task If acting the young,
Wilt his death be lamentea Many there, "who at
his feet learned the rdments Of education and from
his lips heard the sweet cadences OF that classic mu-
sic, which led them wiling captives among the green
woods of Ida, and along the fowery banks of the |
Arno" will with bleeding hearts, drop tears Of man.
w sorrow ever the death of one whose loving coun-
sells and parental advice they have often received
1t the sad pleasure Of the writer of this humble
tribute to watch often around his sick bcd-to hear
the "classic music" of Virgil Homer, and those IA
vorite poets whose works he had so often taught |
and which he 50 much loved, with the most conso-
ling passages from Gods own book, pass gently |
from his lips, and to wipe the dews OF death from
his noble brow.
"Hs eyes were closed without cloud; they set
As sets the morning star. which goes not down
Behind the " e: NOR hd msS
Away into the light of Heaven"
Thus calmly passed into the spirit-land one ofthe
most unselhsh, generous, and pure souls ever lent
to mortals on earth for imitation.
Mr.. Ezell was native Of Brunswick county, Va,
received his preparatory education in Warrenton,
N. c., where he afterwards taught, and graduated
at William and Mary College, Virginia. He devo-
ted more than quarter of century to the great
cause of teaching in North Carolina which State he
ever devotedly loved, for there he might point to
some Of the leading men as "his jeaels" About
eighteen months ago he removed to the "lone star
State" almost pioneer in the cause Of sound and
thorough education; where he found many kind
friends and admirers, who now mourn over so great
a loss to society, education and Christianity. Du-
ring his last summer vacation, seeing the need of
proper buildings to sustain the University over
whose destinies he had been called to preside, he
traverscd the whole county under the burning Sun
of an almost tropical climate to solicit subscriptions
for the erection Of a Presidents house. He had the
satisfaction of seeing his labors crowned with sue
cess-of raising in short time $13 900 for his good
cause The building when completed, will be fit
ting monument to his memory, ever keeping fresh
in the hearts Of the people the name of Robert A.
Ezell who generously devoted his lifetime to ed
ucation. He leaves dependent family to mourn
their irreparable loss. But they have the consolng
satisfaction that, leaving them the rich legacy Of
spotless namc his soul has scared into the regions
Of the blessed. How can we better close this
"humble chaplet to his memory" than by extract
ing the following beautiful eulogy on the death Of
Prof Mitchell, delivered at the close of lecture on
education by Mr.. Eel, shortly after his arrival in
Marshall and which sentiments are peculiarly and
beautifully appropriate to himself:
EULOGY.
Yes, gentlemen, disguise the fact as we may put
off the dread thought may attempt to do still
we are, every day, admonished BY the sad realities
<h>k H.
of life we are in DEATH" The grim monster has re-
Gently been busy in high places. He spares no
rank nor condition in life. Pallida mors aequo
Pulsdt pede pauperum tabernas regumgue tmrrea-
The noble-hearted and accomplished Butler. the
philosophic Marcy, the profoundest thinker and alb
lest writer of the age the pious and scholarly
Mitchell and the distinguished and patriotic 2usk,
all men of national reputation have lately been re-
moved from the love- the gratitude and the venera-
ton of the Icing to an association with the kindred
spirits Of our Washington the departed patriarchs
of freedom The few remaing links which connect
this generation with the preceding, with that illus
trous race of statesmen and patriots the founders
of this stupendous fabric of American freedom, are
fast being broken forever They are rapidly fading
away from our sight, like the leaves Of the Moss
Rose, which one by one fall from the stem to be
seen no more upon earth.
1t was my privilege to know slightly all, intimat-
", but one of these eminent men whom their coun-
try now mourns and as am now lecturing on the
subject Of education to which his whole life was de-
voted, it may not perhaps, be considered inappro-
pirate to the occasion, to weave herein an humble
chaplet to his memory. In the yea: 1917 Just forty
years before his DEATH Prof Mitchell was elected a
member Of the Faculty of the University Of North
Carolina For several years he presided in the chair
of Mathematics, and no man. either before or since
ever discharged its duties with more fidelity or abi
ty: He was afterwards, at his own request trans.
ferred from that chair to the professorship of Chem
istry and Mneralogy, branches of science for which
he possessed peculiar fondness and talent and IN
which he made researches and discoveries which
have contributed to give him worldwide rcputa,
ton as scholar. He was an impassioned lover al
knowledge in all its various departments: and it
remarkable fact we'll known to every student o.
the University of North Carolina, that there was ne
chair belonging to the college which he was moi
prepared to fill whenever occasion required Tht
temporary absence of any professor was supplied BY
DR.. Mitchell, who was living, cncyclopedia O
knowledge. He never forgot anything of impor
lance that he learned from books or from men: anG
ne was, perhaps at the time of his death, the bes
geognpher living. There was no place on the fac,
OF the earth, however, insignificant or obscure
whose locality, population, trade commerce, import
or or exports, he could not accurately describe:
wards explored different portions of the easter,
continent, remark that they invariably found tn
places visited even obscure towns to be precisel,
as described by Mitchell and that they never detect
ed in his descriptions the slightest error. He va
remarkable for his accuracy. He seemed devote.
to truth for the sake of truth and spared no amour
labor or time that was necessary to its acquis
ton. Such was his indomi:able thirst for know
edge that he was in the habit of spending the larr
er portion Of his college vacations in excursions int
the Qantain regions Of North Carolina with yiey
OF ma1ng geological investigations for the benefi
OF his classes. During the forty years he has cor
nected with the University of North Carolina b
was almost constantly present at the recitation {
his classes, and derived an inexpressible pleasur
from 'nstructng the young men Of college HI
nature was kindly and affectionate; and he impair
ed knowledge with cheerfalness and spirit He va
fond Of meeting and interchanging civiities Wit
those who had formerly received instruction fro,
his lips, and he ever had pride in their success
after life. He was in the habit Of speaking f.o
aously Of such men as Gov. Morehead, Gov. Gr
ham, Judge Manly and others now growing q.
In the service Of their State, IS his 6a6ies At Il
commencement in June, 1856, recollect to ha,
taken tea at Dr.. Mitchells in company With sever