Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-11-16
A Visit to the Celestial City.


hands. Knowing it was impossible TO end that
s'yast wilderness and boundsss coutiguity
of shade " 80 longed for by the poet, Cooper,
\ in one of his moods Of WEAKNESS with civ
ilization, within at least several miles of the
confines of our rapidly spreading city, we
paused TO think Of some smaller woodland
spot, not beyond the reach Of an hour or
two's pedestrianism. Our lazy fancy hover
ing in its choice over several such easily
accessible groves, as pictured in long ago
memories selected point beyond Major
Hannum's former residence, as the most
inviting haunt for quiet hours musing. 1t
had been several years since our hunters
step had led us there, in pursuit of the SPUR
rel and other game, and we remembered that
belt of fine old forest trees, at that day,
extended from near the lower Red River
bridge, several miles along the wanderings
of that stream, and reaching back from its
banks even TO this side of Major Hannum's,
at that point and others, distance Of near
one-half mile perhaps. So we sauntered
thithsrward, in the hope of reclining, be-
meath some well remembered tree, associated
with the days agone, and INDUCING in those
memories Of the "long ago." that are
pleasant, yet mournful to the SOUL" To
Our surprise, though it should not have been
boI ira ranacfa1 ha
rapid spread of the new gospel, we saw,
upon reaching Major Hannum's old resi-
dence, instead of the woods we had longed
to revisit, a wide expanse of cultivated fields'
stretching out long way toward the river
Deserving skirt Of woodland beyond, we
still INDUCED the hope Of walk under
trees associated with carly memories, and
proceeded along little footpath, through
these fields, until we reached the leafy scene
beyond, which had attracted us. Alas, it
proved like the mirage of Eastern travel
for the woods were beyond the river Dis
appointed of our longing to escape from civ
ilization, we ut once determined to note its
progress, as shown every where in the
astounding changes all about us. In this
spirit we slowly retraced our steps. In place
Of the once beautiful and majestic old forest
were now innumerable little patches of corn
and tobacco, pumpkins, cabbages, &C., be-
longing to as many different culJvators, we
suppose. Though the landscape had lost its
native charm of tree top, tipped with the
golden glOries Of the evening sun, and deep
cool shadows below, yet it gained new and
deeper interest in its present suggestiveness
of the progress Of Humanity. 1t spoke elo.
quently of new and Surprising change in
the old, slow, barbarous and Christian ideas
of human advancement, and like the sad
story of the Indians, called to mind the
speedily coming extinction of the ancient
whit, owners of the soil, and their silly
ideas and CUSTOMS before the march of the
African, and his superior intellectually. a Il
these broad acres before me had once be-
longed to the white man, but like the poor
Indian before him, he had been dispossessed
of them without pay, by the strong arm of a
superior race. At the once residence OF
Major Hannum, we most deierentially en-
CURED, of one OF this mighty tribe, as to
who was its present occupant. Our surprise
was great to learn that il was tenanted by a
white man, aud that he was moreover
teacher among these higher orders OF hui
manity This place is the outpost OF the
Celestial City, and from it begins II street,
| that runs through the center OF the hetrop-
oils. Along the thoroughtare, we wended
our leisure steps, pausing ever and anon, to-
note the wonderful evidences of 'lofter
civilization than we had ever before had the
good fortune TO see. We have not space to
speak of these in detail and indeed could
not select for mention any one evidence of
the fine arts, out of the raatchless architec-
tural splendors, that everywhere greeted our
eye. Perhaps We might note, for other
reasons than its architectural beauty, the
University of the Celestial City. These
reasons are, that as we passed it by, we wit
messed most touching and empowering
scene-unutterably affecting, and showing
the tenderness of the noble African to an
inferior people, who are about to disappear
before him. The teachers of this College are
all white persons, one male and three wo-
men. As the sable scholars were dismissed
, al tllS ltuluto puSocu W tHo uihiS tc'icutl
and kissed him on the cheek, whilst the
! Bucks, both embraced and chung with low
INCEST lips to the female tutors. From one
of the pupils whom we knew, we learned
that this was a daily custom. Was not this
enough to transiix us The white race can,
! not show, in all their history, such an in.
stance of condescenson, as this of the heav.
emily sous and daughters of the Celestial
, CITY. We have known the white race tC
: kiss dogs to whom they were attached, but
we submit that the condescension Of such Il
p their canine friends is infinitely less than tina
, which the Africans showed to these white
dependents upon their bounty, In this con
S nectou We may add a rumor, that one of til,
: lairest OF these female pupils has taken pit,
upon her teacher, and thinks of blessing hin
with her heart and hand. This will be
} pretty rendering Of the fine old comedy
II She stoops TO conquer" Musing upon tn.
% beautiful picture, we wandered on, with al
70 ina,tenuve gaze, upon the magnificent StruC
lures that arose ON each side of our walk
+! until it fell upon group of white persons
I'd seated about the door of an uncommoul
superb mansion. On inquiry We found thi
, was the residence Of the minister and hi
. family. II our admiration Of the negro
oS condesoension in the kissing scene was grea
e. it was almost boundless upon discerning thu
n they bad white preacher! One too, whol
so they allowed 10 live amongst them, and pei
~ mitted their wives and daughters TO visit
q After this we were not surprised to hear til,
BY in the tenderness of thoii hearts, the
If noble beings, humored his yhim OF suppesiu
that lac was " Monarch Of all he surveyed
20 aud purchased from him in fee simple Il
Or lands which they occupied, But we ha'
ed not room 10 speak OF other interesting te