Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-12-18
Correspondence of the Raleigh Sentinel.
Under the Poplar.
CHAPEL HILL, Nov. rs, ]

MEsSRs. EDITORS dating q letter tC
you from spot SO well and widely known
as this, do indeed trust to arrest the at
| tention and arouse the sympathy and in
terest of those who know it best, and tC
concentrate their thoughts for few mo
ments on the present condition of what was
once our fountain-head Of learning and cul
ture,-a fountain head, now, alas ! choked
and dry.
L stand under the old Poplar in the Uni
versity grounds, where tradition says the
early founders OF the Institution halted in
| their search through the chill country
for @ suitable location for the buildings,
and, sitting around its giant boie, aud un-
der its shadow, with great delight, decide
that these groves should be chosen, and
here they would build. Be this legend true
or not, it is one pleasant to believe, and
which the old dUellers Oh the Hill have al
ways cherished. For seyenty-tiVe years
this old Poplar has stood pre-eminent
among these surrounding forest veterans;
has heard the tuneful College bell ring
out the hours of each day and watched the
students and Professors as they passed to
and from tue various halls aud lecture
rooms; has been one OF the boundaries Of
the annual CONNER cement day procession
| has listened to the drums and ciarionets of
the Band, and spread benignant shade
over the gay throngs that wandered through
the campus or pressed into the Chapel in
! those glorious old June days.
The old tree still stands guard, but over
grounds that are now empty and forlorn. -
The dry grass rustles t. my solitary foot
steps, and q rabbit starts out from yonder
tangled and dying rosebusl. [ look around
and see nothing to disturb the profound
and melancholy stiffness. y negro girl in
| pink frock is leaning on the College well
in front Of the South building, and d few
of the negro soldiers, Who row have posses
sion here, are passingin the distance to-
wards the village. Yae sl,u shines down
on the old East and West, the Library
halls, the Recitation rooms; but the doors
are all closed--the gravel walks are rain
washed and grass-groWn. The place is
haunted.
Strong and ine1faceable memories rush
unbidden-and my eyes are dimmed as
gaze on this Niobe sitting thus discrowned
and childless.
Is this our University? Do l behold her
now in death?
g Ere yet decays effacing fingers
Have swept the lines where beauty Hngers."
Is she to lie thus in the dust with no
friendly band stretched out to offer aid, no
voice even raised in her behalf, save the
vain lamentations of those who yet linger
around her remains.
Chapel Hill is the Deserted Village Of
the South. Nearly twenty of the best fam-
lies In the place are leaving and their
houses are standing untenanted and desc
late.
The business of the village is at stand
still, while am told that no fewer than six
places have been established, where liquor
is openly sold. Some of our citizens are
even now on their way to California. Some
are in Louisiana. OF those whose names
have been public property for years-Judge
Battle is removing his household goods
from his beautiful home-dear to him for
25 years-to begin life afresh and leave
behind him the graves of his children
Prof. Hepburn is in Ohio. Prof Martin
is in Tennessee. DIR. Hubbard is in New
York Prof Smith is in Lincelnton. Prof
Fetter is preparing to move to Henderson.
Prof. Phillips alone has not yet decided on
his new home. These all leave the houses
they have built, the trees they have
planted-the flowers they have tended-the
cradles of their children-the graves of
their dead. Gov Swain was more favored
in that he fell on sleep in good time, and
rests quietly under the eedars over yonder
Such disruption-such an exodus, I
have never known anywhere. The air is
full of farewells-
:" Nos patrie fines, ct dulcs inquimus srva,
Nos patrianl fugimus; ;"
= en- quo dincordia Gives
Perduxit miseros! en- queis consevimus agros ~
write with the hope to touch the hearts,
and waken the energies. of those gbo knew
and professed to love Chapel Hill, in the
day of her prosperity. Can nothing be
done to reinstate her pride of place-to
rally around her once more the affections
Of the people of North Carolina
One OF THE ExILEs.