Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-12-17
" UyDER THE POPLAR.
Chapel EziII UaIveFJiiy. North
Carolina.

From the Raleigh SeaiInell
CHAPEL HILL, November u, 1855.
AeS8rs. Editors: Dating a letter Il
you from spot so veil and widely
known ss this, DO indeed trust to srres
the attention and arouse the sympathy
aud interest of those who know it best
{ and TO concentrate their thoughts for 9
( lew moments on the present condition o.
what was once our fountsin-hesd o.
learning and cultuTe-a fouutsin-hea
now, alas choked and dry.
7 stand under the old poplar in The
the University grounds where tradition
says the early founders of the institution
halted iD their sssrch through the chill
u1try" for q suitable location for the
bui dings, and sitting down around its
giaut b0le, and u1der lis shadow with
great delight decided that these groves
should be chosen, and here they would
buud. Be this legend true or not, 1t is
one pleasant to believe, and which the
old dwelleFs On the Hi have always
cherished. For seVenty-Ave geaFs this
old poplar has stood pre-eminent among
these surrounding forest veterans = has
heard the tuueful College bell ring out
the hours of each day, ana watched the
students and Professors as they passed
TO and from the various halls and lecture
rooms, has been one of the boundaries
OF the annual commencement day pro-
cesslon has listened 90 Tue drunis and
cisri0nets o! the band, and spread be-
nignsnt shade over the gay throngs that
wandered through the campus or pressed
intO the Chapel in those glorious cid
June dsys
The old tree still stands gus-3 bat
over gronnCs that are now empty aud
forlorn. The dry grass rustlss TO my SOL
itEry footsteps, and q rabbit darts out
from yondsI tangled aud dying rosebush.
look around ana sss nothing to disturb
the profound and melancholy stiffness.
a negro girl in pink fr0ck is leaning on
the College well IN front OF the South
building, and few Of the negro soldiers
who now have possession here, are pass
log in the distance towards the village.
The SUI shines down on the old East and
West, the Library halis, the Recitation
rooms; but the doors are all 0i0sSd, the
gEayel walks are Tain-wsshed and grass
gNESa. the place is haunted. Strong
and inefficeabie memories rush unbid-
den, and Iay eyes are dimmsd as 1 gszs
on this Mote sitting thgs GiserOwned
and childless?
Is this our University? Do bsheld !
her now in dsath3
:" Ere yet delays enaeing fingers
Have swept he lines where beauty unger5" |
Is she to lie thus in the dust with no |
hand stretched out to offsr aid, |
no voice even raised in her bshalf save |
the vain lamentations of those who yet |
linger around her remains2
Chapel Hill is the Deserted Villsge of /
the South. Nearly twenty of the best |
In the place are leaving, and
their houses are standing untenanted
and desoiate.
The business OF the village is at q
stand-stili, while am told that no fewer
han six places have been lately estab-
isbed, where liquor is openly sold. Some
IF our citiSens are even now on their
way to California Some are in l.Ouisi-
sns. OF those whose names have been
public property for years, Judge Battle is
his household goods from his
beautiful home, dear to him for twenty
i've yssrs, to begin lie afresh and leave
behind him the graves of his children.
Prof. Martin is In Tennessee. Prof. Hep
Jurn Is Ia Ohio. DR.. Hubbard is in New
York. Prof. Smith is In LincolntoD.
Prof. Fetter ia preparing to move to
Prof. Phillips alone has not
yet decided on his new home. These all
cave the houses they have built, the
rees they have planted, the flowers they
lave tended, ths cradles OF their chill
iren, the graves of their dead. Gov.
swain was more favored ia that he fell
70 sleep in good time, and rests quietly
lndsr the cedsrs over ynnder.
Such disruption, such an exodus,
ls"e never known anywhere. The air
5 full OF fsrewells-
nos pstrise fnis, ct dulels lpquimus arva
sos patrialn tuzimus;
en- quo dire 1rdia Gives
'srduxll Iniseros! en- qneis con2eyimus agros.n
write with the hope 10 touch the
leaTts and wsken the energies OF those
Fho knew and professed to love Chapel
4ill, in the day OF her prosperity. Gan
lothing be done to reiGstats her pride of
lace, to rally around her once moFe the
hsetions Of the people Of North Caro-
lns? ONE OF THE ExILEs.