Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-06-18
From the Raleigh Sentinel
Pen and INK Sketches of the Universi-
ty Of North Carolina. as it Has Been.
To THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE. AND
To THE ALUMNI OF THE UNIVERSITY.
NO. II.
STEWARDS HALL.

STEWARDS HALL.
On the lawn stretching east Immediately
in front of Smith Hall, once stood the
Stewards Hall, an institution more honor
ed in its discontinuance than in it's observ-
ance. A Stewards Hall invariably degen-
crates into an arena for College rowdyism.
1t gave way in Chapel Hill to the force of
public division, and was entirely superced-
ed by private boarding tables, and more
kept at the Eagle Hotel, when Miss Nancy
Hilliard was the hostess. Miss Nancy is
now living at Chapel Hill, but I hope she
will pardon this public notice of her. She
was for many years one of The Institutions of
Chapel Hill, and as such deserves honor
able mention-having the largest number
of permanent boarders and keeping the
best table of any woman in the State. Her
income was many thousands q year, and as
freely as she received, SO freely and gener-
ously she dispensed to all around her. She
was tritle too indulgent to cher boys"
her kind heart too often interfering with
her interests in their behalf. so that she
was often, and is to this day largely looser
by them. Of the hundreds who have sat
at her table, know of some who retain
to Miss Nancy. When any of her especial
pets got into trouble, she would put on
her bonnet, and walk over to Governor
Swain and ''beg" for them. Her occupa-
ton for the present is gone. If all who
have left College in debt to her would
come forward now and pay up, she would
have o handsome independence. Those
who believe that Chapel Hill is to see bet
ter days, hope yet 20 see Miss Nancy again
providing cheerily and handsomely for
$50 boys, and With means again to
assist the poor and needy around her.
THE VILLAGE.
Gov. Swain always declared that Chapel
Hill was coexistent with the University,
and they must sink or swim together. He
growth and prosperity of the one as of the
other.
When he went there Chapel Hill had no
church, but the College Chapel 1T had but
one store one practicing physician whose
saddle bags held all the physic of the
neighborhood no schools no churches !;
no pastor no lawyer. He lived to see
eight or ten fourishing stores two drug
stores four handsome churches besides
the Chapel, each supporting its own pas
tor half dozen schools =; all the learned
professions amply and ably represented
and a population of some 1000 inhabi-
tants, industrious and thriving. In the
half dozen years Immediately preceding
the war, handsome residences had sprung
up all over the town, new streets were
opened, and very general impulse given
to its business.
THE VILLAGERS.
Chapel Hill has always been peculiarly
fortunate in sober, orderly and industri-
GUS population. Its villagers and men of
business have been with very few excep-
tions, since [ have known the place, men
of great respectabiity and worth active
and consistent men of the various churches
and most of them believe members also
of the ancient and venerable society of
Masons. Very few of the village boys
brought up there have ever gone astray or
proved to be other than respectable mem
bers of society. I take great pleasure in
saying these things of a place and people
so deserving of all that can be said in
their praise, and dear to me for many
years.
NO RAILROADS.
The ''Fathers" of Chapel Hill have never
wished it to become too common or un-
clean" They opposed the running of the
North Carolina Railroad any nearer than
University Station or Durham, and would
have thought it q great mistake to locate
Court House at the seat of the University.
It is indeed wide departure from the
sold ways that seeks to make this calm
scholastic retreat place of business for a
county, resort for idlers and roughs. If
such ideas were resisted when the students
were counted by hundreds and the impor-
tance Of the place to the public could be
urged as reason for running railroad to
it, what are we to think of the policy that
makes Chapel Hill q terminus for road
only eight Or ten miles long, when the
University lies prostrate, and the village
with it Is the road to build up the Uni
versity and open the eyes of the public to
the merits of it's present Faculty If, indeed,
the road were to run past at the foot of the
Hill and terminate at Pittsboro', then the
largest wheat growing country in the
State would feel the benefit. and Chapel
Hill with station at miles distance,
might still maintain the dignifed seclusion
betitting the ''dreams of Piadus, and the
Aonion maids"
THE COLLEGE SERVANTS.
While commemorating the surroundings
of the University as they were, it is only
fair to pay deserved tribute to those who
were for many years the "College SER
wants. Hundreds must remember Dave
Barham with respect. For forty years he
was head servant there, being hired by his
owner, Barham, Esq, of Wake
county, from year to year, to the Bursar.
The Faculty placed unlimited confidence
in him. After DIR. Mitchel's death, he
said that in the forty years he had served
under the Doctor he had never received a
sharp word from him. A fact honorable
to both. Dave was quiet, observant and
sententious, and possessed many of the
best traits of "a gentleman. He died in June,
1860. Tom Jones died some years before
him. "Dr." November Caldwell is still
living, now, as he has always been, a re.
spectacle citizen in his sphere-and look
ing on with somewhat curious eye at the
changes around him. Then there were the
fashionable BARRIERS. Dave Moore and C. J.
Burnett-both honest and respectable men
Dave died suddenly in March, 1866, leav-
ing some property and considerable sum
of money in specie, which he, in appre-
hension of visit from General Sherman's Is
army, secreted so we'll that it has never
yet been found. He died in an appoplec.
tic fit and made no sign. Some treasure
seeker may yet light upon poor Dawes
hoard. G. J. Burnett invested his savings
in Oberlin, Ohio, before the war, and soon
after its close moved thither with his fam