Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-05-14
From the Raleigh Sentinel
Pan and Ink sketches of the University
Of North Carolina. as it has Been.
,,,,r1c, rpD no THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE AND
To THE ALUMNI OF THE UNIVERSITY.
-
NO, -.
cu.prr. HILL IN DIR. CALDwEIL's TIME.

lono before mis- election to the Presidency,
he had married Miss Susan Rowan, who
with their only child, daughter, died in
three years time. The place of their burial
is unknown. The village graveyard was
probably not laid out at that time. His
second wife was Mrs. Helen Hooper
widow of VIM. Hooper, Esq.-who had
come to Chapel Hill, as many another
widow has done since, to educate her sons.
The Rev DIR. Hooper, of Wilson, the Mes
tor of n. G. Hterdti is now sole survivor Of
that family. Mrs Caldwell was daugh-
ter of James Hogg, CT Hillsboro', and was
horn in Scotland, her father emigrating
to this country soon after she was grown.
She was remarkable woman highly cul-
tivatpd and possessed of wit and readi-
ness of repartee which made her the life OF
society. Her sister, Mrs. Robina Nor
wood. wife of Judge Norwood, of Hills
horo', resembled her in sprightliness and
equalIed her in cultivation. but was per-
haps less unsparing in her wit, sand of a
softer disposition. Both these ladies re-
famed even in old age, a vivacity and
freshness Of mind peculiar to the Scotch
nation.
Mrs. Caldwell of course gave the tone to
society at the University. She was a
woman to take the lead and keep it, and
have thought that perhaps good deal OF
the exclusiveress that characterized it for
years even after she had ceased to preside
there, was due to her old world birth and
breeding, where the distinction Of classes
in society is more marked than in this
country. However, sixty years or more
ago, there was a marked aristocracy of
feeling which does not now eXist-or at
least is not so noticeable. No one can read
the records of Washington's private life
without being fully convinced that he and
Mrs. Washington had very high notions of
The prerogatives of the upper classes,
and maintained state and formality which
would not now be endured.
Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz was p distin-
guished ornament of Chapel Hill IN those
early days Her grace, and beauty and
refinement would have distinguished her
in any circle Prof. Hentz was a native of
France and very accomplished mar. He was
an amateur Entomologist, and my earliest
recollections are of certain glass cases in
his house filled with bugs and butterflies,
impaled on pins. They both drew in wa
ter colors, very rare accomplishment In
North Carolina back woods fifty years ago.
The first and for many years, the only
lightning rod in Chapel Hill was put up
on their house, IN consequence OF some
extraordinary electrical display on their
parlor floor duringa severe thunder storm.
have suffered from an attack of the same
home sickness, that all experience who
have left the place. Mrs. Hentz's first
novel" Lovel's Folly" contained half
dozen Chapel Hill portraits, among them,
easily recognizable, were those of NOOena-
re. and Venus, Dr. Caldwell's carriage
driver and house servant. " DR.. NOUenber"
IS stu living at Chapel Hill in a green old
age. having survived much and seen many
and sad changes As remarkablea woman as
any, in her own sphere, was Mrs. Eliza
beth Num-, who for many years kept the
principal boarding house for students, and
kept il so we'll as to quite supersede the
Stewards Hall, where DIR. Hoopers fifty
wears since" tells us the fare was seconds
lUheat-bread and butter and coffee for
breakfast, middling, and collards and corn
bread for dinner, and milk. Mrs. Num-
did better than that. Her house was the
only stopping place for travellers, and she
was an energetic and indefatigable house
keeper and kind neighbOr. She lived to
= great age, having seen the sons and
grandsons of those who had boarded with
her come to College when her sceptre
had passed into the hands of Miss Nancy
dillyard. Her husband was captain IL
the Revolutionary army, and fifty years
after his death she spoke of him with
tears. Gov. Swain asked her once which
of the parties she belonged to in the war
of the Regulation. why, to the Regu
iat0rs to be sure" she replied, land as
good Wing Us ever hoped.
The Commencement Ball sometimes took
place al the "big-room" at her house, and
sometimes in the old Chapel-Gerard Hall,
where Dr. Caldwell himself danced in
pumps and knee breaches. / stood by her
death bed in December, 1851. Though her
iTNo0
DRY of the old days was still fresh. She
said that when the old South Building was
completed Chapel Hill fired ''its first and
last cannon" in celebration of the event.
If she could have lived till now she would
hardly have said its last cannon if she had
seen the long trains of artillery belonging
to two hostile armies laundering along it's
quiet streets.
THE FACULTY, FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Chapel Hill, like the State of North
Carolina herself, has always been in the
habit of contributing some of her best cltl-
zens to adorn other communities Profs.
Andrews and Olmstead of Yale, left Chapel
Hill some fifty years ago. Some OF those
who were Tutors in those early days be-
came distinguished citizens of other States.
among them were Bishop Otey, of Ten
neSsee, the Rev. Thompson Bird, of Iowa,
and the Hon. Jacob Thompson, of MISS
sippi. Mr.. Otey married a Chapel Hill young
lady, and "Otey's Retreat" on the College
buildings, where tradition says he was in
the habit OF resorting, book in hand to
mediate other charms than those of the
printed page, is this spring yet fragrant
with glories of yellow iessamine and wood
bine, and laurel of fifty years ago. The
bend in the stream is still there, and the
fall over the rocks murmurs the same mel
ody as its flows on to join the trimming
river.
For men may come, and men may go
But flow on forever"
DR. MITCHELL.
But of all who came to Chapel Hill sixty
years ago, no man made a more lasting
impression on the University and on the
people Of the State, or gained q higher
place in their affection and reverence than
the graduate of Yale College, who came
here III 1918, to fill the chair of Mathema-
tics. which he afterwards vacated for that
of Chemistry, Geology and Mineralogy-
He remained there TIL his death in 1857,
and yhar1 he died he was avorU