Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-06-04

understanding of each other. I have heard
old Chapel Hill graduates in the far West
speak with delight and gratitude of these
evenings with their Professors.
as THE CAMPUS. .sa -s
Walling in the college campus with stone
and identifying the grounds with shrub
berry and flowers, was another improve
ment due to Gov. Swain For this Dur-
pose he had regular bred gardeners en-
ployed at a small salary. The last who
held this Office was al Enelislman named
Paxton, q relative OF The Duke of Devon
shire's famous gardener. Sir Joseph Pax
ton, who was knighted by Prince Albert
at the first Crystal Palace Exhibition in
1851. [ believe the idea of glass build
ing originated with him. Our Paxton un-
derstood his business well. Everything
that he put in the ground grew aud flour
ished forthwith
THE NEW BUILDINGS.
The University funds being managed
with economy and prudence, i'll the
course of time its resources enabled it to
add to the old buildings, ard to build
new. The first Improvement was the
converting OF Person fall, or 1.-The old
Chapel as it was long called into Reeita-
ton Halls, and having the new Chapel"
(Girard HalD which had long remained
half finished, completed and fitted up for
College exercises. DIR. Caldwell's idea had
been. that the main street of the village
being continuation of the Raleigh road,
ought to run South of the College build
ings, and accordingly when Girard Hall
was put up, the front of it was turned
toward what after all, evidently became
the background of the building. And so
it has remained, "hind e-before, ever
since. 1t has always been a dreary institu-
tion,-the homeliest of all College Chapels,
and even on Commencement days, when
lit up and graced with all that the State
could show of Beauty, Brains and Blood,
It was still incapable Of a single good effect.
The next change was the lengthening of
;he old East and West buildings by extern
1--WE additions, removing the Library rooms
If the DI and Phi Societies, which were in
he third story OF the South to more COM
nodious and handsome quarters in the
new extensions, Though still in the third
'tories.)
THE FIRST DI. PRESIDENT.
This was done in 1849 and On occasion Of
the new Halls, the venerable
md Hon. James Mebane, Of Orange, who
lad been first President of the Dialectic
Society at It's organization in 1895. came,
Ii Alo O4i cSO, w PLScttAO ODOC ALio1C ofVl
he Dis, and give dignity and fresh inter
est to the occasion. His portrait was paint
"a soon after by request of the Society,
md now adorns third Di. Hall far hand
omer than either OF its predecessors.
SMITH HALL.
In 1852 Smith Hall was completed. This
elegant building was intended for the Uni
7ersity Library room, but as it has turned
,ut, was never used for any other purpose
han a ball room. And, in fact, it has
always gone by the name of "the ball
'oom," greatly to the disgust of those who ;
deemed it very little 10 the credit of it
Carolinians that in these latter days they,
who hive always been charged ofspending
money, should spend 500, 600 on a ball
'o0na. [ have never seen a book on its am
Die shelves, though [ believe the Uni. Lii
orary was placed there for short time
But it being so often thrown open to the
public for quite other than literary pur
poses, made it an insecure asylum for
books, and these venerable inmates were
accordingly remanded to their accustomed
hiding place. It used to DO said facetiously
hat Gov. SWANS idea of library was to
>ut it in the garnet, since all the Libraries,
belonging to the College in his day, have,
invariably been slowed i'll some third or
ourth story. In case Of FIRE, it would be
impossible to save them.