Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-04-19
RALEIGH, April 18th, 1872

Road to Success, dc. &c.
RALEIGH, April 18th, 1872.
Dcai. .j0u57tuI Monday found us at
Hillsboro'-quiet old town around whose
name cluster SO many tender recOllectlons.
1t used to be the Athens of Carolina, as
famous for the culture of her sons as for
the beauty of her daughters, and in our
day and generation the traditions of the
past are we'll sustained in each particular.
But of all the noble men she has mOurned
whose lives have added circles Of glory
to this favored spot-there are few fmOre
excellent character than him whose l3sS is
now so deeply deplored; We mean the
christian, the scholar, the scientist, and
withal the friend and father OF his flock,
Rev. DR.. Curtis, 50 lately deceased. But
further, we should not speak of him.
Leaving these familiar scenes, we urged
our horses at rapid pace across the rip
ping Emo, and wended our way through .
pleasant dales and over rough hills toward .
the village Of Durham. Along the route we .
noticed that the small grain crops, though .
much better than at this day last year, are .
far from being in an admirable condition. /
But after all, it is the tobacco crop that .
brings The cttsA into this section, and we I
learn that 50 the weed" nowhere yields such
satisfactory results as in this portion of the
State Here and there we discovered in
sundrv improvements evidences of thrift,
and neat farm houses gave an assurance
that tobacco is quietly rePIenishinG the de
pleted purses Of the planters.
Five miles from Durham we reached the
premises of Mr.. Bennett, the spot where
Gen. Johnston surrendered ali the armies
of the Confederate States, east OF the Mis-
sissippi, to Gen. Sherman, and entered i'll
to that treaty OF capitulation by which our
! rebel governments were TO wheel lhtO
line without partisan interference, and
without the farce of reconstruction
restore the Union Of the States,
AS we stopped there for few moments,
thoughts of the eventful scene that had
been enacted in that humble talm-yard
came in quick succtsSion-tO saddcu us.
But it is a vain thing to recall the events
of the past that awaken memories OF WoIul
disappointment, and Of anguish and mental
Suffering. Perhaps whatever is, is for the
best The star of our hope has set .f0,'-
erer. We may make pil9rima9es to hal
lowed spots, but let lis not nurture the
pains OF the past.
We found durham no longer the way
station of other days, but point OF grow
ing Importance. Ten tobacco factories
now attract labor, capital and enterprise to
this thriving town. Two warehouses Tor
the sale Of the weed i'll the leaf have al
ready been erected at cost OF many
thousand dollars each, for you must know
that of late tobacco is sold only at auction,
and light, airy and spacious sales-rOOlns are
INDISPENSABLE for the trade. Perhaps no
other place in the State has improved with
the same rapdity as Durham since the war,
and everything seems to point to con-
tinuance Of its prosperity. tobacco mas
heretofore been the chief source OF It's III
creased wealth and population, ana 1t Is
difficult to believe that the business can be
oycrlonc. 1t is regular tobacco COM
munity." An incident shows the feeling
of the citizens. While we were i'll the town
a telegram was received to the effect that 4
suit. brought in the L. S. Court for Nit-
rinia by a manufacturer of the place, u
Cnj0in q rich firm at LynchblTg, Va, from
,,S;n0 the ,rOid "Dllhdnl" on his tobacco
hr0IlIx had been decided in favor OF the
Durhamitc Forthwith crowd assembled
, hurrahcd for "Durham's Virginia.! ''Du'
ham whipped Virginia out, mounted
cannon and fired away from till III O'Clock
burning any quantity OF powder, an'
shouting themselves hoarsc in honor Cf th'
event, We had not witnessed such ;
demonstration since the close of the war
and we could not help saying with OLE
Milton peace hath her victories, create
than war Such q people are bound t.
succeed in their undertakings, Tor thel
hearts are i'll their work.
Continuing our jOurneyings we reache'
e ..the CITY Of the Oaks in good season
IS finding tie Superior Court i'll session, TIL
VI city alive with ''gem mans of color" an
"a the Court House odOriferods. we VlSltc
the ASYLUM of the Deaf, Dumb and BllnC
:, and saw there several children from WI
= minoton. who interested us greatly. On
~ of them is a bright girl of twelve summers
IN as deaf as a post, but learning how to tai
RAPIDLY She dnStcerS questions d$bed ho
- Orul{y lrithOut hearing heF 0tth 0tSaot1S :
: Others are learning in the same manne
. The course of instruction, or rather tt
3 method of instruction, is entirely new, an
-" GREAT credit is due the Principal, MIR. Ion
II linson, for the introduction Of this nov
u system. Verify, whenthe dumb are tauSI
Is to speak, and the deaf to understand, gre
- things have been accomplished III II
~ tvapieliCratiOn Of these unfoltunateS. w
ng are happy in believing the efforts 40
being made in that direction will
"a crowned with success. Another OF the
pc unfortuuates is blind girl from Ne
Hanover, who has voice of great sWeC
a ness and who learns music with unusu
Gu rapidity.
IL was with sincere pleasure that v
heard of the Governors determination II
~, to break up this charitable institution
- Withholding longer the funds appropriate
~ by our Legislature. Such ali act Won
have SCdInpcu IlIIu tto q ofHNGAoO civ I" 70
harlan. and would have deserved the eH
Grafton of all good citizens. We undo
stand fears on that score are no longer c
teTtained.
ted A meeting of the citizens took place Il
evening to nominate a citizens ticket
rem the various city offices, and we are soon
have a oDunty meeting for the re-organii
led ton of the Conservative party, and to {
poirt delegates to the Greensboro Convt
to lion. The citizens of this county are 1
welded to the nomination of any partiC
lar candidate for Governor, but as far
ella we can learn, have preference for Jud
MerrimOn as being most acceptable to
=. West, and eligible. The Judge does !
ere seek the office, but will hardly decline
ted nomination at the hands of our Conyt
Inns ton. With him to lead the ticket, a
with Jarvis Graham or Gilner for LII
add tenant Governor, we can sweep the w
. of and the debatedbIe ground of the cent
mol section. This will ensure us victory, {
the promotion of no man should be C
,,rd sidered, if bis nomination would rem
an sucsess at all certain. y. l.
An editor answered challenge, d" Vi
the | want to die, l can shoot myself"
for How can judge be an & upright judi
'o- while sitting on the bench ?
Of The value of the French crown jew
was estimated at between fourteen