The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-08-28


a TRIp TO SEwANEE.-Oh Thursday last
business called us to Sewancc-the name
OF Il beautiful town on top OF that portion
OF Cumberland Mountain which lies with
in the boundaries of Franklin county.
Not many years since there was a perfect
wilderness and wildness where now can
be seen handsome dwellings and business
houses within the radius of more than Il
mile of the chapel which forms the central
part of the town. The wild woods have
been turned into really Il romantic spo.,
and no thinking person can fail to reflect
upon the contrast between clambGring u
rugged mountain road, past rude cabins
for miles, and all at once driving along
streets at right angles, ornamcntcd with
elegant mansions on either side. This was
the contrast that awaited us last Thursday
when we left Winchester in our spring
wagon and Grove for Cowan, six miles di =
tant, where we expected to arrive in time
Railroad. We were just three minutes too
late, buta INSTRUMENTATION with our three
fellow passengers resulted ina decision to
30 up the mountain in our vehicklc, which
was at once acted upon. The day was sui
try and the ascent rugged, but we could
not help wondering that efforts had not
been made to have better road. The
rock is there, and with a little labor 4 splen-
did turnpike could soon be made from
CoWan to the top of the mountain.
But it is not our purpose now to write
upon those matters, nor of the future-the
glorious futurc-for Scwancc rs a place Of
cducation-an Athens, you may say,
which will one day become historic rs the
Athens of old. Upon these things we
shall write after our contemplated visit Il
few weeks hence il over. We only want
TO say a few words about what we saw on
the road just Il mile or two this side of the
town of Sewanee. We passed Il beautiful
and commOdious dwelling, rapidly ap-
preaching completion. Made up our
mind to visit il on our return from the
W and did so. The owner tlcreofis
Mr.. j. W. Hays, and we found him athome'
lie is from Newark, New Jersey, and at
tractcd by the fame OF the undertaking
which ten dioccses of the Episcopal Church
were moving ia for the purpose of found
ing Il great University for the education
of Southern boys of every religious per-
suasion, Mr.. Hays visited the spot select
ed, after grave deliberation, in preference
to many other places presented, and any
one of which was prominent to the public
above Scwanee. Mr.. Hays was pleased
with the selection which tw0-thirds OF the
Trustees had said combined more advan-
.ages than any locality which had ben ex-
amiucd. and came at once to become OF us.
The war came Oh and he returned to his
home in New Jersey, but just as o as
ueace was declared lie returned and enter
cd enthusiastically into improvements OF
all kinds. Since the wal over $3.50 900 OF
capital have been expended at Sewanee
and here is what the Southern Magazine,
of Baltimore, in an article upon the Uni
vcrsity of the South, says as to MIR. Hays
connection Herewith:
ITO the enterprise and devotion ofonc
gentleman much of this wonderful devel-
opment is due. Mr. Hays. a citizen ofNew
Jersey. devoted to the Church. OF ample
fortune earned by his own industry. wa
attracted by the fame Of the undertaking
and by the capabilities of the place. lie
leased some hundred acres Of land I ron
the University, and planted it with fru it.
trees and grape-vincs. He brought 0ut
the machinery ola saw-mill. and has added
to it other machinery for building pur
poses. lie literally supplied the lumber
and woodwork necessary to the erection
OF houses. and invested his own capita
wherever needed to aid and TO stimulat,
otheis. lie is now putting up his owl
dwelling on 4 beautiful height overlook
ing the great valley that stretches a thou
sand feet beneath to the west and nOrtl
far away from the foot of the mountain
and with apparently unflagging interes
he continues to prosecute the work beior'
him. This Is one Of the answer
youchtafcd to our early and continued
prayers that Heaven might raise up a sue
crsSion of benefactors to the University.
THIS beautiful height alluded to
where we were on Thursday last. AM
never have We bcheld a scene more at
tractive. We have been at Niagara a