Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-08-22
EDITORIAL CORREsPONDENCI
CHAPEL HILL, N. Co.
AuoT1St 1f 1872

CHAPEL Hill, N. g.,
August 16, 1873.
My DEAR JOURNAL: Leaving the
sonctunl n week ago this morning, I
found myself in Raleigh, at the close
of one of the hottest days it was ever
our misfortune to endure like the
Eastern man who recently visited Ashe-
vile we could not find "a bit OF
breeze" A severe thunder and rain
storm that night improved matters
somewhat and another next evening.
But in spite of the heat and of the
dust Raleigh is an exceedingly attract
i've place indeed Just now it is per
fectly lovely to behold. We are not
much given to the enthusiastic, espe-
cially in regard to the beauties OF na-
ture. but the man that can visit Hal
eigh at this time without giving some
expression to his feeling of admiration
will not do to trust. The Capitol, OF rs
all Raleigh born people say, the 'sotate
House" Grounds are especially charm
ing and refreshing to look upon to ore
who has Just come from city that
makes no prctence even to pubic
square.
But Raleigh is increasing III property
rs well as in beauty. On the business
streets especially one can see at every
turn unmistakable evidence OF contln-
ned and increasing prosperity III the
shape of new and handsome buildings.
1t is pleasant to note the prosperity q
the place where one was born ana
where one has spent many haPPy
years.
On Tuesday morning at four o clock
precisely General Hoke and myself, III
spite of the predictions to the contrary
we're driving through the then silent
CITY behind one of the best Of horses,
barring two trihing defects, to-wit
tendency to kick and to run away :;
with these two exceptions our steed
was. as our yacht friend would
say, perfectly correct" and really one
of the best roadstersw ever sat behind.
Taking thoroad SO familiar to so many
men in North Carolina, the old Chapel
Hill road, we reached the village be
fore II NJ. and that too III spite OF a
stoppage of an hour for breakfast at
the half way house, where lived until
last year Mr.. Maynor, whom so many
Chapcl-ITillians will remember rs the
man whose watermelon resources seem
so inexhaustible. The old man died
last year, peace to his kind old soul,
but his young widow, WHO'S a stirring,
active woman, keeps everything busy
and bright and clean around her.
There may not be much romance about
watermelOns but we shall ever have q
kindly feeling for ''old Maynor, as
the boys used to call him, when hf"
with us, at least, was less reality
than it now is.
Here, rs indeed at every house on
The road, almost without exception, We
believe, there We're cvidencies Of thrift
and prosperity. occasionally would
he seen Il new store and n new dwell
, ling, or IL new porch, new shingles,
new fences, or u new gate; everywhere
something to show that at least tia
waste places were being repaired. The
crops too were, without exception
almost, very fine !; indeed the general
opinion seems unanimous Ill the eX
preston that finer crops have not been
seen for many long years than those
that now promises TO bless the labor:
of the farmers of middle Month Caro-
lima.
From below Raleigh upto this place
have been able to hear from, the report
comes that for twenty years the like
las not been seen at this season of the
promise for an abundant yield both oi
cotton and corn.
The gloom and dependency that
had SO long possessed the soul of this
peOple and crushed them to the earth
has, in great part, disappeared, and
life and light, and cheerfulness and
buoyancy are beginning to resnme
their wonted sway. 1t is natural that
this should be so, as Il generation l.
now coming rapidly to the front, to
whom the var and its horrors, ard IT.
terrors, and its sufferings are but the
recollections OF an indiStinct dream OF
their childhood, They take the world
as it is, and as they have always knowl
it and bad as it is there is much tc
enjoy i'll life, at least for those vic
have youth and strength, and Who's.
fresh lives have not been darkept0 by
the shadows Of the war. 1t Is wei
that this should be SO.
knowing the people of Orang,, and
having lived among them and already
cherishing for them the sinccresi
affection and the highest respect, til,
evidence the last few days has afforded
ne of their indomitable spirit and III
eiustry and enterprise, has impressed
me still more strongly with th.. heller
that no where in the world can T..
found Il better, or truer, or Drawer PEG
aIe, people who will come nearer t.
being literally {" faithful unto death,
than the people of Orange count.
General Hoke was on a visit Of in
spection to his iron mountain near this
place, where his operations &rr dis
closing Il mass of iron inexhaustii5le il
quantity and unequalled III Quality,
details OF which will be reserved Tor {;
subsequent letter.
I have at last found one point upon
which Judge Bond, "our" Judge Bond
OF the Federal Court, OF JOURNAL libel
and other notoriety, and myself agree,
and that is upon the present condition
and future prospects of North Carohs.2,
rae .iu.. =" Tvs that North Carolina
IL to + l., tier condition than any
.otirer axe III the South, and that If
PROMISES to do more in the future IT