The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-02-11
Glimpses Of the Past.
MoRR1srowN AND IT'S CELEBRITIES

MoRRIsTowNe AND IT'S CELEBRITIES
The writer of these papers is nov
treading. the barren path of life
| Though native born of the city o.
Baltimore, he considers MorristoWr
and the surrounding country his
home, as within these limits he com
menced his career in life. Many
changes have taken place since these
days. Many youthful friends have
sought the dreamlessi slumbers OF
the tomb. Many bend under the
weight of years. and as they smooth
their white locks, look calmly for
ward to their approaching settlement
of all earthly accounts. They are
passing away, for decay is stamped
upon the features of the most beau
tiful of other days, and one by one
they leave US to make room for other
travellers on the same highway. In
few short years, those who were
the children of our maturity, and
made us rejoice in their innocent
amusement, have grown up and be-
came themselves mature. The laugh
ing school girl has become a sober
natron, and desires no greater hap
piness than that which lights the do
mestic hearth. The wayward boy
has become the dignifed parent
bent on speculation--scarcely troub-
ling himself about those silent mon-
itors, gray hairs, which, through the
workings Of care and anxiety, are
beginning to show themselves.
These are melancholy reflections,
but melancholy is not one of the
writer's ingredients of nature
though there are times when the
buoyant spirit, like the waves of the
ocean, will settle down to the calm
and even pleasing quiescence of mel
ancholy. ~
Though we are passing away, the
town Of our pride has been swelling
in magnitude and improving in
beauty. She has passed her ancient
limits. Where the venerable oaks
of the forest once stretched their
giant branches and sheltered the
grazing cattle beneath their ample
foliage, now stand the palaces of the
wealthy, who. through industry and
enterprise, have thrived and prosper
ed. TO the fixed resident these
great changes are not so perceptible
as to one who has been absent for
years.
7 rroor,oo +boro oro ,4;u $500
people living who can remember our
town thirty years ago. If not, am
the last man on the fence, and sit
like one alone, mourning over the
recollectiOns of bye gone days. But
there are many, for we meet them in
our walks. The hand of time has
pressed heavily on them, and the
frost Of many winters have whitened
their brows. Still they live-chron-
icles of other times. speak to them
of days past and gone, when all was
sun shine, and "went merry as a
marriage bell" s
But my object in penning these
papers is not to trace the rise and
progress of Morristown. That will
leave to abFer pens. My intention
is to give sketches of we'll known
personages who have made their
mark on the record of former days.
and express my own views of what |
have seen and heard. In doing this
| may touch a delicate eord-but |
eschew all i'll will or malice.
Among my first stands out in bold
relief
THE REV. wNI r. sENTER,
one of the refined and brilliant order
of pulpit orators. He was casket
of gems as pure and unsullied as the
embosomed among the white
petals of a newly opened lily. He
never failed in his efforts to lead his
hearers from the dull speculations of
this life of care and disappointments
to home beyond the blue arch. The
bright blue skies were scarcely deep
enough for his wandering imagina,
ton.
1t, has been said while W.. T. Sen
ter was a member of Congress he
was a most effective debater and |
pleasing orator, In the domestic |
circle l found him a hospitable and
christian gentleman. But
be has passed through and rests on
the other side of the river. He left
3 son who inherits much Of the mas
sive intellect and versatile powers of |
lis gifted father. At different times
ne has been honored with seats in
5he Legislature and more recently
became Governor of the common
wealth by large majority of the
people. He now resides on his farm
lear our county town. basking in the
smiles of his amiable and accomplish
I'd lady. ALARICUs.
sunny SIDE, Feb. 4, 1874.