Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-05-10
A VISIT TO CLARKsvILLE

AVISIT TO CLARKSVKLLE.
LemgAg0--Dr. Sears--The SOuthwes.
term University-The City schools
-Dr. CObb-The southern Hotel
/ the Cemetery-CoI Leonard :
] Judge Rice = the Progress of
CIarksViIIe.
Better late than never, as the Universallst
may well say, should he ever be so fortu-
nate as to get out of the worse into the bet
ter world. returned from Clarksville last
week, under partial promise to write an
easy article for the CHRONICLE, but business
has delayed the pleasure till now, and
should the Editor consider the thing out of
date he may commit it to the waste basket.
lived in Clarksville forty -four years ago
left ii for a while, returned to it in lS47, and
remained in it till 1854. It has always been
to me a sort of home, place to which my
mind, where'er roam, strays back, hence
l have tried to keep up with its fortunes
whether in gloom or glory. A visit TO Clarks-
Vile brings to my mind some of the most
heart touching memories of life.
On Sunday, April Goth, / left Hopkinsville
for New Providence, which / reached after
pleasant drive of four hours. By the way
there only remains a gap of about two miles
to make the pike complete between CIarlSs-
| vile and Hopkinsvflle. Taking tea with
Mr.. CARROT, we concluded to drive over and
hear my old pastor, DIR. Sears, preach. The
Doctor is 80 years old, retains unimpaired
his intellectual powers and really thought
l never heard him speak better. He has
done grand work in Clarksville, and his
labors find a high appreciation in the esti-
! 70 Of hoc{ of
of all denominations and especially in the
hearts OF his members. Great temptation to
say more of the chureh-its past, for to me
it has history not known to many-but L
/ am not writing for the religious press, and
| hence my brevity.
/ After service, passing the new Presbyteri-
an church l slept in to see it, as the services
had not yet closed. 1t is one of the most
beautiful church edifices in the country
The finish of the interior is exquisite.
Spending the night with Mr.. Carrot,
returned on Monday morning and visited
| the Southwestern University which bore
the name of Stewart College during my
connection with il in 1858 and 4.
met with the President, Mr.. Shearer, and
attended Chapel service. During the roll
call, heard many familiar family names.
In the faculty, missed William NJ. Stewart
Prof Forbes, Prof Newell, DR.. Haskins,
Prof. Marshall, DIR. Hendricks, several OF
whom have gone to their reward.
Inext visited the city schools, and was
pleased to notice evidences of good discip-
line. met Mr.. Brooks the superintendent
ent, and my old friend Prof. Yarrell, and
among the lady teachers several of my old
pupils of whom heard much praise.
awaited myself of the sad pleasure of cal
ling TO see the long esteemed lady of the la
mented DIR. Cobb. No man was truer to his
convictions than DR.. Cobb, and in his death
I lost friend.
DR.. Sears dined with me at the Southern
Hotel, admirably conducted by my old
friend Northington with Gopher Smith
clerk.
In the afternoon drove out with Mrs.
Sears, Mr.. and Mrs. Garrott Master Richard
Hatcher and our little SalIie to the new
Cemetery-the beautiful City of the dead.
Dotted with beautiful evergreens and costly
monuments, laid out in tasteful walks and
drives, carefully kept, it is certainly a high
compliment to the Christian culture of this
prosperous young city. Nothing speaks
more for the real character of a town or city
than its devotion to the dead. The last res
ting place of loved ones Look at that
beautiful mound. While winter SHOWS and
vernal flowers alternately lie above the mar
row resting place, affection will cherish ev-
er green the memory of all the virtues and
graces of the dead, and oft in the sad pilgri-
mage of love will surviving friends revisit |
the place where under the SentinelshIp of
angels the dust sleepeth- / could scarcely /
look in any direction without seeing insert
bed upon some monument a familiar name. |
It seemed to me almost like a visit to the /
other world. How eloquent is the silence |
of the dead!
Calling to see the family of my relative |
John O'Brien, we came over to New Provi- |
dence to Mr.. CARROTS to spend the night.
briefly met many old friends during this |
busy day. Among them John w. Faxon.
No man has done more than he to keep the |
high points of Clarksville before the public. |
His admirable correspondence to our Cour-
ier-Journal has been invaluable to CIarks-
vile. He not only writes well, but pru-
IDENTIFY.
On Tuesday morning Mr.. CARROT and l |
went to the eiLy. I met my lifelong friend, |
Judge Rice, and well did we beguile the /
minutes of one short hour in the tales of the
past and the hopes of the future. Remem-
ber our promised meeting and prepare for it, |
Judge.
1uls uAy 4 Ildd TeSOlVeU upon the Sfdtlfi- |
cation of a long coveted desire to visit Col |
T. D. Leonard, who lives about one mile
from New Providence on the bluff of West |
Fork. 1t was understood that Mr.. and Mrs. /
Carrot and myself would dine with the
Colonel,
had heard much of the hospitality of
Mr.. Leonard's family, but after spending the
day and partaking of the bounty, felt with |
f11of ofS hot ffa bolf huH mot
been told.
had seen the Colonel in the city, in the
public walks of life, in the political arena,
but had not his full measure, till surroun-
ded by the wit and genial refinement of his
own fireside, 1 could know him he is
known and see him as he is.
It is a wonderful accommodation for
man TO be able to prove all he says by his
wife. Mrs. Leonard showed herself a true
lady in this regard in every case save one. |
The Colonel is hard to beat on a story. I |
rather challenged him on our first stitch |
downs. unfortunately told my tale first. |
without the slightest hesitation, he beat |
me ten years, lost his intended and / threw |
up the sponge. AS there was negative mat /
rirnony in the tale. I did not press Mrs. Leon |
ard to the witness stand. The colonel may
tell the tale should any one wish to hear it, |
Having seen much of Clarksville this trip, /
wish To say in conclusion that everywhere |
/ saw unmistakable evidences Of substan-
tial, elegant Improvement. The Churches,
Public School buildings, Water works, bus
iness houses, private residences, cemeteries, |
all indicate character of work and style of
finish well betting larger city and the
only serious question involved is as TO
whether the hopeful outlay win be able to
make the riifie ofexpenses which the neces-
sary taxes will entail. No one Will rejoice
more in the success of Clarksville than
J. w. RUST.
Bethel Female College, Hopkinsville, KY
WE have seldom attended divine service
with the emotion we experienced on hear
ing the sermon with which the Rev. De-
Lacey Wardlaw entered upon his mission as
q minister of the Gospel. We had known