The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-06-22
THE mutations OF TINE.
Correspondence of the Intellieencer.

6--~-s% -&h'~A1~>!
Correspondence of the Intelligencer
MoRGANTowN, June 12.-It has
been seventeen years since l made
my last recitation in the West vir-
ginia University. Nearly genera
ton has sprung up since then, and
it is no wonder that an old student
of the Seventies" feels
Like one who treads, alone
Some banquet hall deserted"
although jostled by the crowds here,
who with smiling faces pass me by
unnoticed and unrecognized- The
old has made way for the new. Even
the ancient landmarks are changed.
There are new graves and higher
monuments; there are strange faces
in familiar habitations, and age and
time have bent forms and silvered
the hair of many l knew SO we'll.
You will be informed of the ma
terial details of the commencement
week at the University, but, If you
will indulge me, l will dwell upon
the sentimental side and the quarry
the thoughts that now press me from
the rocks of memory.
Morgantown to-day is not what it
was seventeen years ago. / look
around and there is nothing but
change, change. And | cannot help
but recall the familiar lines,
Hour Jaor a., No., baart ora A.. soo,,oe, 80
my childhood,
When fond reeollections bring them to
view.
In all the sadness that the muta-
tions of time have wrought there is
something pleasant in my reflective,
gloomy mood, like unto the tears
that are relief to deep sorrow.
In the seventies" you reached Nor
gantown after an eight hours ride
from Fairmont, in numbering old
stage coach, over torturous noun
tain path. Now, you steam through
in an hour and a quarter. This is in
deed change. Instead of climbing
hills and dipping in the umbrag-
eous shades of valleys, you take the
level and swish by at the foot of the
wooded hills. The iron horse is
civilizer, but his advent in a quiet
country town dispels many illusions,
breaks up tender associations and
ruthlessly brushes the visions of the
dreamer. / would rather be in Nor
gantown in 1872 and enjoy its isola-
tion from the world than to look
upon the changes of two decades
that spread their remarkable evil
dences of advancement before me.
Perhaps the good people of Morgan
town will not agree with me. l hope
they will not. 1t is to their interest
to advance; it is mine to repine.
When one has spent several years in
one place, and after many winters
have chilled the ground and summer
suns have warmed it into life again
it is folly to expect to find things as
they were when you last saw the
frost and first felt the shadows. To
revisit college town is mistake,
but at the same time it is lesson in
life. 1t is like visiting tomb. The
same trees may stand but new
leaves futter in the wind. Marius
in his exile contemplating the ruins
of Carthage was no more lonely
than | in the absence of things that
were and people that now are not
When old WOODBURY. burned, it
consumed more than can ever be ac-
counted for. The spark that kindled
the fire was a fiend that not only de-
stroyed but robbed What cares the
old student for the stately edifice
that was Phenixed out of the ashes
of its destruction. l would rather
to-day, look ON the homely facade of
that ancient building than gaze on
Cerinthian columns and marble
halls. But men come and men go.
lie Roi est MOST. Vire lie Roi.
Then there is the old Seminary. 1t
has gone, and nothing but charred
timbers and memories remain. 1t
wept tears when WOODBURY. was il
lumined and the heights were red
in reflected anger. Now it has van
ished in the smoke of the past and
its dying embers sputter out an hon
orable life.
| walked the streets, and where
/ greeted old friends strange faces
peered out of the doors, and the
finger board to their abiding place
pointed to the marble decked city
of the dead. Where cried a
voice, are these men gone? The same
sun smiles to-day as warmed them
in life. But all is changed!
But stay. There is one thing that
has not changed. The strawberry
festival is Juvenile as when it's at
fractions first moved my heart and
depleted my purse in 1872. In
town SO small and so sociable in
nature it was not remarkable that a
student should readily have found
his affinity, and this combination
was always worked to the aggran-
dizement of the strawberry, the ice
cream and the multiplication of the
church treasury. But where now is
the maiden, the youth, the vine bow
cred cottage? Nothing left but the
memory of soft astral lights and
sweet perfumes. All is change.
The sun has long ago erimsonei
the wooded fringe of the western
hills, and the shadows are creeping
up the valleys. Good night memo
ries and tender thoughts.
ONE OF THE SEVENTY BOYS.
Louisville.
InWsvIIIE lime IL -Thnmas L