The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-28
PARADISE OF POETS.
But AS Resort For
Working People
Rugby Failed.
FARMERS WHO WOULDN'T FARM.
History of a Deserted Vii
lage Down in State of
Tennessee.
FARMERS WHO WOULDN'T FARM.

Resting as quietly on the plateau of
| the Cumberland as the fieesiest cloud
which enwraps, the blue-tinted noun
/ tain tops, and famed by the fine laden
zeyhprs lies the little village of Rugby,
Tennessee. May first party of nine
gentlemen from the east on a pilgrim
age through the south stopped at this
pine-land hamlet. The party consisted
of John H. Crompton and Alexander S.
Sawyer of Providence, John E. Kimball
and David NJ. Taft of oxford, Col. E.
r. Shumway, C. R. B. Claflin and DR..
H. w. Watkins of Worcester, Frank ].
Marsh Of Leicester, and William Laurie
of Clinton.
The beauty of the climate and seen
cry beguiled the party for several days
and 10th to leave, they fingered on to
learn the history of the VILLAGE. For
Rugby differs from other towns among
| the mountains of Tennessee in that it
is settled by people from everywhere
and this is why. Scattered about among
the pines are the deserted and time
blackened houses which once were the
abiding places of would-be farmers who
wouldn't be farmers; the wasting mon
uments of a well meaning but fruitless
| effort. The Tennessee Land Company,
Limited, still holds the titles to these
| g.. 900 acres of Cumberland mountain
land and still pays taxes on them.
| Boston brains conceived the plan,
which was to acquire land whereby 10
| give employment and Independent
homes to artisans thrown out of work
by the panic of 1873. An option was had
on the land and the money had to be
paid, but the project Jagged until with
| the advent of better times and most OF
the army of unemployed was again at
work.
Then it was that the scheme was car
ried to England by Franklin w. smith
of Boston, and Thomas Hughes the
author. became interested. He saw the
opportunity for the betterment of the
sons of professional men who saw
before them nothing but life of drudg-
cry in clerkships and petty otf1ces, out
who might in this new country become
landed gentry in the beautiful hills OF
Tennessee. His heart became aplaze
with the idea and English capitalists
furnished the wherewithal. The Rugpy
colony was dedicated in OCTOBER o. i9oV'
with great ceremony and several snip
loads of second sons who were TO De
come land owners in America.
But the theory failed in practlce'
The Young men had no liking for plo-
neer work They would not see the ne
cessity of tackling the virgin 1orests
of America in order to buld MONIES 4oI
themselves. They filled their pipes anu ii
Law about in the shade or sought the
mountain streams for fish, but they
would not work. A farmer is supposed
TO rise with the sun, and above all,
pioneer farmer, but one Of the orlglna-
tors of the Rugby idea once told OF how
he had often found the young men
asleep in their barracks at ten IN tne
morning and only on protest Would
they grumblingly turn out with yaWn
to shoulder their axes or hoes to throw
them down at the first opportunity
So one by one these sons scattered,
| some finding employment in the cities
and others in New England
Judge Hughes himself came over and
his mother at the age of Sc crossed the
ocean to give aid by her presence 10
the philanthropic scheme of her SON.
she died in Rugby in 1897 at the age Of
80 and lies in the little secluded bury
ing ground on the hillside among the
| pines. Judge Hughes wrote there the
Life of Peter Cooper and the Life OF
Dean Stanley, who was his lifelong
friend. The last Of the Rugby colon
lists returned to England in 1897 ana
Rugby was a failure as an abiding
| place IOI ldilQNN 6NAANAs ~NN<NS- 100
the English idea.
But the clear, delicious mountain air
of the plateau will never fail. The
breath Of the pine woods will always
blow across the hillsides and bring
health and healing to people from the
bleak north and east who come for rest
and recuperation. The Queen and
Crescent route from Cincinnati to
CHATTANOOGA, built nearly two decades
ago, has opened a gateway for those
who wish to use it and now Rugby is
as easily accessible as any resort in the
east Wells of chalylicate water
abound and a neat hosiery, the Ia
bard Inn, kept by Mrs. St. Clair, is al
ways open for guests. There is ac-
commodation for rs guests and it is
always full during the summer months.
Many people afflicted with bronchial or
/ catarrhal troubles have spent the
spring and summer at this spot and
have gone away only to find that they
cannot live elsewhere than on this pla-
teau. Hence there is to be found de-
i lfghtful people from all parts of the
| United States who have made homes
among the hills. A photograph was ia
Ken bv the New England visitors,
showing the hotel and group Of the
| guests and from the appearances one
would believe it to be a home in the
aF~