The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-06-06
CHAPEL HILL.
By MAY HUNTER.

(Paper read at the closing exercises of
Henderson Graded School May II. 1907
Chapel Hill, the University Of North
Carolina, is in little village, situated
about twenty-eight miles from Raj
eigh, on beautiful hill.
In the month of December, 1916, in
the Constitution of the new State,
then first adopted, are found these
words, written amid storms and thun-
behring's to be made good, when the
sun shone on a free and united poo
pie: ''All useful learning shall be duly
encouraged and promoted in one or
more universities" Many noble men
such as William A. Graham, spent \
great part of their lives in trying to
establish a university in their own
State, where their own young men
could be educated and 90 out into the
world to face any foe. But owing to
the vicissitudes OF war and impover-
ishmsnt Of the country. the charter
was not granted until the year 1889.
The old East building was the first
building, and its corner stone was
laid on University Day, and the dedi-
catory sermon preached by Rev. W. R.
Davis and Samuel G. McCorkle, ID. ID.
The University was opened and
started work in the wear 1895.
Where the University now stands
was many years ago we'll known
camping ground for wagons between
New Berne and Salisbury, between
Petersburg and Pittsboro, and other
places of the South. Here the wagon
ers would stop and rest under the
beautiful oaks, nearby stood an old
chapel, and this is the reason they
gave Chapel Hill its name The Uni
versity of today is vastly different
from the Chapel Hill of ninety-six
years ago.
The sweetgums, dogwoods and
naples were reveling in the autumn
sun, the russell and golden hues. the
general greening of the forest"
1t then had only one building and
could accommodate very few young
men as compared to the number eager
for learning. But today we have q
University equal to any in the United
STAGES. for the North american Rerieu
in 1921 says: lin ardent and in
creasing zeal for the establishment OF
schools and academies for several
years past we do not believe North
Carolina has been outdone by single
State in the Union" If that could he
said in 1921, what could be said in
nj
troublesome times, not only in want
and perjury. but the far deeper strug
giles of ignorance and prejudice, and
wild spirit of lawleSsness
Education was thought little Of al
the time the University was founded
there were no public and only few
private schools in the State, but the
University seemed to awaken the
people and show them the need and
advantages of education.
About the year 1870 the doors O.
the school were closed. But NORTH
Carolinians, being unable to stand
having their University. which they
had prided so much. closed, the,
were soon opened.
There is an instance in the histor,
Of Chapel Hill worth mentioning, tina
is OF David l.. Swain. He came t.
the University barefooted, but hi
mind was large enough to hide hi
bare feet; not minding the guys o
the boys he stayed on, studying hard
We can plainly see the consequences
he became president. Since the yer,
first, the young men who have been t.
the school look back upon it Will
deepest affection, and we'll they Nigh
for it is grand institution.
Governor Trant once said, ..Th,
thing that has been of most benefit t,
me all my life, is that was studen
of the University of North Carolina.