The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-27

that Mrs. Spencer has often declared
that whoever wanted anything done and
well done in North Carolina should ap-
ply to the women of the State. Then
when word came to Chapel Hill that the
University would be re-opened, Mrs.
Spencer led the band to ring the Univer-
sity bell, rejoicing at the good news. So
at the re-opening (and at other times
when a family returned) it was her ready
taste that decorated the chapel and put
traits of the alumni.
She remained in Chapel Hill, sharing
in all the new regime had brought it of
happiness and enlargement-new build
ings erected, the libraries consolidated
and rearranged, the number of the
working faculty trebled, the number of
the students doubled and doubled again,
and a new impulse given to the educa-
tional interests of North Carolina in
every direction, under the successful
administration of DR.. Battle for fifteen
years, and afterwards that of DR.. VIM
ston. In 1894 she left Chapel Hill to
make her home with her daughter, wife
of Prof. j. l.. Love, of Harvard Univer-
sity, a graduate of the University of
| North Carolina, 1884. Her last work in
Chapel Hill was the writing of Child S
History of North Carolina"
| In 1857 her papers written for Dr.
Deems new weekly, 1.-THE Watchman,'
| published in New York, on the Last
| Ninety Days of the War" were collect
ed in one volume with that title. The
book went to a second edition and has
been inquired for repeatedly within the
past few years, but is now out of print.
! When her daughter was in Europe the
mother took the young girls home let
ters on foreign subjects and edited and
published them too in 1.-THE North Caro-
lima Presbyterian"
After the close of the war and after
the death of Governor Swain. President
of the University, that institution fell
into the hands of a political party, under
the unhappy guidance of whose leaders
1t was laid low, lost it's hold on the re-
spect and patronage of the State, and
seemed about to drift out of sight and
be lost The village shared in it's ruin
Mrs. Spencer, who had seen thirty OF
| the best families in the place forced to
leave their homes and begin the world
afresh elsewhere as best they could, felt
as every generous soul must have felt
at such a spectacle of mischievous and
reckless mismanagement on the part of
the State authorities. The downfall OF
the University involved the best inter-
ests of North Carolina for generatio
to come.
She took up her pen in defence and de-
nunciation and easily secured an audi
ence among the best citizens of the
State-who, though ignored, hampered
and repressed by the reconstruction poll
cy, still held to their old faiths and
amid evil days, bided their time. These
men and women gave Mrs. Spencer their
attention and hearty sympathy. The
alumni of the University, especially, en-
dorsed her efforts. The late Josiah Tur-
ner, then editor of the Raleigh Senti-
nell placed his columns at her disposal
and gave his unfiagging encouragement
to his alma mater in that dark hour OF
her history.
Mrs. Spencer wrote with equal ease,
grace and power. | have lately read
| her paper on James Johnston Pettigrew
and advise you all to do the same. Here