The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-01

asked, that the building be named
1 for me? Let IL rather bear the name
| of McIver who created the college
or of Curry, it's friend and counsellor
| or Of Peabody, its benefactor, or OF
| Finger or Joyner, superintendent OF
Public Instruction" 1.-The building
shall bear the name of woman,
said /, because it is dedicated to the
education of women. 1t should bear
your name, for two good and suffi-
cient reasons: First, because your
life has been that of a typical North
you have rendered TO North Carolina
distinguished services in behalf OF
education" She granted the first
reason, and denied the second. /
persisted in my arguments and en-
treaties, threatening her with the
wrath and disDleasure of her daugh-
ter and granddaughter, of every
University alumnuS, of all the girls
inn this college, and OF every woman
in North Carolina, when finally she,
like every other woman, Swearing
she would never consent, consented. .
A sketch of Mrs. Spencer recently
appeared in the woman's edition of
the Raleigh News and Observer,
written by one who has enjoyed her
,irty years. / cannot do better than
recall the lines OF that sketch and
add to it d few touches of my own.
While the picture there presented
Of Mrs. Spencer is vivid and faithful,
IL does not sufficiently emphasize her
public services. Her influence upon
men and events in North Carolina
during the last fifty years has been
surpassed BY very few, even Of the
most prominent actors in this moment
Gus period. She was both actor and
adviser in public affairs. She was an
intimate, personal and trusted friend
and counsellor of three of the State s
greatest sons: William A. Graham
best balanced and wisest statesman
David L. Swain, who made the Uni
Versity the greatest in the South. ana
Zebulon B. Vance, War Governor, re-
deemer Of the State from reconstruc-
ton and founder of the New North
State. These men sought her advice,
personally and by letter. Swain and
Vance conferred with her through the
period of the war and the darker
period of reconstruction. 4 mlgh'
add other names: Paul G. Cameron,
John NJ. Morehead, Robert +. Bird
gers, Joseph j. Davis, Alfred NJ
Scales, Walter l.. Steele, John A. Gill
mer, and Thomas Rutt1n, all were
friends of hers. Indeed, in the long
list of brilliant and strong men VINO
were graduated from the University
Immediately preceding, during, and
following the Civil War, there were
few who were not influenced by her
either in their college life or suose-
quent careers, and through them she
contributed largely to shape the des-
tinies of North Carolina.
But her services to the State were
also direct and personal. AS soon as
the war was ended she took pen and
wrote, denouncing the outrages OF re-
construction, and calling aloud to the
people to be steadfast. brave and
unyielding. The doors Of the Uni
yersity, which had remained open
during all the horrors. of the Civil
War, were now closed. Dor1nitories,
wherein had slept and studied In
their youth presidents and judges ana
bishops and Senator's, were now turn
ed into stables for the horses of cut
throat soldiers, imported from Ten
neSsee to over-awe the people. OF
Orange, Caswell and Alamance coun-
ties in their resistance to carpet-DaS
government. Defying the threats or
power and the temptations of pront q
small band in the little village OF
Chapel Hill remained loyal to the
ideals and traditions of the UNIVERSE
~, to the character and history OF
North Carolina. Leading this little
band Cornelia Phillips Spencer
Numbered through the press of the
State defiance to oppressive authority'
and to the sons of the university
everywhere raliying cries that stirred
their blood. To her, mainly, was due
the revival OF the University i'll 1919,
and To her largely was due the over
throwing of the carpet Dagger ana ms
exodus from the State. | saw her az
the opening of the University in 1873
with her own hands helping the boys
and girls 10 weave garlands that Gee
Grated the chapel. It was her hymn
that W. sang. She stood in our
midst q majestic woman; as stronS
and noble as a Hebrew prophecies,
singing the redemption and salvation
of her people and her beloved Uni
vers,ty.
It is no exaegeration to say that the
new University was fostered and gulu-
ed ~ Mrs Spencer, almost with the
careNand affection of mother. heF
names deserves To be indisAolublN
linked with that Of Kemp F. Battle
as Joint founders of the new uniVeE-
eity. | doubt not that the great me
mor;al hair, at Chapel Hill will some
day contain & tablet of her. as one or
the Jrnivcrsity'S greatest benef#ctora.
The placing upon this building OF
the name Cornelia Phillips Spencer
is a. fiji recognition of her great ser
But greater and nobler service than
This She has rendered Co the state
in the example and the teaching OF
her private life. II is most inst1dc-
tive fact, adding peculiar interest and
fitness to this condition, that Cornelia
Phillips Spencer intellectual, talented
brilliant, highly educated, almost vlr-
lie in her strength, foremost among
the daughters of tive State, derived
her chief pleasure, expended her
chief energies, and had for her chief
desire the making of home. Public
life afforded her no attractions. Her
labors IL this direction were per-
formed under a stronge sense OF duty
with great personal modesty and with
the least possible violation of her
lofty ideals of womaniiness. She new
er appeared in public, either to speak
or read, or even TO occupy a seat on
q public platform. Her work was
accomplished through others, or
through the pen. The making of a
home was her chief work. She had
learned it from her mother. BY the
family firesde, as a girl, she had
sat with her mother and brothers
through the long winter evenings, all
engaged in busy handiwork, save one
who would read to the others. The
children were frequently seated, tall
49,, l~tN< -. II nV1f