The Chapel Hill weekly., 1962-12-09

Perry, writing of Williams Col
lege in the 1905 (some 2OO) says
students and faculty simply did
not have any more to do with
each other than was unavoidable.
But | did drop in on DR.. Bat
tie by invitation in his office. He
would look up from his old
fashioned desk-armchair covered
with manuscript of his memoirs
and We w0lld talk Always there
was a story told so that it would
stick in the mind. When | paid
my respects to him on the day
| moved in he inquired what
county was from 1--WE were
from counties, not towns. 1 told
him / was from Halifax. He told
me that Halifax meant holy
hair and gave me the history
OF Halifax in England as well
as OF Halifax the Revolutionary
capital Of North Carolina. Then
he told me that he was from
Edgecombe originally and that
the Speights were from Edge
combe. "A good breed of dogs,
the Speights, he chuckled with
loyal pride in Edgecombe. In
older days somebody had spok-
en- of the Battles as "a good
breed of dogs" and so they
were. The phrase was fayorite
with him. He never said so but |
hope he decided later that l too
was from a good breed of dogs.
At any rate he advised me when
we were better acquainted to
study law. IF our good young
men don't study law and get in
to politics, he said, 81 don't
know what viii become of the
country"
Law, public affairs, men, WON.
en- and children, in homes,
schools, churches and business,
were his passion. That passion
was tempered by. the wisdom of
history, the relaxation of social
fun, music, and light verse; ded-
ication to his family and his
church; and keen love of eve
rything in nature. 1t was a dis
course in enjoyment simply to
see him with folks, birds and
squirrels, flowers, trees, brooks,
and hills, as he swung along
with his cane and his cape-like
top-coat, cavalier of life sure
of thrilling adventure. He con-
veyed his whole self in a smile
and word. Long Sittings and
much talk were not necessary to
SAVIOUR his health and wholeness.
Just to be around him was a
benediction. l locked on DR.. Bat
tie as the happiest and most for
tunate of men. 1t has been only
by the reading of his memoirs
that l have learned how much
work, turmoil, and sorrow he
had digested into happiness.
came and went by his open
door with many quick word
and smile between US. went
out to campus and street to OBJ
serve and to participate. | came
back to my Sabine Farm to
study and reflect. He helped me
in both operations of solitude
and society. Inside the cottage I
had a Kennedy rocker with a
board across the arms, placed
under kerosene student lamp.
There was a cracking open fire
in winter, the open door, the
song of birds, and the perfume of
honeysuckle, in the springtime.
Leading out to the front was a
path roughly the same as that
now the brick walk back of Nc
liver dornitory and continuing
through the Arboretum to the
grounds by New East. This was
named The Presidents Walk"
because it was DIR. Battles daily
route to the campus. To my
right as I proceeded campus
ward was tennis court on
which E. X. Graham, W. M.
Dey, iP. H. Winston, and l.. r.
Wilson daily played a superb
game of tennis. To my left, now
a sunken lawn back Of McIyer,
was a shallow pond, the rem.
nant, Professor Cobb told us,
of deep lake In geologic ages
past. To my rear was Battle
Park with trails cut through it
by DR.. Battle. His fayorite en-.
trance is marked by a boulder
and a tablet commemoratins
him in a perfect inscription com,
posed by John M. Booker whO
succeeded him in his residence
These trails wound here and
there by spots famous in Uniyers-
ity legends, the fruit of DR.. Bat.
ties knowledge and beautiful
imagination. All trails converg
ed on Piney Prospect overlook.
ing the basin of the ancient Tri
assic Sea. AS / walked these
trails | always picked up a stone
and carried it to a pile destined
% ho q y,,on,,y,oanf IN Dr Rattle