School History of North Carolina Part 48

1. What is the subject of this lesson? What is said of the extension of the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad? Go to the map and point out this road.

2. What favorite trunk-line has long been desired? What road was specially important to the Confederate government? Point out this road on the map.

3. What roads are mentioned as having been recently completed?

Point out these on the map.

4. What towns are now mentioned, and what is said of their growth? Locate them on the map.

5. What is said of the prosperity of the city of Charlotte?

6. What is said of the centennial celebration at Charlotte? When did it occur?

7. What mention is made of Fayetteville, Asheville and Statesville? Find these towns on the map.

8. What have been the causes of the rapid growth of the towns in the state?

9. What further prosperity is noticed?

10. What other industry is described? Can you tell anything of this valuable production? (Teacher will explain).

11. What is said of the western fruit growers?

12. What excellent varieties of grape are natives of North Carolina? What is said of the Catawba grape?

13. What mention is made of the manufacture of stronger liquors?

14. What State officer died at this period? What is said of Major Engelhard?

CHAPTER LXXIII.

LITERATURE AND AUTHORS.

A. D. 1880.

1880.

It would seem natural that the connection of Sir Walter Raleigh with the history of North Carolina should have added to the literary tendencies of a people blessed with such a G.o.dfather.

He was so full of genius and devotion to letters that a special impetus ought thereby to have been given to the cultivation of a similar spirit among those who were to inhabit the land of his love. But, though Hariot, Lawson, and quaint Dr. Brickell were moved by such a spirit, the muses have not made the Old North State very remarkable in this respect.

2. North Carolina has always been, since its settlement, the home of some highly cultivated people, but all the while the ma.s.s of the population has possessed but little knowledge of books. This fact has been a great discouragement to the production of authors. Professions are not eagerly sought when not encouraged by the sympathy and support of the public.

3. In the period just preceding the revolt from British rule, Edward Moseley and Samuel Swann had been succeeded by men who possessed better literary opportunities and were more devoted to general culture than had been these two able and accomplished lawyers. Moseley, with every requirement, could never bring to any of his many controversies with Governor Pollok and others such flowers of rhetoric as Judge Maurice Moore lavished upon his famous "Atticus Letter."

4. That production was just such an attack upon Governor Tryon, for his conduct toward the Regulators, as, a few years later, immortalized the English writer who is to this day only known by his signature, "Junius." When Judge Moore and his compeer, Cornelius Harnett, were growing old, William Hooper, Archibald Maclaine and the first James Iredell were young lawyers, who travelled to all the Superior Courts in the State and mingled belles-lettres largely with their inspections of c.o.ke and the new lectures of Dr. Blackstone.

5. No man or woman then in North Carolina wrote books, as a profession, but the copious correspondence of that day, which yet survives, and upon which fifty cents were paid as postage for each letter, proves that, what was called "polite literature"

engaged much of their attention. They made fine speeches, and Judge Iredell wrote a law book and frequent dissertation for the newspapers; but, beyond this and an occasional pamphlet, no literary tasks were undertaken.

6. Dr. Hugh Williamson was a man of similar habits. He was not only a skillful physician, but served with credit as a college professor and a member of the Convention at Philadelphia which formed the Federal Const.i.tution, and he was also a member of the United States Congress. After ceasing to be a citizen of this State, he undertook to write its history, but achieved very moderate success as an author.

7. In the lapse of years, this task was again undertaken by judge Francois Xavier Martin. He came from France when a boy, and practiced law for seventeen years at New Bern. His compilation of the statutes and history of North Carolina were invaluable labors, and will ever render him memorable in our annals. His dry statement of facts was generally correct, and he fell into very few errors, considering that he was the first to attempt anything like a full record of the State's history; and this was accomplished in his new home in Louisiana.

8. Joseph Seawell Jones was a remarkable man in many respects.

He was brilliant in social life, and became well known to the literary and fashionable circles of New York and Washington. His love for North Carolina was intense, and the "Defence of the Revolutionary History of the State of North Carolina" that he wrote exhibits both talent and research. His infirmities of temper impaired his judgment, but his memory should ever be cherished in his native State for the services he rendered.

After the gay scenes of his early manhood he spent many years on a Mississippi plantation. His last book was ent.i.tled "My Log Cabin in the Prairie."

9. Early in the present century the literary aspects of the State were brightened by men who had attended as students on Dr.

Joseph, Caldwell's ministrations at Chapel Hill. His tendencies were all so practical that scientific and mechanical development was more encouraged than lighter subjects, but Hardy B. Croom, Joseph A. Hill, Judge A. D. Murphey and Rev. Drs. William Hooper and Francis L. Hawks were early distinguished for the elegance of their literary acquirements.

10. Judge William Gaston left just enough literary memorials to cause us to regret that he did not attempt more things of the kind. His ode to Carolina, and certain orations, will never be forgotten. Judge Robert Strange was also possessed of similar gifts. Philo Henderson, Walker Anderson and Abraham F. Morehead were largely gifted in poetic power. Each of them, at rare intervals, indulged in compositions that show what might have been accomplished had they been authors by profession and not mere literary amateurs. The State, while possessing a number of excellent musicians, has not produced many musical compositions of special merit; but the two songs, the "Old North State," by Hon. William Gaston, and "Ho! for Carolina," by Rev. William B. Harrell, will ever remain favorites with our people.

11. Colonel John H. Wheeler and Rev. Dr. Calvin H. Wiley have both executed tasks that will render their names household words for ages to come. The historical contributions of the former are of the greatest possible value and are highly prized in every portion of the State. Rev. Drs. Hubbard, Foote, Hawks and Caruthers, and ex-Governors Graham and Swain have each been large contributors to the same cause. Rev. Dr. Charles F. Deems, Theo.

H. Hill and the lamented Edwin W. Fuller added much to the fame of our writers. Professors Richard Sterling, William Bingham and Brantley York have contributed excellent educational textbooks, which do great credit to the talented authors. The recent "History of Rowan County," by Rev. Jethro Rumple, is both pleasing and valuable as a tribute to our local traditions.

12. In addition to the authors mentioned, there have been members of the Bar of North Carolina who have produced legal works of very great importance and value, not only to our own pract.i.tioners, but also to lawyers of other States. The most prominent writers of this cla.s.s of literature were James Iredell, Edward Cantwell, Benjamin Swam, William Eaton, Jr., B. F. Moore, S. P. Olds, William H. Battle and Quentin Busbee, of former years; followed, in later times, by William H. Bailey and Fabius H. Busbee. These law books have been chiefly digests, revisals and manuals of practice.

13. Gifted women have not been wanting amid these literary people. Mrs. Cornelia Phillips Spencer, Mrs. Cicero W. Harris, Mrs. Mary Mason and Mrs. Mary Bayard Clarke have made valuable contributions to the literature of their era. In the case of Miss Frances Fisher, under the a.s.sumed name of "Christian Reid,"

a most signal success is to be chronicled. She has given to the press many excellent stories and established a national fame as a novelist.

14. North Carolina has produced many able newspaper editors.

Joseph Gales and his two sons, Edward J. Hale, ex-Governor W. W.

Holden, Joseph A. Engelhard, William J. Yates, P. M. Hale, William L. Saunders, S. A. Ashe, T. B. Kingsbury, R. B. Creecy, Dossey Battle, C. W. Harris and other gifted men have wielded a wide influence on the people of this State.

QUESTIONS.

Of what does this lesson treat?

1. Who is the first literary man known to North Carolina? What is said of him? What others are mentioned in this connection?

2. What has been the general condition of literary matters in the State? Why have so few professional authors been seen?

3. What is said of Samuel Swan and Edward Moseley? Who was author of the "Atticus Letter? "

4. What mention is made of the "Atticus Letter? " Who were the literary men of that period?

5. What is said of the correspondence of that day? What was the extent of Judge Iredell's literary efforts?

6. What is said of the attainments of Dr. Hugh Williamson?

7. What other historians are mentioned, and what is said of them?

8. Tell something of the labors of Joseph Seawell Jones.

9. What produced an improvement in literary affairs early in the present century?