Part 48 (1/2)
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.