firs
R HEEL
vol. 11.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, CHAPEL HILL, N. C, OCTOBER 4, 1902.
NO. 2.
THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.
A
THE DAVIE POPLAR.
On the Campus at the University
of North Carolina.
A SHORT HISTORIC SKETCH.
Named for- William Richardson
Davie, "The Father of the Uni
versity" Where Class Day
Exercises Are Held
Slightly Damaged
by the Storm of
August 6th.
Mr. Editor: .
About 3 o'clock in the afternoon
of August 6th, 1902, Chapel Hill,
N. C. was visited by a severe wind
storm, coming- from the North and
reaching-a velocity of 60 miles an
hour. Large and small limbs were
twisted and hurled to the ground,
trees were uprooted and telephone
and electric wires were injured so
that the village, would have been
in darkness that night save for oil
lamps.
When the storm had subsided
and the report reached the citizens
that two limbs of the "Davie Pop
lar" had been blown down, deep
feelings of regret were expressed,
as the tree meant so much to the
University. This old poplar is
situated in the center or the camp
us and is about 60 feet high and
5 feet in diameter. It is of the
Tulip variety, and every year in
the month of May it has beautiful
blossoms of a pea green color tinted
to a pink at the base of each petal.
The tree is straight about 50 feet,
then three immense limbs branch
out; the two of which on the north
side were blown off, exposing to view
the center which had been burned
out by lightning, when the Uni
versity was closed during the Civil
War. About that time, so some of
the ante bellum inhabitants tell me,
the tree looked as if it would die,
but with the reopening of the Uni
versity in 1875 it took on a new
lease of life and has spread its pro
tecting branches over the green
sward for a quarter of a century
longer.
When these limbs were blown
off in August Dr. Kemp. P. Battle
and others secured small branches
to make souvenir canes. The Pres
ident of the University now expects
to have a piece of furniture made
out of the fallen limbs, and placed
in one of the buildings, where it
will ever be cherished with fond
recollections by the alumni of this
institution. v
.It was under this tree that those
venerable patriots who selected the
site for the University, at their din
ner, after which they drank from a
fine spring, situated in a shady
nook between four sycamore trees
now at the rear of the Chapel Hill
Hotel. Under the Davie Poplar,
too, they decided that Chapel Hill
should be the site of the Univer
sity. The tree was named for William
Richardson Davie, a graduate of
Princeton, a dashing young cavalry
officer of the Revolution, Commis
sar y General under Green, a
member of the Federal Constitu
tional Convention of 1787, Govern
or of the State, Brigadier General
of the United States in the contem
plated wur with France, special
minister to France to avert that
war, an able lawyer and eloquent
orator, "the father of the Univer
sity." The county of Davie and
the Poplar are his only monuments
in North Carolina.
At Commencement time, on Class
Day, the closing exercises are held
under Davie Poplar. About 5 p.
m. on that day the graduates in caps
and gowns meet in Memorial Hall,
form in line, doublefile, march by
the music of a brass band, first to
the well in front of the South build
ing where each graduate takes a
drink of crystal water, then on to
the Davie Poplar. This line is
headed by the Chief Marshall, who
carries a gold-headed cane and
wears a black suit. Over his right
shoulder is his handsome regalia of
blue and white satin fringed with
gold. The march i s continued
around the tree until a large circle
has been formed, then they sit in
Turkish fashion o n the ground.
The Historian, who presents medals
to the handsomest man, the ugliest
man, etc. A brief history of the
class is then read. The class poet
is next introduced, who rises and
reads his original poem. The class
pipe with a long handle decorated
with class colors is then given to
the . president who lights it and
takes the first smoke, passing it
around to each in the circle. "The
Old North State" 'is then sung; the
class yell is given for the Univer
sity President, members of the
Faculty and the Class President.
On this occasion there is indeed
a solemnity that makes the, new
graduate forever cherish in memo
ry this last scene around Davie
Poplar.
Mrs. S. S. Sibley.
Chapel Hill, N. C.
Annanias Wit.
"1905" went down to the home
of a member of the faculty on Sun
day to give him a special invitation
to come out to the Y. M. C. A. Ral
ly that afternoon. As it was din
ner time the Judge cordially invited
our friend to dine. Of course
naughty-fi ve 'no-a-thank-youed. ' '
But this good old soul friend of the
students would not thus be baffled.
So he told our friend he could not
accept his refusal. And with this
he commenced carrying him toward
the dinning hall where there were
some girls. Our friend's Annanias
wit however did not forsake him
and so as a last card he boldly play
ed "he-had-just-had-dinner." As
a'matter of fact he hadn't eaten any
breakfast. But the girl's smiles
did not touch him so it was all
right.
OUR FIRST GAME.
Contest with Guilford Was Very
Easily Won.
CAROLINA, 16; GUILFORD, 0,
We Have Met the Enemy and We
Are Their'n," Said Manager
White Varsity Does Her
self Credit Small At
tendance Absence
of Rooting To
day's Game.
Carolina has played and won her
initial football game of the season
While we were not sure that Var
sity would defeat the Quakers, we
had every reason to believe she
would, considering the fact that
Guilford had never, in all her loot
ball career, lowered the white and
blue. Therefore, the victory came
to us as no surprise and while the
score is not as large as it should
have been, when it is remembered
that the contest was fought under
the most unfavorable circumstances,
the extreme hot weather rendering
a telling effect upon the men, it is
entirely satisfactory and indicates
that more victories await us.
At 1:30 Capt. Foust and his war
riors went hurriedly out to the ath
letic fieldf where the Piedmont boys
were leisurely awaiting their ar
rival. The two Captains agreed
upon 15 minute halves and every
man went running to his place
Capt. Foust chose t to defend the
east goal and Bully Jones planted
his foot against the pig skin and
the game was on.
Patterson, for Guilford, received
the kick off but did not advance any
as Mr. Farlow objected and empha
sized his objection by a complete
turning over of Patterson's "earth
ly tabernacle." After making two
futile attempts to gain ground Pat
terson attempted to punt but Foust
spoiled the idea. Carolina having
the ball, Berkeely, by the beautiful
interference of Foust, skirted left
end for twenty yards and McNeill
on the next pass gained-ten. The
ball was then on Guilford's 15 yard
line. It was up to Newton for a
touch down. H e broke through
Guilford's line o f human defense
and, out of breath, placed the
leather under the goal. Jones kick
ed goal.
Time: 2 min. 4 sec. Carolina 6,
Guilford 0.
Lindsey kicked the ball to Jones
in deep left who threw to Graves
who fumbled and a Guilford child
sat squarely on the ball. It avail
ed the Quakers nothing, however, as
the Carolina wall was impregnable
and Giles, a new man, figured great
ly in making the line appear as a
stone wall. He had a world of
force in every rush and brought
forth vociferous applause. Caro
lina being held on downs, Graves
kicked to right but Guilford fumb
led and Townsend claimed the hon
or. Newton was given the ball and
by interferance that was strong and
fervid, made a beautiful run of 35
yards. Berkeley skirted left end for
a touch down amid great applause.
Graves failed to make place kick.
Time: 6 minutes. Score: Carolina
10, Guilford 0.
Guilford landed the skin over in
Grave's territory but he found the
Quakers watching him. Being un
able to advance, Berkeley sent the
ball 45 yards into G u i 1 f o r d's
grounds. Here Guilford tries a
trick that Noah worked. They
made double passes and lost double
ground. Patterson noticing h i s
proximity to the goal punted 40 yds.
Foust carried Berkely around the
left end for seventy yards and there
Newton is given the ball and another
touch down is credited.
Time: 5 min. Score: C. 16. G. 0.
With one minute remaining in
which to make a touch down, Guil
ford sends the ball . to Jones. Ja
cocks relieves Berkeley after the
first rush. Jones punts 34 yards.
Time up.
Ball on Guilford's 15 yard line.
At the close of the first half it
was evident owing to the extreme
warm weather, that the boys could
not hold out for fifteen minutes in
the second half, so the managers
very agreeably fixed the limit to ten
minutes.
After an intermission of twenty
minutes the warriors, bloody, dirty
and sweaty braced themselves and
went forth to determine the strug
gle.
Mann and Parker respectively re
lieved Newton and Giles.
Guilford punted the ball "into"
Farlow who advanced 1 0 yards.
McNeil, Mann and Berkeley each in
turn carried the ball within 20 yds.
of the visitors goal. . Mann then
circled left end for a touch down,
but on account of foul interference
by one of our half backs, the ball
was brought back to its former
place. By consistent gains Caro
lina carried the ball within five
yards of Guilford's goal and then
lost on downs. Guilford then,
went into the game apparently with
renewed vigor. Time after time
they hit our line for good gains and
it looked as if they would score.
But Foust spoke to his men and
they obeyed. Once more Vhe "Tar
Heels", proved as a stone wall and
the Quakers hit it as paper dolls.
The referee blew his whistle, the
game was over, and Carolina, as
usual, had won.
Carolina
Stewart, C. ; Farlow, R. G. ; Giles
and Parker. L. G.; Jones, R, T.;
Foust, L. T.; Fisher and Norcum,
L. E.;. Townsend and Harris, R. E.;
McNeil, F.; Jacocks and Berkeley,
L. H. B.; Mann and Newton, R. H.
B. and Graves, Q.
Guilford
Stockard, C; Odell, R. G.; Fitz
gerald, L. G.; McNairy, R. T.;
Pritchard, L. T.; Henton, L. E.;
Short, R. E.; Dixon, Q.; Patterson,
F.; Snipes, R. H. B.; Leak, L.H.B.
(Continued on 4th page.)