Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Jan. 28, 1906, edition 1 / Page 11
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. i L. AFTERMATH .OF THE FIRE, ' are dates which catchthi - at-irrlnir event of history. To an Americas, xn mention pi jsmid imeo 1 , , ducing a story, xorms an .historical set ' f ti ng which increase In romance aa the , . years go by, la nil the annals' ot the : ; ; 'fratricidal strife which bote Its ever- '..,"(! .'.',' v. 1nC anU Wham. " kA A flho actar of the .American people? The ' ' 'heart (that-., was in It; the - manliness .' that jfqught; the energy that stirred!, V y The nlaca was Wilmington." In North raiYiilnii'' f'amnvMl frnm the tratnfl or - - armies - ana .the noise 01. pawe, out -, " taking Its peculiar part In the mighty . struggle betwen American-' ciusens, ' it had become the greatest entrepot of f the, .Confederacy. Other - porta had fallen, or had become practically cloi' navy. ?he conformation 1 or ' us high I ) way to the sea, and the strength of f v . it port defenses, allowed- a -trade with Jthe outside world which well' filch ', stepped the Southern army.- The com' t. merce wi hasardous, but there .was r 7; . no lack t participants. . lf 1, The atreeta ef tha city were sur t charged , with, life 'and' excitement -, ' '.There were . governments represent. . . tivea,? mmtary nicer, , navy, oaicera. ,- -' The -ere we of the blocka4e mania A"'- j ehlpa crowded , the etreeta by - , way; ' aoldierar from" the- armr were : r, --? eyerywhere and the wholes acene wai r, one 01 labor, turmoil ana comuBiorr, " - ' , L To" be more exact aa to date, It wu - Friday. .Anrll S. 18M. A group or lx L." nr lo-ht mn ,. ware, alttlnr In- an AfTlirH cveriootcmr the river, it wu early in the morning; and a hue filled the air. Across the -river there were the linger - lug smoke and name of a mighty con' Hagration, Which had raged, after mid nlgbti leaving- that portion at the city "a scene ot nopeieaa aesoiation. . a lew men couid he seen moving in and 'out among , the ruina : resculnsr "property , . thaj.aad not been burnea..un - tnm r : side 01 tne river . mere -were ouaniea 7 " together steamboats,- sailing vessels ' 1 , and lightera in a conglomerate mass, '' and on the wharves there waa a crowd of yawning aeamen and laborers, las ' llv terinr at the other shore. .. One of -the men in the off lea was Conatantlne - Hondrel, who had some , time j before loomed up aa' an lmpor tant 4ereonag la the commercial clr- - , cles ol the port, representing foreign ', v, Interests. There - -were alt kinda ot , r Russian to a . Spaniard. '-Aa a matter ot fact, hj displayed -the- Quintessence '- .'ot the conunerclal .shrewaness which s, t .might exist In a man of any natlon AUty.. He was a : coenaopolitan; his business knowledge sweeping -.the i , , worid -with aa easy, jtamlUarlty. 'Be enioyea his business and lived -like a r t lortt out of its return. - r ? Another ot the party waa a lawyer -v. named BiaKernan, still unaer thirtv, --r with a classic knowledge and a read? - - 5 wlt. and a constant Inclination to dls- J play them. -The plethoric countenance ' waa, suggestive of . convivial , habits; , aod, ..ijy the , midst- of the cohdoninx i'j. x -opinion ot his townsmen, mere waa an J: -1 underlying concern lost his, star of ' . jpromise might wane. : .'Travera; a tall, erect, robust young ,, tellow. With a sharp eye, and a disdain-. .ul curl to his lip. He waa a master Asat his work,' and held -the reputation f being able to do things where oth era failed.. Blakeman fawned ' upon f , , him? aad Incidentally, drank his liquor. 'i- -.although iot falling to take his own part In supplying good eheer -. ever the t : "eoelai glass," . -. -.. v .'"1 j The fourth member of the group-was a alim young - man, with black chin Vhiskers, after the ".custom of the TTtlmea- Hisrnatne was Trowiiian: and - t-- vhls business waa oonneeted with , Aha ' I blockade runners. The remaining: .mem -I . '.rs were similarly engaged, for the business was expansive, and. In impor 2 ' tance vied with tlie other srreat acott v, nation of fighting in the ranks of the 1- onieaeraie armiea,rv . . , "It's a blanked shame!'! growled V t Tra vera. rising and rubbing1 his fore ,, .' . head -vigorously.- as his custom ' was ,; wben -perplexed or excited, v Although v.."' there is war, there euxht to be some s?.J-liid'-of home government, here.'- Where nlee?. jPicknlcklng ' in. the woods as V:,i.. ;erT ! Where ; are' th - frv -nlc-B-erii i " ;vho ,hava been drilling aftd , marching .about as a- fire "organisation?1 Some - scared; soma spoiled; all left to do aa , they please. 1 1'll tett you, a good part ,,'. ot the property could nave been sav- .ed, if -things were run here In a com monsense manner.'" . ; - - . ,t "Dat's It," - assented Hohdret, lean y; . ing baclcliv his chair, and digging his tnumbs unto his armpits; "snentie? ;f 'mcn.-ois state oi. anairs.iss not rurni. s i II buy oe blank ' town, and do soma r toeesnessand let other people do some . beesnesev Da blan k , ml 11 tary officers 1 ,-what-da dey know about beeanessr De forts down below iss well enough f to keep da port Open; butdls blank v,' Interference with every thintri by, deso, blank officers iea dlscouragingr." - f 'a burst of "laughter greeted this de f 'liverancej largely by reason of the em-r- phatlo periods, ; , ' li. "What would v you do. Mr. Hhndrelt" v , Inquired Trowman. . "What would do? We have cotton -here:' we have , naval store here: we : have warehouses full of goods here. I keep men to;, care de property. Home guardsbah? .What I dot I let, de ) . : blank government take Its chance for v freight room along wid de rest: and not "drive men v who "want to do 1eeifnesa out of beesness,. What I dof'-Hondrel was waxing warm. -; 5 ' -f. "By the sword of Damocles!" Inter rupted Blakeman. "A- most magnln cent conflagration," an hUtoric- hoio - caustr He had been' estimating the Ion ,with thek help of two members of the party; .fliook at the figures! -lx million one hundred thousand dol-Urs!?-- . r , ni . - "Seems to be- an interesting matter," sneered, Travera. , "How much did you . lose?" -.' . 'V -.'..v , - Travers showed that he had drunk ' little, too much. Blakeman looked. at him fiercely, but answered nothing, v Hondrel took the paper, and began to read: ' ' "Confederate Government 800 hales of colton,"(200 Bea Island),' ,. S0O,000 "Confederate Government , Unfinished work and tools. : S100.O00 .'NashvlJle and Chattanooga R. R. and others 208 bales,. , JOO.OvO "State of Virginia and other pron eity, . "- . v', , $iu(),00 t..-j tie Ll.mk f sures!". he ex-! . rr-lnaU.J to, liU ...feet,- ,.ndi n o r i The loss ot cotton to' his account .amounted to something near - two and a half million dollars. r-, , "No sympat'y. ehentlement" ' contin ued Hondrel. - hastily, with a wave- ot his hand, as one or, two started $.9 ex tena to him., their condolence over his loss, rvm not broke yet; and my peo pie, dey can stand.lt, I t'ink,'f . ,;' .- The men CrftWdfll- Ifonnd aniV ntMl throwing the paper down on the table. at tne paper. 1 The values were fabu lous, andj tor that reason; all the mora Interesting.? To the comparative few who handled, the commerce, it -was a dreamland... of . easy profit; a big, ea .tlcing feiune. , At the time, gold was at a premium of. eighteen-or twenty to one;, and, with cotton' based ' upoa cost -of sixpence In grold, prices; -ot ram two to, two. and a half dallarsa., 'pound gave, a- romance to '.business transac ts" which j had doubtless jiever had a. parallel; v A -fortune could be lost one day and recovered the next by the suc cessful voyage of av blockade-runner.- - Howj -did the Are 'Originate ?" de manded Travers sternly, a if he were trying culprits for-a grave offense. - "Well, dat's It again," retorted Hon drel, with 'a significant gesture of both handa 1 V- - v-'x --,. !'.,', y "Heart the Wank Yankees "were com ingl" Travers: inquired ot 1 Him, tor the benefit of the ethera v ."Oh, we;!,, gentlemen,? .' said Trow man In ,a conciliatory tone; -we don't know, anything about -that; and, if It waa toons, -it will come out. In' anv evenL we can only make the best of things as they, are. 'iXet's go to work and . get 4a shape again and profit a little by" our experience this time. W need more boata t's call for- them; ana,, u neea oe, go zor cnem. My firm will, send a man to- Nassau1 on the next boat out. to try to get-something to move tne cotton. - Do tne same thins-: or tell us what you want,- and we will get you freight room. . "A .rertlle brain, , yours? exalaimeQ BlakAnan, patting Trowman's back. ey tne.uoos, you'U do the business!" ;.J VilHam .Travers' iiad. lived in Wil mington ' soma eighteen .months - or more. He came from Mobile, which ne Claimed, as his natlvs place: but there, was an accent In his con versa' tfonvwhlch suggested a lonir residence in England or Canada. He had trav eled much, and waa familiar with the shipping "interests "of the Important maritime nations. jue was an unapproachable man. With little gentleness' of manner. There seemed, to be ta his habit of thoueht much Of bitterness and scorn, which gave the suggestion that there had been In his Jast life some great dis appointment, pr, perhaps, some wilful withstanding on his.' own part of in fluences which might have given him the' graces of character: which he lack ed.' He was- a man . of reserve ' and selficonflilence, keeping his own coun sel in his business and private affairs. He had' hut a few friend and these he patronised, with a cool condescension. Hia favors were generally' in the na ture of entertainment over the wlnea brought 1ft by the - blockade runners consigned to him- -" , ' There had developed one- - strange contradiction . la hie" nature. . An old pilot' came In on one of his boats. wounded seriously br'the well dlrected-i snot or a rederal cruiser. .Travers had already :' shown aome friendliness for him, and now undertook to provide his support until ha should recover. For six or eight months the old man lingered; and he never lacked any- ifting, me grocer knew It; so did the druggist and the physician; hut. be yond them and the old man, himself. It was a secret carefully guarded. Travers lost, heavily through the great Ore; how much, he alone, knew. For a day or two he deserted his of fice; and as he had done on one or two occasions - before, be plunged Into the wild, reckless life led by many of the sea-faring strangers In the town. There were several taverns which were popular resorts for these men; partic-. uiany wutwen a locally, th)s was an historic structure, with aw Imposing entraaoe. . There, was a court In front, paved, with mosaics, and ornamented with granite -pillars. The door of the loon, opening from the recess., was surrounded with a stained glass.. In the convivial days of the past. It had been the resort of the wits of the town and it Stilt enjoyed a tone of distinc tion. On the third' evening. Travers wan dered into Hubden's, and joined one of the groups which sat about the clace. It "Was the end of hia debauch. A lively conversation was going on over what 'appeared to be some new development in the shipping situation. a quick interest ieapea into Travers' eyes. ""What's .new?" he demanded Xh. hOthing" drawled a red-faced Irishman. '."Nothing; new for- you: at any-rate; you have no boats."- ' ' Travera looked at blra Inquiringly;- "Oh, - well," ithei man- continued: "cotton has been Jumping up out of the- ground and -falling out ot v the clouds,- trying to get away front these nreDug-s; ana mere are no ooata to touch 4t.' you haven't anythlngr be repeatea. - rl - Not a blank thing?" assented Tray- era "How are freights?" "Well, that's "the fun!" replied the other.-. "They are offering this after noon one and a half to one; and X un derstand Kreston ft Co. say they would give two to one to move some, ot their cotton-tomorrow."..- - "- A magnificent freight!?: exclaimed Travers, -shrugging hia shoulders,- and casting a. quick, absent glance, about him. The .thought waa fascinating. A successful trip would 'yield a for tune! . The hazards of running the Federal - blockade, dwindled In ' the contemplation, to a matter of minor consideration. ' The , opportunity waa everything to.be desired. ,.-. Travers stroked his. forehead vianr. ously; and cursed his belated partner on the sea,? who, should have brought one of their v boats, . the :, Marguerite, through ten days or mor ago, - , "The Marguerlte?;que!led the man. who caught the name as he was saun tering .up "to the bar.; 'Why., sir. she pulled into the wharf" half an hour ago.- - Does she come to you, sir?" She does," assented Travera curtly: and for a moment he "looked at the man, -as if in doubt as to .the accu racy of his information; then took & quick; step toward the door; .wheeled, and - threw a ; ten-dollar note on th counter. , "Take that," be said,-. "you and friends, and drink to the good, luck of the Marguerite." , For two hours Travers sat aboard the Marguerite, discussing the Nassau markets, and listening to the account of .an exciting cnase of the Federal cruisers. It was a narrow tscape; to a n c e o f t ii e , By ANDREW t. HOW3XL, J which a shattered portion of the gun wale, and a hole through the captain's cabin bore their testimony, By day light the unloading began.:; Travers saw to that himself, By 10 o clock It was completed, ' and the. first bale of cotton of the outward cargo was taken aboard; and before nightfall the. entire cargo waa stowed away and the- steam er cleared from the , military v. head- mmrtArfc. ' r ' ' ' ' ' The" Marguerite waa a smart tittle craft.' graceful and wiry as. a grey hound. As she stood out in the river, ready to make her ' run tor the sea, Travers, upon the wharf, was viewing her With admiring eyes.' Her color was grey,' and presented a dingy, weird as pect - In the"gatherlng darkness, : Her paddle boxes made a pleasing break In the long,, hull, above which the low cabins peered as If fearful of standing. uprignt,.' a Dove aecks couia nave oeen seen two low, broad funnels, a slender bridge and a short mast. She was a type .of-- the blockade ? runners that made . their swift, steady trips through the cordon of Federal .warships, con veying the . commerce which brought into the Confederacy-the meagre sup plies of food, clothing and munitions of war upon which it depended, and re turned with priceless cargoes of cot ton to supply the English" ml Us. When the Marauerite - moved down the stream, Travers felt; that . fortune had-abundantly smiled upon him that , :r-r',. V '. ' '111 i . i 1 v-: ,-.. ;r RirrHKRFOKDTOJTS ' FROGRESS. The Year 105 Marked by Many Im ?;:r.. ,' pTovcmcnts, , .... " CorresDondence of The Observer. . ' -Butherftordtont1- pan! ' 35. The aear Just passed hag been one of the most prosperous In- the history of our town While its growth has not been by leaps ana bounds, It has been steady and quiet, and always r on the upward march of progress. More than a dosen nW buildings have been erected dur ing the last year and double that num- her planned.- The steady i lncrease of population which has been more than 25 per cent., demands more houses, there. not being, a vacant house' now in our town many being occupied by two or more families while others are forc ed to board. All kinds of real estate is now bringing good prices. Property has advanced 25 to 40 per cent.; many think more but this is a safe estimate. Among the many new enterprises that have been launched in and around our town are: The Rutherfordton Ven eering Works, which is owned by out side capital, but an enterprise that 's a great help to our community. Mr. O. L. Williams, of MocksvlUe, Is the principal owner, and Mr. A. F. Wood, of Advance,-, is tne manager ana has the Jlplanfc In charge. The Slaynes Bottling Works has been established recently, and is. an establishment that Is doing quite an extensive business. Mr. Robert E., Haynes, si son of Mr. R. B. Haynes,-the well known cotton mill man. Is the popular and hustling proprietor., Other new concerns are the Fry-Walker Lumber Company, the Magness and Miller lob printing house. and the Jewelry Store of which Silas P. Houser is owner. ? The Rutherfordton Manufacturing -Company, of which Messers Carpenter and Taylor are the proprietors, have ' built a large - new, building for their plant near the South ern depot and moved Into It. On the old site on the west side of town thv have erected new buildings and have made preparations to, erect more. Mr, M. I Justice who purchased the Bart let property has .Improved It much by erecting two new, buildings. The postofflce has been moved into - new quarters and fitted Up with handsome new furniture and keyless lock boxes and now is one of the neatest In the 'State for a town of this size. A num ber of residences .' were Improved -by re-palntlng and - otherwise. There has also been improvements made by the1 town authorities. - The streets . havo .1 1 ii 1, ' 1 -i ,1 1 1 . 11 Imi-i 1I1 1 .1 -m hi 1, 1 11 f E? B N MEMORIES OP THE DAYS 1 t The sketch Which follows Is reproduced because of Its peculiar, timeliness and for the pleasant memories It will revive la the minds of many of the generation that Is passing, wh danced to the muslo of Old Frank Johnson's band. Tha sketch was written some' years ago for a Vir ginia newspaper by Mr. Frank fi. Wood son, a native North Carolinian, now one of the editors of -The Richmond Times- Dispatch, and the fact that It is a per sonal reroinlseno lends to it additional interest. - - ,. - . - v. town, Scum la a great man and he iLjnat & great band. Ills music is some 4 , . thing wonderful. I sat thera in the -, . Aowemy ot music simply entranced for a while, but really before he had got ten throus-h With thn nrno-ratnm th encores I had begun "to get .a little more U guess, but rather the fault of my faulty LJ1UE1 BIIOIJKCI.'V 'X IIJLE ..WnH tlflt KV11ftH.', Taillt . I love to hear good music and I simply dote en a band but I confess that I got tired of Sousa.' Why did I get tired of him? Well, as ?; was" coming out Of the Academy I heard a young isdy say, ."Oh, why will Sousa play so much classical music; why does be not confine himself to bis own grand marches." I1 hadn't thought of It before,' but maybe his play insr la too Miusliml for mv , , Knf thi I know and know quite well; In the years long gone by I was never known -togot tired of Old Frank Johnson's band. . 1 1 ,j f 1 h . 1 , .T , r t t " Frank; Johnson band! ' My! t My!l Mr:!! what memories the mnn mantinn ot that wonderrul 1, musical aggregation brings Up. . Why, ,away .back v yonder. When I was a barefooted- vIUsrs boy, I could follow that bands for miles or sit and listen to its sweet music for hours. rti ur uwym, n ii wuig nav piayea SO long, and J never got tired eltner.- ' - Old Frank Johnson-was a. dmni tlM owned by a wealthy Roanoke river f arm- . . nww ifiwu "vic, wrifl in;a.iea in Northampton county, N. C.- He bought hlmwll on a credit, and In like manners purchased the ; freedom of bis wife,. His old master threw In the five at air nhn. tlren, ail boys, for good measure. John son . was a natural-born musician, could nisty any mairumeni ne naa ever seen. " - ...w -...v . ... iw iHjuifr, violins in those good old dy, but fid dle) the clarionet and the cornet kt, .-, - He earned the money to pay his and his family's freedom by fiddling for balls and dances, and then made a goodly fortune. ITe was known as "01dr Frank Johnasm when I was born and I .don't know how lona; before. I never knew him to, be i-hIhmI by nny other name, lie Wn a as l.U k as the ace of snade. but lie it nn. derxtnnd he wji no tKtminon niUMli-Inn, no ortnnary noaier., lie- was an snatocrnt, toov lie "Was j a regular- ' fore de waa. 1 c o w r n d e r c JJV if 1 i? - r been Improved slowly, but satisfactori ly., New lamps, nave been placed on our stereeta which now - make them look autte city like iliu lines 01: uubiubhb vur town una enjoyed' a most prosperous year, and is .beginning tho new one with renewed 1 energy nd activity. Many new enter prises are now being organised which will soon assume shape. -. . j , . 5 - RECAULS OIJ TIMES. ' ' ' - s f I Feuds i Among the Republicans Now Cannot bo Mora Bitter Than Thy . Wera "men. Oreenshoro Record. t Hie prospect for a long and bitter fight over tne connrniauon 01 r.' v, P. Frailer to bo postmaster at Greens boro., it Jt la possible to make a fight over: lt, f ecalla : some gigantic strug gles' amona; tne . apuoucan Dremreu back In the eighties The old organi sation was presided over by men of brains. f "Thera "was -Dr. Mott, for In stance, , a 'power Jn his day, but be waa nothing compared to one Col. -T. B. Keogh. whow- as chairman of his State campaign ta 0878, when Vance and -Settle had ihe State by the eara Keogh may not have possessed more brains to tne square men ana nr. Mott, but he had a different way ot worklnr. trt Mott would tell an op ponent what he was going to do, then 140 it and let him kick and cuss. Not bo wtth-Col. K-eogn; ne was reticent; he was- ly and .when- he had a thing to do he generally had It done and out of the way before tho other fel low knew, anything, about it. x Then, too, he .kept the screws on tight and If a man. had a kick coming he was afraid that Keogh" would never forget him and he remained quiet. The colonel had things his wn way for a long time and he deserved to be 'boss, vfor time was when he bad to spend a , lot -of 'money for the party, but he., was flush in those days: and made money v in. chunka IBufeverV lane has Us turning. He was appoint-' ed United States marshal in this dis trict by President Arthur. Col. Doujp las had held 'the position under Grant and did not wish to quit. If he did he did not want Keogh to hold the Job and he fought ' him. He held up his confirmation and : kept it held up; in fact, while Keogh held the office a full term or more he was never con firmed, but held on be a recess ap pointment from Arthur. Judge Doug lashe waa only a colonel then went to Washington and camped. He was a fighter In those) days and may be he has not forgotten how to fight yet. He went to Washington last night and will no doubt give Frazier a race for his money .4 His son, young Douglas, was to be appointed postmaster and to be slipped -up on the blind aide is not at all to Judge Douglas' liking. He is resourceful and never tires. With a man like this camping on his trail. Mr. Frasler has no reason to congratulate nimeeir. . - . v But the question of confirmation- of Frasler suggests a thought. On what grounds do they expect to prevent it? The first effort " no doubt will be rb try to convince the President that he has been tricked, but this Is not going to work.- Blackburn Is on the spot and will look -v after, his man. Will they brin? charges against Frazier? If so, what? Every man that Is worth talking about haa hls-nemies or t least nls. detractors, but what can bei1uence were aooui equal. ia a Quaker, tout instead being against hi mthts well help htm. He dbvs hia jdebte and has accumulated consider- awt property. Ho is a quiet man and is never heard talking about another. He attends to his own -business and If he has ever stolen anything or been accused of it, the public -don't know it. ... The Value of tha , Editorial. Rev. P. R. Law in Lumherton Robe- aonlan. v ' '.-a--Mo'4 . The value of what we call editorials. the leading and original articles in the newspaper, Is often unduly disparaged D ; T M T E t 1 fce 1 "M" r. WHEN OJIiB iTtANK JOHNSON'S THE TAB ItEKJU BELLES artstaerat- ait If hit "uuir'aiiii. had olTered to employ nim to furnish band muslo for a poor folks' picnic or orchestra muslo for a country dance that "poor white trash't would bave been smothered beneath 'the. withering scorn and-Ws-hteous indignation of this ebony hued old Koanoke, river aristocrat. Ha played only , for aristocrats, , and was ai- yrnju wot, paid, ':.i-'.. ;. .'...' '.,'' a i.;" '. ' All of his sons were mualetans mt Ka Mr yonder in the fifties, when. JL then but a tot, first knew of Old Frank Johnson. He had ten sons,; and tour or five, musically inclined nephews, alt named Johnson and B.11 10 eraniy disck, m none being brighter than ''ginger .cake.'' When I and forty other lads of the village used to walk, no run, miles to meet the band when It had iwtjii announced mat Via Tenit John son is coming to-town," 1 knew the given names of ail the sons, but I have forgot ten them now except John and Edward B.11U wuynuB una s rna. Jr, . U.--. , " , " ( ' aa a mn Ky. ; , . , ' i "Well, Old, Frank Jobnwn made up a brass baad of this family of.- sons and Old Frank blew the clarionet; John John. !,. iiw aiueat aun, i ne-, cornet : uepnas. iiid iwiur uiinii aawu, n,m t oik oraea horn, ana tYnnk. Jx.. tieat - th : aruuu ;xuey a.iso naa tne Dig bass arum. the - cymbals and -the long drawn-out trombone And ail -the nthae.Ytnrna , thinua (hat a-o to make braas band. All tha Johnsons were fiddl- rra r innjo picsers. or nuie niowsrs and the business Of thla a-reat North PaMlin. musloal aggregation was to furnish field aim twn ' musio lor .aristocratic tourna rnentu, picnics, etc., and oanolng musie for the inevitable grand ball that followed at night. Sometimes the band played at big Democratic barbecue and. soeakinn- never at a. Whig gathering.. Old Frank Johnson was a Democrat as well as an aristocrat, and he would have- died before he would have allowed his .baud to play at a Whig meeting. Old Frank Johnson's band was known all - over Northampton, Halifax. Edgecombe, Warren Nash and Granville counties in North Caroline and waa -always - In demand, . v, . . - tri th summer time ihe bant? nlavMr'at the springs and there was -every year a scramble c between . 'KltireH'a Spring In Oranvllle -. county,-. Jonea' and '. Hhocco Springs Ilk Warren, and Buffalo Spring jiiat srrons tb Virginia line, for Old Frank Johnson's summer sorvlce, Gen erally either Bhocco or Johns would get him, and sometimes,, (the tw plcutra b Ing only, two miles apart) they took hint jointly the band playing at on place one day end night and at the other the next and that la Mow 1 cams ta know aU about OM Frank Johnson's band. " - When the bund was at Jonen' or, Rhnc. co's it came Into the town ot Warrentjn. eiKht miles, once a week or may be once a lormiKm xo viuy in lite court houae ynrd in the afternoon 11 nd for a bull at Urcjwnlow's Hotl at ti'i ht anl the d.-inc-era t the springs, ami ull the rsKiwns round about cams mv too, ? - , ' ( in comparison with the news columns.; Whereupon we rise to- say that any paper which has editorials oz nominal worth suffers very greatly. The stand ing : of a paper is measured by , the character ot its editorial columns. On the well-known fact . that principles,' do not move the multitude until, they are Incarnated the editorials ot a paper are essential to Its popularity among the most intelligent - because they discuss the living Items of , the day and ex press what the paper atands for. News Is Indispensable and' so is' the 'editorial,- the editorial that really has thought in It, that Instructs and Is progressive. - Fortunate is the paper whole editorials are read at all, more fortunate is the paper whose editorials are read ? always. If not , .'before the ' ' mora vi. sensational, dispatches, yet" "Just - after. And .when any great Issue la pending- Its editorials are sought tor enlightenment. ' The , Char. lotte Observer is one of these papers. Whether we agree with it or not, be It said here wa agree with nobody every time, we read carefully Its views pf thtnga , . , , Parrot ta Contempt of Court. Cleveland 'Correspondence ot the New . York Tribune "J Want a kiss. Please give me a kiss, come play with me. x love you. honey, yes, I do. honey, yes. I do." : The voice was loud and piercing In police court today. . r,"Mi" Court Officer" cried the Judge. "I don't know who It Is, your honor, that wants the kiss, replied the court officer. "Find out and put her In the pen," answered the Judge, ' ' Court was adjourned for ten min utes and the room cleared to the vocal aecompainment or "KveryDoay works But Father." Several patrolmen aided the court officer in hia search for the culplrt. Finally, a parrot, which was there as evidence in a larceny case, was "discovered In a far corner. The bird was plainly In contempt of court. but no action further than its removal was taken. . . I Trie Eid-Seat Hog. Waxhaw Enterprise. Have you ever noticed the end-seat hog at church? Surely everybody has had to crawl over him many times to set to a seat. Maybe you have often wondered,' as we have, why the end seat hog doesn't wait and come In last, so that other people would not be forced to crawl over him to get to their seats. Well If a this way: He knowa that there are other end-seat hogs Just like himself, and so he has tens to church early to secure a favor ite end-seat before any of the other end-seat hogs get ahead of him. So the end-seat' hog is always In evidence. early and late, at churcn, ana nes a pretty thing, too. Note That Went Astray. Boston Herald. ' This is a true story of a lady or ganist in a church not' a thousand miles from Ttlton, N. H. On going to church one morning sne noticed that a new minister, a stran ger, was in the pulpit. Previous to this she naO-naa cnntnnerapie iroupie because the blow boy would let the wind out of the organ when she need ed it moat. 60 she wrote a note say ing, ''Blow, blow hard; blow all the time until I tell you to stop," and call ing the blow boy, gave it to him. The boy, supposing the not was meant tor the minister, without open ing or Teadlng It, carried It to the pulpit. The minister's, surprise, .and the organist's confusion in conse- Cat Hint's Fond of Hunting Rattle snakes. Ocala Star. Mrs, Fannie It. -Clary's cat has devel oped a strsnga Inclination In going out and hunting rattlesnakes. Tuesday mor ning the cat brought Into the kitchen a rattler fully five feet long which she found in the woods, caught behind the head and crushed the life out of It and spread it, before her kittens that they might regale themselves on a delectable repast.' This Is the first Instnmce that Mr. Tom R. Gray has ever heard of such a pro cedure -on the part of a cat. The cat's unexpected visit into the kitchen produc ed consternation with the cook that only the strong arm. of a man could quell. - K C E L L E IV BAND .DISCOURSED MUSIC. THAT AND BEAUX OF THE 00'S. What balls, these were and what balls those were 'at Shocco and Jones'! No germane In those days square dances all the time and, O! my, how Old Frank could call the figures: "Balance All," "Swimr Your Partner." "Ladles Cuanse." "Back Again, Doocee-do," "Swing Corners All," etc., etc. And when the areat lona ball room In Brownlow's Hotel was filled with those happy dancers there was a scene or beau ty and chivalry tho like of which we don't witness In these days. . I - don't know that 'Women as a . general rule were any prettier or lovelier or men riannsomer or- nobler In - those - days '- than now, but some how I can't help thinking they were.. I was might young then - and maybe not capable of Juagmg, but visions of those handsome people who danced to Old Frank Johnson's muslo in Warenton and - at 9boam?.-pitimn'7"?9lon' Springs are flitting before me now; I see them , now Just as , t saw them then aad really I hardly ever catch a glimpse of a young woman now-a-days wno looks near so pretty to my eyes as ao those I behold In the vision. . - ;. t 1 TeSr beautiful 'Women ' and handsome men.- 'There were the Bummorvlllea, four or five sisters, all stately -and beautiful: Miss flue Williams, Mlas Pauline Rolf. Miss Nannie,. Wilson. Misses Ussle and Anna Plummer, the Edwards girls, as happy a quartette, as ever uvea, -Miss Rosa Martin. Miss Laura. Martin,- Miss Martha Washington, Miss Lalla - Fltta. Misses Maria - and Fannie fioutherland and pretty little -Kate Routhrland, Miss Belts Bullock, Mlss-.MeSa 8 wain. Miss Klisabeth Oreene. the. accomplished daughters of Colonel 'Mason WUrglns and a hundred others, alii beautiful, all highly edwatea ana . an . rwmy t atlireu and bejeweledi -' ..?-. . Anil thM mens Ben wade. Torn ftmtt. Jim Summerrilte, William White, .- John Hugger, Wm. H. Cheek, IMV Foots.' Wal. ter Montgomery. Horace Ma yfield, George Bellamy. Bill Alston, Phi! Norwood; Ned Pamroer, Austin Oreene, Col,. Tom jonea, Peter Mitchell, Blount Plummer, Klias Carr, . Walter - Plummer, Ned Allen, Tom Hklnner and a host of others, all hand some, and chivalrous and most graceful dancers .M 's .V. ,t Welt, birs and bye the war- came alona. Shocco and Jones' Springs were perma nently cloned, Warrenton was deserted by these . handsome , men who went - to Northern Virginia to tisht under Beaure gard, Jackson and Lee, and all these beautiful women quit auncing and went to sawing end praying for the bandsoms, brave soldiers .who had left home and friends at the first tap of the drum. A rich-Roanoke river rarmer who had hepn -made a Confederat colonel hti-eit Old Frank Johnson's band to make bat tle music for tha boys who wore the gray and carried him and hia band to the front. .- , , old Frank was an arlHfoer.it and . a Democrat but be was Put a lighter, apd In The Field R. C. O. Schillings, , thV author of fi: 'Flash Ugh tain the Jungle,'' is an eminent German naturatist-sports- an eminent Ger man natural Is t-s port s-man-photographer, who made four trips to Equatorial Africa before he was able to -secur the ' remarkable photographs ot wild animals In their native haunts which appear in his took. To do- this he ; was compelled to perfect a powerful flashlight pro cess that - would - not Impair his cam era. He craved disease and had many thrilling escapes from death tn close encounters with Hons, elephants and rhinoceroses. He la the only man .to secure euccessrui photographs of lions and lioness in the Jungle. - On the fourth and most successful expedition hia caravan Included 174 assistants, i servants and carriers. His great work, which has been done at his own ex pense, has permanently enriched natu- V J Miss Ellen Glasgow, Author of The Wheel of life.' ra! history. "Flashlights In the Jun gle" is conceded to be the most mar velous work on wild animal photogra phy the world . has . ever seen. Dr, Schillings stands as one of' the most 'conspicuous types ot the adventure loving filed naturalist who hunts with a camera. President -Roosevelt has commended him - highly and de clared that his book is the best recent one on the wilderness. - . The publication of Miss Ellen Olas row's new novel. "The Wheel of Life.' lias' been a conspicuous literary event, not only on account ot the distinguish ing reputation ot the alt nor, but be raust it recoras too fuH ripening -of her art and Is a new revelation of life In New Tork city. The hero Js a man of striking individuality; the heroine S (HhS fl WAS NOT CLASSICAL FOR he didn't 'like the muaio of 'tne bullets. He threw uo the SDoncs aarlv in the I struggle and took his band back to-the unuaa ui wis j-toanuse wnere ne occasion ally played for a country dance. Dances were not mucn in lavor aunng the dark days ot the war, so business was -dull, and bye and bye he had to condescend to can ngures tur poor wmis trasn. Frank Johnson-nan tlally revived his band and nlaved tor a few more picnics and balls, but he was now too old and times were too much out of Joint. , 7 - ' , . The last time I saw the old man and his band was in the summer of p$tl, He played at Halifax. N. tt., lor an oid-fash. loned tournament in the morning -and a coronation ball at nighty and this, by the way, was the last effort of the old-time aristocracy of that section to revive ths aniv-oeitum icsiivitiea - ana it : was a - de nial failure. Too many ot the old-tima aristocrats had gone to the wall in the crush of 'it. Thev mads but & alrVlv nowing at iim lournamont, ana the "poor white trash't went to the front, An overseer's son-cauaht tne most riiie-s at the tilting and crowned the daughter 01 - tne county jauer, queen Ot love ana beauty, xj-.-. - . Old Frank Johnson, died the next year ana a nave always naa a lurking suspic ion that the Halifax tournament, ao dia- astrous to the antebellum srtstroey, ttroas nis sriswcrsuo om aeart- au to ntnaers. ' ' " - , "S, Si'- n , ' - . Old Frank Johnson's (land never m'avaA classical music, don't reckon Old 'rank ever heard of classical music, but his music suited me and X never got tired listening to "Kate Wells,. "Gentle Fairy Belle?' "Who'll Take Sugar In His Cof fee," . "Mocking Bird." y Dark Vtr. alula Bride," 'bid. Folks at Home." etc, CtC , - . t . -: v . 1- - - Housa a band with tta classical - music and marchea-are not a patching to -Old Frank Johnson's band as I knew it and heard, It ' and loved it in those aood 01a days, now gone never to return, ,.1,,- By tha way. I wonder what has beoome of : all those 'handsoma young man and beautiful women who usea to dance, so gracefully to that sweet music! Many of the men fell In battle, some a early as Manassas, soma at Seven Pineasome at Cold Harbor, some on the' works at Pe teraburg and a number of them in tho wilderness, but some of them ripvnr fn in battle. Like Old Frank Johnuon, they loved fiddle muslo-' and. dancing- bettor than, thev did the bullet muain jtnrt tiurtit. Ing and . they ''followed the band back home." . And those lovely women nearly all are dead I reckon. I don't, know tltnt I can locate a single one of them. Such ss are living I guess are mothers ami grandmothers perhaps,, but 1 wilt -wager (W gill of buttermilk that never a n i.f the daughters - wu ever so b,-antit'wl aa were-their ntnthor when I ns,', s.-e them Vbulnnclng all" and "ewni ;!!! i- .i--ners"-. to - the sweet' munio maua 1 t ,J frank Jyli,n, -. Of Literature le a poet rare talent Betweeoi them is evolved a drama of vital an 1 moving interest, and ihe lay charac ters and forces that contribute to in unfolding make It a piece f literature of large proportions. The"' brilliant frivolity r of -society Is - set -forth and the character ot a good man Is made attractive. "The Wheel of Ufa" Shows a largeness of vision and ' a depth of undestandlng that-will' rank it with the genuine achievements of American fiction It is by .far Miss Glasgow's most mature. and impressive,. work . 1 BOOKS AHX MAGAZINES. ' V' 1 '- The first volume ... of a JUterarv aad historical f undertaking : of , which the people of the State have beard so much) is but and Is to be followed aa rap idly as possible by- the other tea or twelve vnliimM whl.h will rnmnvlaa the complete set, t wit. the Bio graphical HUstory of North Carolina.",; The legend found on the title page reaus: -iwimitea to seven hundred an , fifty registered and numbered sets, ot whkfli Is set number -14." It is an octavo of 479 pages, strictly de luxe. The binding Is In full mor occo, beautifully embellished in gold, tha J..I.. .., .t- ftiat Seal of the luato. CThe a per, specially made tor this publica tion, Is of the finest quality, light ami v durable. Each of the 7 sketches Is provided with an appropriate v. head- ' piece and lnitl Illumination ; to cor respond, and there are 41 full-page en gravings of men of mark, both liv ing and dead. The typography 1s clear and pleasing to the eye. In fact. 11 la a remarkable feat ot book-mak ing worthy of tha Roycrofters or arty body etse. There la not a mechanical detail tn which a critic might sincere- " ty suggest improvement. .. , The preface . is brief and precise enough tor quotation entire: "Tha publisher," Mr. Charles Van Nodosa. of Greensboro, "desires to say. that is nas oeea nis aesign, in co-operation witn the eminent gentlemen associ ated in the preparation of thls work- to present to posterity some account,' of those ufceful citizens who have been connected with the events and historical episodes exerting an influ ence on the life of the people and an fc , VIUIVI"' Ul , Ilia, AllOfc2iUUU(I V. and Industries of the State of North. Carolina. - -' , "It this design has been executed as desired, tho w6rk speaks best for It- - Dr. C G. SchlUings, Author of Ilat-li- "i' lights jn,- tho atulcIc," self and needs no further preface." Thera 1 are - 2&- contributors - to UiH volume, more ' sketches being written by me eoitor-m-cnief. - Samuel A. Ashe, than by any other. Among the contributors 7 ere such- men- as Paul B.f Barringer,. Wood row : Wilson. Ma r- shall DeLancey Haywood. Stephen r. weeka . All the twenty-six - are w. known writers and scholars, an J Vv reader will be charmed with the 1:' - ary flavor which prevades the v1 volume. Moreover, these ke' ranging upwards from colonl! t would seem authorltatlvo In t' -torlcat-:.. sense, -.bearing, the ef i- care a,nds research on r r f vouched' for by aJ.3!tlo.--t ; such names aa those 1. ; : Since, a Emerson e ', . properly no M.-tory, -. - ' ' thla work wl- i o mosfv.lt:.i! 1- li- tho ':.ite's ! ' " .1 ! - ' 1 .s' Si -'t ( ; a
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 28, 1906, edition 1
11
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