North Carolina Newspapers

Established 1899 Hs Threw Roses And m Rocks How Roil Panes Matbeson Did His Peiling Through Life. LINNEY S FINE TRIBUTE An Aged Friend's Eulogy of a Friend—Twenty Young Men Are Named For Him. The Hon, Romulus Z Linne laid a fine tribute to his frien.i, the late Robert Partee Mitheson. of Alexander, in the last issue a: the Tayl«»rsville Scout. The iol lowing are extracts: "To arrange aii tne distin guishing intellectual chara teris tic of our lamented friend in a terse form, so that they may be preserved for generations to come, as well as for the lining, would be a work worthy of the ef forts or the greatest and best who knew him. There vas a beautiful blending of infinate pa tience, with will power and gen ius.for details, added to these Few men possessed a greater power to adjust and compromise differences between his fellow citizens. He was pre-eminently a man ot small pretentions, but of wonderful performances. He knew and practised, the exalted virtues of silence, and might ap propriately be classed with Car lyle's inarticulate great men. Courage, superb courag®, and charity, even to the point of for giving those who tried to injure him,made him a great character, apart from the general excellence of his life." 'it was impossible, for Robert Partee Matheson to resist an ap peal of any man in distress. The records of our courts snow that he became surety for the appear ence of more men in trouble than any our citzens. On one occasion he met the un just accusation of a dangerous foe utigation he triumphed over hia enemy and rather than allow his antagonist to suffer in an iron cage, for failure to pay the cost, he stood his security and had the cost to pay himself. Secular his tory fureishes no case oj forgiv ness and God-like charity like this. This man's heart was ~o great, that under provications of the character, he came fully up to the highest standard of our holy religion. "Do good to those who dispitefully use you." * * * 4 'l saw him in one street fight. Passing from the court house to his place of business, our atten tion was directed to the outcries of a personal friend of the de ceased. "Don't let him kill me," the yoor fellow exclaimed. He was then murderously assaulted by two intoxicated men with stones. We rushed to the rescue. The men turned up on us. Partee was excited and angered, but the nearest approach he made to profanity was this, "I'H be hanged if you shall kill him." And the assailants were driven away and his friend's life saved, though he was badly wounded. Such was the confidence that his country reposed in him that party lines were often broken, by the suffragans in an election in which he was a candidate. He held various positions by election but rarely did he seek nomina tion. His S countrymen sought him. His life's deportment was a standing proclamation of the ge. tleman and the Christian." Wnen I first knew him, just at the close ot the late civil war be tween the states, he was an ofn cer in the Pre. byterian church, and he lived and died holding that exalted post. He met all the demands, nut only of his r*V>urch. but those imposed by philanthropy. He was more lib ex elllnan most men. in an unos tentatious way he exemplified the truths of Wadsworth's words. "That best portion of a good man's life is his little nameless, unremembered, acts of kindness and of love." Yet such was the intelligence, dilligence and vigi lence, during his entire life, that he responded to all the demands of the ohurch and charity, raised a large family of children educa ted them, and accumulated a very pi etty estate. He married at an early age, the only daughter of the la-e la mented Rev. Alfred Carson This union was blessed with seven children, four sons and ♦hree daughters; Walter C., Wil- THE HICKORY DEMOCRAT liam H.. Mary, Ida, Emma L'v retta, Robert C., Chas. P., and Edith E , of whom only four i survive him, three sons and one daughter. "In his early life and in a quiet way, Partee threw roses in the pathway of his friends. No gloom or shadow thereof ever hung about his soul.- But with a man at three-score-and ten, the world grows lonelv. Through wildernesses almost desolate, the stream of life glides darkly to ward the eternal gulf. The as sociations of early existence are, •o a ianre extent, gone. Robert P. Mat htson, at the advanced aare of 77, appeared to be as a rule, cheerful and enjoyed life nd especially the presence of his friends. One of the most enjoyable occasions of his life, was lbe celebration of his Golden "Veddirg at his beautiful home, i the little village of Taylors -pie, on the 15th day of Septem ber last. ' Throughout the entire period of 77 years, not one sentence can be f jund in which he traduced the honor and sincerity ot' any human being. He was in no sense a 'mud slinger,' but al wavs preferred to help his fel low countrymen keep their gar ments clean. The tender re gard in which Robert Partee Matheson, and his efforts, were regarded, by his countrymen strongly shown, in the feat, that there are 26 young men named Partee, sons of the countrymen who deligated to support him and honor him by assisting him in official positions. The study of this man's life painted in ex act truth, with no blur or wrin kle left out, is a great legacy to those who "survive him. Those who emulate his virtues cannot fail to succeed in all the manly efforts of life." Eugene Field's Description of America Eugene Field's first visit to Europe was made soon after he had come into a considerable sum of monev and while he was stii! a resident of St. Joseph, Mo. He had been a reporter on the St. Joseph Gazette a number of years and was becoming known on ac count of his verses. The legacy that had been left to him bv a relative looked so large to him that he did not believe he would ever have to do newspaper paper work again. Little did he think that when he returned from Eu rope, he would not have a dollar of it left, although such proved to be the case. Field's fame had not extended to Europe at that time, but when he reached London he met friends there who introduced him in good society. He was invited to a number of receptions and met many people of note. On every occasion he was called upon to tell something about his native land, and the tales he told would have put Munchausen to shame. At one of the gatherings the sub ject of lynchingsin America was being discussed. "I suppose it is not unusual to see one or more lynchings evety day," remarked an Englishman. "Not at all uncommon," re plied Field. "In fact, we are so accustomed to seeing people lynched that we pay little atten tion to hangings of that charac ter." "And vou have seen people lynched?" inquired a horrified ladv sitting beside the American poet. "Many of them," Field an swered in a tone so, assuring that it would have done credit to a liar of twice his age and experi ence., "The last lynching I wit nessed." he continued "was just before I sailed. 1 was with some friends at a dinner in a cafe in New York. The waiter had brought us pudding that had salt in it instead of sugar. We tasted it, and then with one ac cordjarose and strung the waiter up to the chandelier." "Did you participate in it?" asked the awe-stricken lady in surprise. * "Well, no," replied Field. "I did not exactly have a part in it, for at the moment he was strung up I was down in the kitchen shooting the chef!"-Lippincott's With the guns of the revolu tions approaching nearer to his palace and the warships of the United States in Nicaragua*) ports, President Zelaya was forced resign on Thursday, the 16th. Gen. Estrada, of the revolution ist army* will name his success or. HICKORY, N.C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1909. Enforce the Law Ag i\ is? AS r Guns Rey. J. G. Garth Appeals tO Parents to Aid Police SEASON OF DANGER HERE Presbyterian Church Filled During Funeral of Winston Morton—Covenanters Fol low Coffin to the Grave At the funeral on Thursday in the Presbyterian church of Mas ter Winston M >rton, the 14-year old lad who died as the result of being shot in the eye by an air gun. Rev. J. G. Garth, his pas tor, referred to the city ordiance against the use of "air car tridges." etc. Mr. Garth read the ordinance, which declares that any persons who shall discnarge any gnn or pistol or fire crackers, or air car tridge, except officers of duty, etc,, shall be fined for each and every offense $25.00. "This law has been laxly ob served," said Mr. Garth. "I have notei air guns and other guns in the hanis of men and bovs, ana the sound of fire crack ers and other fire-works have been heard even this far before Christmas. "I believe in a strict obser yance of the law. If there is one lesson to be learned from this sad event it is a strict en forcmeftt of the law; and a per sonal application of the law .to each violation through the effort of every parent who notes its violation. lam intensely inter ested in this matter. Every father and mother here is inter ested in it. "I do not, of course, refer to the past. A sad accident has resulted in the loss of a precious human life. This is a time for plain speech. Let us not be lax in our duty. Let 113 stand by our city government and police officers, and see th »t tney nave public opinion behind them in enforcing these laws, or else next week let us take them from the statute books." Mr. Garth was very much in earnest and vet very faciful in everv thing he said. The sorrow ful silence in the church, filled with a sympathetic congregation, seemed to deepen as he spoke. Many in the city who heard. of his utterance afterward heartily commended it. There were manv tearful faces in the church during the funeral services, Mr. Garth did not trust himself to speak at length about the little boy's life and work but read a sketch of his little career. He referred to the brave spirit of the little fellow when his father came back and found the sight of a beautiful eye gone. As the parent broke down and cried the little boy said: "Never mind, papa; it's God's will." Nothing h ppens by chance. Everything is direct edly the di vine hand, said the speaker, and the taking away of the little boy is no accident. "We rejoice," said the pastor, "that this little book was opened yesterday though it closed today. The brief opening of its little pages has been a blessing to us all. The Covenanters of the church, a large band of little boys, each wearing a white flower on the lapel of his coat, followed the casket to the church and after ward to the cemetery. ' Like North Pole Journalism From the Taylorsville Scout. We regret very much that our last few issues have been a little behind -time and wish to state that the fault lies altogether, at the door of the Press and not with us. We brave the frost and cold winds, however much it may hurt our feelings to do so, and get everything ready for print when, Mr. Press balks and says; "Its too cold for me to work to day," so there we are, for no amount of persuasion on our part will moye him. After so lone: a time, we succeed in getting a fairly good print on the paper and feel much encouraged, when he must fail to deliver properly. King Leopold of Belgium died Thursday morning. His last words were; "1 am suffocat ing." MR. R. EAMES KILLED Prominent Salisbury Erg.ncer a Victim of Reedy Fork Wreck One of the saddest deaths causer; by the wreck of No.ll,southbound passenger of the Southern Rail way. on the 14th; inst., reported in last weeks Democrat, was that of Mr. Richard Eames, of Salis bury. He was a civil and min ing engineer of international re pute. He was 52 years oM and his wife was a daughter of the late James M. McCorkle. He left two sons and a daughter. His father, the venerable and exceedingly popular Dr. R. M. Earn s, mother, three sisters, Misses Mary and MintJe Eames and Mrs. Theodore 'Juejbautn. also survive. The funeral was conduc.-ed Friday at Salisbury by Rev. T. A. Cheatham. The Corporation Commission investigated the wreck in a oodv but refused to give out any state ment previous to making their formal report. The coroners jury reported the accident to be due to a defective cross-tie. The Norfolk and Rich mond sleepers were so badly de molished that their debris was burned on the spot. The total list of the dead was 12. Another Gain Foi Cotton. Washington Dispatch. Secretary of War Dickinson to day promised to act favorably on a recommendation of importance to the entire cotton industry ot' the Unired States, from grower to millman. It means that after the reccom mendation is made, the War De partment will use cotton in pref erence to gunny, or jute, for the sacks in which its supplies are transported. The number of sacks used for such purposes amounts to hundreds of thousan Is in a year. The present regulation for sacks specifies "either cotton or jute." For some't«methe Nation al Farmers' Union, particularly the Farmer's Union of North east Texas, has been working to have the regulations modified to give cotton preference. Today, R. D Bowan, chairman of the Executive Committee or the Texas union, with several Congressmen from the South, urged the Secretary's in lorse ment of cotton, and the Secretary gave his assurances that he is in favor of cotton, strictly an Am erican product, over jute, which comes largely from India. Noted Teachers to be at Char- lotte. The next meeting of the Southern Educational Association will be held at Charlotte, N. C., on December 28, 29 and 30, Among the leading educators of the country who have alread accepted place on the general program may be mentioned the following: Ex-President Elliot of Harvard University, President Jordan of Leland Stanford Uni versity, President Judson of the University of Chicago, President Dabney of the University of Cin cinnati, Chancellor Kirkland of Vanderbilt University, President Hill of the University of Missouri, President Mezes of the University of Texas, President Denriey of Washington and Lee University, President Venable of the Univer sity of North Carolina, President Abercrombie of the University of Alabama, President Kincann on of the University of Mississippi, President Mitchell o? the Univer sity of South Ca olina, Prof. P. P. C axton of the University of Ten nessee, Congressman Chas. R. Davis, the United States commis ! sioner of education; one or two 'European ambassadors, United I States Senator Overman of North ! Carolina and a number of others. The most useful publication to every citizen of the State for the year 1910 is the old reliable "Tur ner Ennis N. 0. Almanac." There is no other tp compare with it for accuracy of calculations and reliable information. Get the best by buying the state stan dard. It has stood the test for j>ver seventy-three years. Price 10 cents. Ennif S Publishing Co., Raleigh, N. C. Willis' Cafe, the neatest, clean est place in the city. We are here to serve you right. Come and see us. Looking for 12345 On A Box Car. Failing to Find it, the Fellow Went to Morgaoton. A LANTERN AT NIGHT. Mr. L. Blalock Says Ex-Sher iff Georje Pritchard is Ail ing Since coming Back from Oklahoma. The Hon. Jake Newell, of Ciia»'lotte, one of the Republi can leaders in Mecklenburg county, while on the wrong side of politics is a good fellow and a consrenial companion. He tells a story and keeps an ear open for a new one to add to his list. Jake's latest yarn is to the ef fect that he was riding on a Southern "train in Western North Carolina a short while ago, when he fell into conversation with a gentleman who had taken a friend to the State Hospital at Morganton. It seems that the peculiar mental trouble of this unfortunate was not "brain storm" nor " confusional insani ty" but a failure after years of search to find just what he had set his heart upon. The victim's mind rather ran to mathematics He was said to be pretty good at cyphering on hi; slate when he was at school. As he grew older he began to juggle with numbers and he held a job for a while, |at a railroad station. He began to watch the num bers on freight cars. He was in terested in the combination of rhese numbers and finally it flashed into his mind that he had never seen the figures, 1, 2,3, 4,5 in this regular succession on the ?ride of a box car. He made up his mind to find this combination. He searched far and wide. His heart leaped one day several years ago when he found the fig ures 1234, on the side of a box car. • But this was one short of the ideal. This was a drink of cold but it was not a quaff from the Fountain of Perpetual Youth, so to speak. He searched on. The days and months and even years flew by. He found that lite was growing short. He be gan to do night work. He remem bered Diognes and got a lantern. The former hunted for an honest man hut this gentleman looked for 12345 on the side of a box car. He would go down to the railroad yards in the town where he lived at night, after supper, and hold ;he light up that it might cast its glow upon the side of the car and perchance reveal the magic nu merals—l234s It is said that he found 54321, 13245, 15243, 51423 and 42351, but never 12345. Jake made an estimate on the cars the fellow had counted dur ing the six and a half years of his search and figured it out 123,451,234,512,345. Jake says they have put the man in a room in the hospital next to the Western North Caro lina railroad and furnished him with a small spy glass. If the spy glass does its duty, the fellow will be sane again some day. * * * The Democrat's editor saw a big man on a big gray horse on von side of the railroad the other ;lay, waiting for a passenger train to get out of the way, so he could get over into town. As both of us were waiting to get over the tracks we passed the rime o'day together, and took acquaintance. "My name is Blalock," said ihe big man on the t'g gray horse. v "Lum? Columbus? Christo pher Columbus Blalock? Is this vlr. Lum Blalock?" asked the newspaper man in delightful sur prise. "That's my name." "But is this the Lum Blalock that helped Sheriff George Pritch ,rd to kill Monroe Garland up in he mountains? "The same. I thought my best friend was killed that time," said Mr. Blalock. "I laid him •ut for dead and then went down ne side of the mountain and ,ooked at Garland. He "was dead, md I stretched him out. When i went back to Pritchard, though, i found him coming to." "Has Mr. Pritchard comeback from Indian Territor> where he Democrat and Press, Consolidated 1905 was U.S. Marshall?" Mr. Bla lock was asked. "Yes," answered Mr. Blalock, "but he is not at all well. His leg is giving him trouole. It looks like he?«will never be en tirely well from the effects of that fieht on the top of the mour tain when Monroe Garland gave him such a close call. Mr. Blalock and Mr. D. W. Jones are two of the nerviest men who ever broke up a still or captured a moonshiner. The Democrat hopes to have some erood stories from both of them before very long. COTTON AND CORN Farmers Must Get Together in Co-operation and Organ ization From the Home and Farm. From the farmers' standpoint cotton is king in the South and corn in the North and Northwest. The two are destined to become the monarchs of the world's commerce. The various fabrics made out of cotton and its uses in wearing apparel are almost equaled bv the numerous ways in which corn can be served as a food. The United States produ ces three-fourths of the cotton and seven-eights of the corn of the world. Cotton fabrics now go to every civilized nation in the world. Corn, as a food, is being rapidly recognized in those nations where it was but recent ly used to any extent. Corn is destined to occupy pretty much the same position among the breadstuffs of the world that cotton does as clothing. The Southern farmer can sup plement his cotton crop with corn, and the Northern farmer can rotate his corn crop with wheat, one of the world's princi pal bread cereals, Altogether, the farmers of the United {States have opportunities that are pos sessed by no other nation in the world. The only thing for them to do is to control these opportu nities in their own interests. To do this organization is necessary. Had the wheat farmers of the North been organized on a co operative basis, with a federated system of elevators, reaching over the wheat raising sections, and let their wheat go on the market just as the natural de mand for it indicated, there would now be no corner, or if there was, it would soon be brok en. if some system of this kind was adopted in the marketing of the crops there would be greater stability in the market and a higher level of prices. The cot ton farmers in the South are fairly on the way toward put ting this system into effect. Thev have thousands of warehouses already built. These are being consolidated or federated under one general management, and arrangements are well under way for financing the crop. Manv banks are willing to loan money on cotton thus stored and insured, and arrangements are being per fected to sell the crop direct to the ginners just as they are ready and able to take it. The wheat and corn crops of the North can be handled in the same way. The government has alreadv started a movement to increase the demand for corn in foreign countries. It has * sent out ex perts for the purpose of showing the great utility of corn as a hu man rood. These efforts should be extended and an endeavor made to strengthen the foreign demand for our corn. In the meantime the farmers in the North and Northwest should lose no time in joining their brethren in the South to control the situa tion, and not permit a gang ol speculators to reap all tho profits If you don't know where to find what you want to get your friend for a Christmas present, look over the ads in The Demo crat and you will find it. The next time one of the children catch cold, give it something that rill promptly and freely but gently move the bowels. In that wav the cold will at once be driven out of the system. Kennedy's Laxative Cough Syrup moves the bowels promptly and freely, yet gently, and at the same time heals irritation and stops the cough. It is especially good for children. Sold by C. M. Shuford and W. S. Martin. Does Cld Santa Claus Exist? Reply of The Slin's Editor to Litth V rivfia O'Hanlor. LTTTLE FRIENDS WRONC ? The Most Real Things in the World are Those Which Neither Children Nor Men Can See. Several years ago the editor of the New York Sun received a letter from a 4ittle girl asking iiira if there is a Santa Clau?. His answer at once became a Christmas classic, and thousands of requests are made each year for its reproduction, which fol lows: "We take pleasure in answer ing at once and thus prominently the communication below, ex pressing at the same time our gratification that its faithful au thor is numbered among the friends of The Sun: 4 4 4 D j ar editor: I am eighc years old. " 'Some of my little friends say that there is" no Santa Claus. *' 'Papa says if you see it in the Sun it's so. " Please tell me the truth: is there a Santa Claus? 44 'Virginia Q'Hanlon. " *ll5 West Ninety-fifth St.' "Virginia, your little friends are wrong. Tney have bien af fected by skepticism of a skep tical age. They do not believe unless they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little ninds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or chil dren's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured oy the intelligence capable of grasping the wnole of truth and knowledge. "Yes, Virginia, there is a San ta Claus. He exists as certainly a* 10/e and generosity and devo tion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas, how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then; no poetry; no romance to make tolerable this existance. We ' should have no enjoyment, ex cept in sense and sight. The eternal light with which child hood fills the world would be ex- tinguished. "Not believe in Santa Claus! You might a3 well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa * to hire men to watch all your chimneys on Christmas Eve to eatch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that v prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither chil dren nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not. But that's no proof that tney are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are until seen and until seeable in the world. "tfou may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strengtn of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, i'ancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothiag else real and abiding." Next Door to Catawba Miss Mary Henkel, of Lenoir, is recovering from an operation cor appendicitis at the Long San itorium in Statesville. Rev. E. L. Blair, pastor -of Trinity church, Charlotte, has been appointed presiding'elder of :he Statesville District succeed ing the late Rev. J. N. Huggins, Rev, A. W. Plyler takes Trinity church. Buy your Christmas cakes from Willis. They are always the best;.