North Carolina Newspapers

Established 1899 The Story of . Roil?. E. Lee The Maa of Idj Streagtii and a Woman's Heart MRS. MENZIES FINE PAPZR Refused to Take Up Arms Against the South Though He Was Opposed to Secession The following is an elegant sketch of the career of Gen. Roht. E. Lee, read at the U. D. C. meeting at the home of Mrs. H. D. Abernethv last week by Mrs. H. C. Menzies: Of all the men whose character and ability were displayed in the great Civil War there were none in either the Confederate or the Union army, whose greatness, moral and military, is more gen era 'ly acknowledged than that of the famous Confederate com mander-in-chief. His ability as a soldier and his character as a man and a Christian are alike appreciated, and it is not too much to say that he is recognized in North and South alike, in Eu rope as well as America, as one of the greatest soldiers and one of the noblest and purest of men that modern history has to show. Shall we not say with Shakes peare? "He was a man, take him for all in all; we shall not look upon his like again." Robert Edward Lee was born at Stratford. Va„ Jan. 19, 1807. and was only eleven years old when his father, the famous "Light Horse Harry" of Revolu tionary fame, died. With a natural inclination toward his father's profession, he became a student at West Point, entering the academy in 1825, and gradu ating in 4 years, without a de merit and with second honors. During these youthful years he was remarkable in personal ap pearance, posessing a handsome face and superb figure, and a manner that charmed by cordi ality and wore respect with dig nity. He was thoroughly moral, free from vices, and while full of life and fun,, he was more in clined to serious than gay society. He married Mary Custis, grand daughter of Martha Washington, in 1831. Seven children were born to them. Soon after gradu ating he was made captain and in the Mexican war he «erved as chief engineer i.i Scott's army, winning high honors. Jefferson Da7is said of him, "He came from Mexico crowned with hon ors, covered with brevets, and recognized, voung as he was, as one of the ablest of his country's soldiers." In 1859 he commanded the the troops which captured John Brown and put an end to hh in sensate attempt. Then for a few years he shared the hard ships of frontier duty, defending the western states against hostile Indians. In the spring of 1861 he was summoned to Washington and reached the capital a few days before Lincoln was inaug urated. He was just 54 years o> age and had been in the service of the government 36 years. He had reached the exact prime of maturity; in form, features, and general bearing the type of mag nificent manhood; educated to thoroughness, cultivated by ex tensive reading, wide experience, and .contact with the great men of the period, with a dauntless bravery tested and improved by military perils in many battles; his skill in war recognized as of the highest order by comrades and commanders; and withal a patriot in whom there was no guile and a man without re pioach. Bearing this record he appeared at the Capital of the country that he loved and was there offered command of the Un ion army. To this alluring offer Lee at once replied courteously and candidly that "though oppos ed to secession he would take no part in the invasion of the South ern States." His resignation fol lowed at once, and repairing to Virginia he acceptedtne command of her military forces, and after the Battle of Seven Pines he was made commander-in-chief of all the army. The people came to regard him as the only man who coul J possibly carry them through the struggle successfully. The love of his troops for him knew no bjun'K because they had im plicit faith in his abili'y and knew he was a sympathizing friend in their trials. He fared no better than his troops. Their gn, scant rations were his as •veil. And now beg§& |tet Joßg and territsic series of battles which THE HICKORY DEMOCRAT so splendidly disp ayed his mag nificent abilities as a commander and it is hard to overrate the masterly ability with which this was done, under the greatest difficulties and discouragements. It was love and devotion to their commander which held together the armies of the Confederacy; and this coupled with their con fidence in his skill, long made his ragged and half starved soldiers more than a match for the super ior armies of McClellan and Grant. In the battles of the Wilderness. Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, the frightful losses in the Union army gave terrible proof of Lee's ability to take swift advantage of the least mis take of his antagonist. There were more Union men killed and wounded in two of these battles t v an Lee had in his whole army. We pass on to see him at Ap pornatox, nobly yielding himself and army when resistance was no longer possible. The univer sal affection and respect which the people of the South felt for Gen. Lee was, if possible, in creased after the close of the war. The confiscation of his property had rendered him home less. Homes without number were offered him but he chose a small, simple, country place where he gathered his-wife and children expecting to lead a re tired and quiet life. He was also offered many positions with lib eral salaries, but these were re fused; until he finally accepted the presidency of Washington College, believing Jie could be of influence and use in that position. This expectation was not a mis taken one. The number of stu dents increased ten-fold within a short time. His wisdom and skill in managing the students was remarkable. His appeal to the higher sentiments of the voung men seemed never to fail. Bitterness and resentment seemed to have no place in Gen. Lee's nature. Even toward men who exhibited the most intense bitterness against him he seemed to have no other feeling than kindness and good will. A touching story, illustrating this noble trait of his was told years after by a noted Union veteran who was reviewing the great panorama, The Battle of Gettys burg. He said, "I was at the Battle of Gettysburg myself. I had been a bitter anti-South man, and fought and cursed the Confederates desperately. I could see nothing good in any of them. The last day of the fight I was badly wounded. A ball shattered my left le?. I lay on the ground not from Cemetery Ridge, and as Gen. Lee ordered his retreat, he and his officers rode near me. As they came along I recognized him, and though faint from exposure and loss of blood, I raised un my hands, looked Lee in the face and shouted as loud as I could, 'Hur rah for the Union!' The gener al heard me, looked, stopped his horse, dismounted and came toward me. I confess that lat first thought he meant to kill me. But as he came up he looked down at me with such a sad ex pression upon his face that all fear left me and I wondered what he was about. He extend ed his hand to me and grasping mine firmly and looking right in to my eyes, said, 'My son, I hope you will soon be well'. If I live a thousand years I shall never forget the expression on Gen. Lee's face. There he was de feated, retiring from a field that had cost him and his cause al most their last hope, and yet he stopped to say words like those to a wounded soldier who had taunted him as he passed by! As soon as the general left me I cried myself to sleep upon the bloody ground." He lived only a few years after the close of the war. The anx ieties lof his military life had changed his hair to gray, and his nearest friends alone saw that hi 3 great sympathy for the mis fortunes of his people became a malady which physicians could not remove, and on Oct. 12, 1870, he died in the Christian's faith which he had all his life con fessccL Beyond the borders of this continent and extending over ocean east and west his name has gone to be honored, his char acter to be admired, and military history to be studied alongside the work of the great masters of war. Happy indeed are the Southern people in knowing him to be their own while they sur rendered his fame to become a part of their country's glory. _ Rev. W. T. Walker chosen manager of the Barium Spr ngs Orphanage by the Board of Re gents at Barium but has declined. Front Street Church in States ville is after him for pastor. HICKORY, N.C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1910. Brains Enough , , For The Scheme (Me Cotton Moore Talks o! the Creamery Project CATAWBA IDEAL CO. The Very Thing to Bring This Old Red Land to the High- ~ est State of Develop ment "Do you think a creamery would he profitable in Catawba county?" asked a Democrat man of Mr. Charlie Cotton Mooore, of Mecklenburg, for years one of the finest dairymen of the State. Mr. Moore had dropped into the Democrat office and was chatting with th« staff. He was in the ci*y on business for the Southern Power Company secur ing rights of way for their lines. "It would be profitable in my opinion", replied Mr. Moore. "Properly managed it would pay as much on the investment as any industry you could start here." "Well, why do you think so, Mr. Moore?" "Because of the nature of the soil in Catawba county. It is adapted to the growth of almost any forage plant necessary to feed dairy cows. Through a creamery you would market prod ucts of this soil as the finished article, at the same time making it possible to add to the fertility of the soil; whereas the sale of grain and forage depletes the fertility of the soil." "Do you know how much good country butter is being exported out of "Catawba county?" "I have heard it was about 1200 pounds", said Mr. Moore. "Let me say further", he added, "that in passing from house to house in this county I find the people are ready to take hold of this enterprise, provided the pro moters are men who have the confidence of the people of the county." "I should think that $2500 or S3OOO ought to start the county out with a good creamery plant. The cows are the essence of the whole thing. There should be an ironclad contract with a suffi ient number of men to guarantee a regular supply of milk adequate to the capacity of the creamery. "These contracts should be made before the creamery is built. If the contracts are made the creamery will be a success." Mr. Moore was told that there were already 154 cows available for the creamery in the territory just south of Hickory fur a dis tance of five miles or so. and that is was believed to be necessary to have just double that number of cows to make the creamery a go. He was hold of Mr. W. J. Shuford's plan to have a lot of fine cows brought here, sold at auction, no man being allowed to get more than a certain number. Farmers would be loaned the money for this purpose which was to be paid out of their first profits from the creamery. Mr. Moore said he thought this would be a good and excel lent plan. He recommended, further, holding schoolhouse meetings in territory adjacent to the section where the creamery subject was already developed. "I would have a well-posted lo cal man to explain every detail." he said. "Then call for subscri bers and expect a response of at least three cows to the man pre sent. I would be careful not to go beyond the reach of the men present at the meeting in the number of cows. Don't push the men too hard." "I just want to say this before I quit", added Mr. Moore, "and that is that there is an abundance of brains and ability in Catawba county, if put to use, to land this enterprise. I know this to be the fact. I know Watt Shuford, Henry Lutz, and the old man Lutz, Robinson, Bob Shuford, Noah Propst, Baker and all the rest of those fellows. I know what I am talking about when I say they can do it if they will." DECEMBER HONOR ROLL Hickory Boys and Girls Who Are Saying Good Lessons Following is the honor roll of ! che Hickory Graded School for Decemoer: First Frade, A. Section.—Mar cellus Kennedy, Willie Sherrill, Carroll Dysart, Joe Pearce, Pink Huggns, LJnaid Johnso i, Joe Shell, Glenn Russell, Lucite Bum garner, Gladys Hefrer, E ina Ed wards, Eula Mace, Gertrude Peeler, Virginia Bryan, Louise j Cilley, Ha Staroe*. Charlotte ' Garth, ClaYissa Abei neth.v, Essie I White, Louise laenhour, Cather jine Hardin. * A I First Grade, B. section Ollie Wells, Fred Buff, Edgar Burns, Jacob Geitner, Ora Thornburg, Hilda Whitener, Ezra Abernethv, William Ballew, Violet Blaloek, Councill, Walter Ham rick, George Harris, Floyd Huff man, Mary Miller, Grace Sea boch, Ralph Seaboch, Marvin Sublett, Robert Abernethy. Second Grade. —Walter Spiel man. Roy Bolick, Roy Swaringer. Anna Wacaster, Louis Whitener, Louie Whitener, George White, Carrie Hahn, Jeffy Bolch, Clif ford Jones, Mary Clement. Third Grade, A section. Moses Kennedy, Maggie Whitener, Robert Jones, Paul Beaton, Pam ela Starnes, Harvey Huggins, Osee Long. Third "Grade, B section. —Ail- een Aiken, Carrie Bland, Imo Edwards, Gertrude Fox. Vera - Gibbs, Doris Hutton, Annie Killian, Annie Long.LovieMiller, Cecil Maynard, Luna Odom, Kate Shuford, Annie White, Dewey Berry, Dudley Berry, Ernest Bumgarner, Clinton Cilley, Alex Menzies, Earl Rink, Donald A. Shuford, Paul Stevenson, Ernest Swaringer, Norman Woodlieff. i ourth Grade. —Ola Deitz, A\- vin Bolch, Louise Elliott, Gussie White, Sadie Wnitener, Willie: Woodlieff, Beatrice Simmon,! Shuford Whitener, Harvey Mc-1 Comb, Charles Menzies, Walter! Gilbert, D. C. Huffman, Miriam | Whitener, Ray Little, Charles Kirk, Claude Ingram, Henry lones, Loy Deal Hattie Fox, Lou Hawn, Faustine Jonts. Fifth Grade.—Florence Sharps, Paul Huffman. Sixth Grade, —Oscar Deaton, Grady Stroup. Hoyle, Marvin Bumgarner, Paul De 11 ing er, Hampton • Hale, Clifford Aber nety, Joe Cilley, Roscoe Sublett, Willis Latta, Ruth Campbell, Maud Bolick,lla Bowman, Louise Peeler, Myra McFall, Jean Rich, Blair Keeyer, Maud Maynard, Sudie Burn?, Margie Hoyle Clara Zerden, Lilac Blaloek, Lucy Sledge. Seventh Grade —C add i e Starnes, Loula Lee vVolfe. Eighth Grade.—Claude Aber nethy, Kate Elliott, Edgar Fox, Frances Geitner, Adelyn McComb, Millie Kate McComb, Ora Sub lett, Jettie Wiiiiams, Eiteile Wolfe, Sadie Salvo. Antha Lytle. Ninth Grade—Em na Bonner, Mary Carl Ciine, Lerov Deaton. Sam Hawn, Beu lah Huffman, Adelaide Johnson, Elizabeth McComo, Grace Pat rick, Ernest Starnes. Tenth Grade —Mabel Cooper, Frank Elliott, Mary Field, Bertha Harris, Mary Kirk, Addie May Michael, William McComb, Marie Whitener, Grover Huffman. g Catawba's Next | Door Neighbors | There is much sympathy for Rev. C. C. Brothers, a superan nuated Methodist minister who hid the Catawba circuit in 1897 and 1898, over the loss of his mind. He recently returned from Fairview, Buncombe county, to Newton to live, and then his mind gave way. As he was be ing taken from there to Morgan ton those on the train were startled when he said: "A wire has just gone round the earth that the world will be saved by the grace of God and Japallac." Mr. Brothers is said to be suffer ing from spinal neuritis. The Newton Enterprise re cords the death of Frank Setzer, of Caldwell township, 80 years old. One of his sons is Rev. A. W. Setzer of Maiden. Mr. M. M. Cline, of Newton, is suffering from a serious form of heart disease. The Enterprise says the will of Mr. Mike Plonk leaves $15,000. His widow, Mary Jane Plonk, gets the house and lot in Newton and $2,000 in money. To three children he makes the following special bequests; Mrs. Lorena Barbara Elizabeth Pickett, S4OO, Micheal Joseph Thomas Plonk, $200; Lillie Catherine Herndon, SIOO. There are several other bequests to grandchildren of SIOO, and the residue is to be divided equally between grand children. General News. Aviator Louis Paulhan got a | SIO,OOO prize at Los Angels for J sailing 45 miles in a cross coun ; try flight to a point and return ing without stopping. ! George Gould's daughter Mar jorie is to marry Anthony J, Drexel, Jr. of Philadelphia. Fsremans' fire Insurance Co. Organization in North Carolina Practically Assured MR. McNIELL EXPLAINS The Entire Membership of Hickory's Volunteer Depart ment will be Found on Subscription List At an enthusiastic meeting of the Hickory Volunteer Fire De partment held in the reception hall of the Hickory Club, Wed nesday, Jan. 19th, at 8 o'clock P. M. The entire membership of the Department and a number of our leading citizens, among them Sta c e Senator J. D. Elliott, City Attorney E. B. Cline, and Alderman H. F. Elliott, Chair man of the Fire Committee were present. Hon. Jas. D. McNiell, Presi dent of the North Carolina State Firemen's Association, was the guest of the Department on this occasion and made an able and convincing argument in favor of the organization of a Firmen's Fire Insurance Co. for North Carolina. Chief McNiell prefaced his ad dress by a short history of the organization of the State Associ ation of Firemen and also re ferred to the conditions which menaced the material upbuilding of the State in cities and towns prior to the efficient organization of its fire-fighters. The fire in surance business was carried on at a decided loss up to this time but since the organization and equipment of an able, patriotic and unselfish band of men, the firemen of North Carolina, fire insurance" has become a very profitable business, as is witness ed by the large volume of insur ance written by eight of the leading state companies in the last two years, showing a hand some percentage of profits over losses paid. Chief McNiell then explained the methods and policies that would be pursued by the company when it was organized. The capital stock authorized will be'j SIOO,OOO with the privilege" of beginning business when $50,000 has been paid in. The capital stock will be divided into 10,000 shares but only 5000 will be sold at present and the surplus will be $12,500. Tne name of the company and the home office will be decided when the organization is com pleted and the officers elected. Economy of management will be a specialty and annual reports ar* to be made to the State Fir men's Association at its reruhr annual meeting, giving in de.iM all receipts and disbursements, 1 including salaries of officers, fee-, j etc., thereby enabling every' stockholder to know how his bus iness affairs are being conducted. At the conclusion of Chief McNiell's address, Senator El liott and Attorney Cline spoke in most complimentary terms to or ganize a Fire Inserance Company among the firemen of the State, giving it their most hearty ap proval both from a business standpoint and one which tends to increase the efficiency of the va rious departments in the State. Chief Moser, of the Local De partment, was appointed to solicit subscriptions to the stock and the entire membership of "Hick ory's Volunteers" will "be found among the list of subscribers. - The meeting was most • enthu siastic throughout and the "Fire Laddies" gave their highly hon ored and beloved chief and pres ident the closest attention. BOYS' CORN CLUBS A Catawba Lad Ought to Win First Prize in 9th District In the Boys' Corn Club Con tests this year, Catawba has been placed in the ninth district, which is as follows: Yadkin, Davie, Rowan, Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln, Gaston, Cleveland, Rutherford, and Polk. The Democrat wants to see a Catawba county boy get the first prize of $25 in this district. The following are extracts of a letter about the contest: To the Editor of the Democrat: The Board of Agriculture at its meeting appropriate ! SSOO for premiums to Boys' Corn Club contestants. The contes tants are to be between the ages of 12 to 17 years. An* boy be coming 12 years old by June first will be elgible, and any boy who is now 17 but will be 18 not later Democrat and Press, Consolidated 1905 | than August first will be eligible to enter the contest. The rules governing the contest will be about as they were last year, ex cept that any boy will be permit ted to get any person to break his land for him. Ido this be cause the younger boys are not heavy enough to handle a large two-horse plow in heavy land, but after the land is broken each boy must do the remainder of the work himself. Only $lO worth of commercial fertilizers may be used on each r cre. The plat of land must be a full acre.. Less than an acre will not be consid ered. The plat of land must not be less than a half acre in width. Square plats are preferred. Only boys living on the farm can com pete for these prizes. The plat of land must be a part of some regular field in the farm, and not a garden spot, a town lot, or a plat belonging to some city or other The contes tant may use all the home raised manure he can get. Cotton seed, cotton-seed meal r city garbage, fish or fish scrap will be consid ered as commercial fertilizers The State has been divided inco ten districts, and prizes aggre gating SSO will be given to the winners in each district. First prize, $25; second prize, sls; third prize $lO. The average yield made by the boys in this State last year was 57 bushels per acre. The boy who succeeds in growing a large crop of corn stands a good show of developing into a man who will also grow large crops. We want a hundred or more boys in each county to enter the contest. Letters of enquiry or for application blanks should be addressed to the un dersigned. T. R. PARKER, Demonstrator, Raleigh, N. C. J The Week in the ( J Women's Clubs. 5 Mrs. H. M. Doll was the gra cious hostess to the Round Dozen Book Club on Wednesday after noon, the 19tn. A round dozen in attendance. The book for dis cussion was "Freckles", by Por ter, and much interesting infor mation was given about the tal ented authoress as well as her books. A chapter from "Aunt Jane, of Kentucky" was thoroughly en joyed, and discussion of current news concluded the program. A dainty luncheon was served and the club adjourned to meet next with Mrs. J. L. Murphy. Mrs. Claudia Henderson very pleasantly entertained the Thurs day Study Club on the 20th. In addition to fourteen members, Misses Graham, of Philadelphia, and Mabel Little were present as visitors. Quotations were on "Patriotism". The topic for the day "Amsterdam", was given by Mrs. D. L. Fry. The discussion of current events was unusually enjoyable. Music by Miss Mabel Little concluded the program, after which delicious refreshments were served in three courses by the hostess and her daughters. Rhode Island Acted White From the Statesville Landmark The status of the repudiated North Carolina bonds and the State of Rhode Island is this; Some time ago the Rhode Island Legislature was induced to pass an act providing that the State should accept as a gift any bonds presented to it, and re quiring the State Treasurer to bring suit for their collection. The owners of the repudiated North Carolina bonds secured the passage of the act by con cealing their purpose, but as soon as their purpose became ap parent and the facts were known, the decent people of Rhode Is land were not only heartily ashamed of their part in the transaction, but they promptly repudiated the whole business and the Legislature has repealed the act. The holders of the fraudulent North Carolina bonds, who have for years sought to in duce some State in the Union, or some foreign State, to do what they came near having done in Rhode Island, will have to look elsewhere. The bonds which were collected through South Dakota ! a few years ago were not of the fraudulent carpetbag issue but were genuine bonds. The reason for the suit was that in the days when the State was poor financi ally it had compromised with its creditors and these bonds were paid at the rate of 25 cents on the dollar. Nearly all the bond holders accepted this compro mise but a few held out for the face value of the bonds, and it was this class of the bonds that were collected through South Dakota. A Railway To Lookoui Shoals Soatto Power Sill Build it To Haul Material TO BE STANDARD GUAGE Rights of Way from Hickory All Secured Except about Eight Properties—Work Begins Soon The Southern Power Company intends to push to rapid comple tion the work of developing its water power at Lookout Shoals, according to Mr. Charlie Cotton Moore, of Charlotte, who is do ing highly efficient work for the company in securing the rights of wav. "How are you coming along?" Mr. Moore was asked when he was in the city last week. "All right," replied Mr. Moore. "The right of way from Hickory to Lookout Shoals has been se cured except about e-'ght proper ties, and these will be closed in a few days The material for building this line will be shipped at once to Hickory, Conover and Claremont. As soon as the ma terial arrives at these parts, the constructing force will return to this county to build this line. "The current will be trans mitted from the Hickory sub-sta tion over this line to -the river and will be used for operating i the derricks and other machinery required in constructing the dam. "Fiom some point on > the Southern railway to Lookout Shoals a standard guaged rail way is to be built for transport ing material to the scene of the water power development." The Southern Power Co. ex pects to develop 8,000 h. p. at the Lookout Shoals property. This is to be distributed from the river direct to Taylorsville, Newton, Conover, and such other points as may need it." A Millionaire-Pauper Dies. John Louis Hinton, of Pasquo-. tank, died near Elizabeth City Jan. 18, aged 89. Though worth $1,000,000 and owning real es tate in nearly every State in the Union, he had no carpets on the floor and washed his face every morning in the horse trough. The Raleigh News and Observer says he refused to sell anything for cash but was always glad to sell to anyone, whether white or black, and take note secured by property or life insurance policy, which he would carry. Recent ly his sons came into possession of some of his property, a small tract which they sold on Main street in Elizabeth City to Kram er Brothers for $20,000. He leaves five sons and two daugh ters. His death means the im provement of the finest property in the heart of Elizabeth City. Mr. Wakefield's Insurance From the Statesville Landmark Rev. John Wakefield, of the Barium Orphans' Home, who died last week, carried a $5,000 annuity policy in the Security Life & Annuity Company, of Greensboro, and the first pay ment from the insurance com pany was delivered to Mrs. Wake field yesterday by the local agent, Mr. Walter E. Sloan. Rev. Mr. Wakefield also carried SI,OOO insurance with the Presbyterian Ministers' Fund. Frost-Proof Cabbage Plants The Democrat has made an ar rangement with the Wm. C. Geraty Co., of Young's Island, S. C., growers of the famous "frost-proof cabbage plants," whereby it will be able to supply the farmers of Catawba with this cabbage plant at reasonable rates. Call at The Democrat office, leave your order and number of plants desired and we will order the plants sent to your address. An Out-of-town Booster. Rev. P. C- Henry, of Conover, wrote the Democrat on Monday: "I am sorry I cannot attend the meeting of the Boosters' Club tonight at Hotel Huffry, as I desired to enroll my name also. "I am very much interested in seeing Hickory grow, and I know it will, for it has a good Booster behind it in The Democrat." Hickory is glad to have the county people help boost. ChHdr»r»''Cry FOR FLETCHER'S • CASTORIA,