Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / July 28, 1911, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
j WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY I Interesting Anecdotes of the Great Novelist, Who was Born Just One Hundred Years Ago K One day in 1818 an English wo man was much troubled because her husband's hat fitted the head of her seven-year-old nephew. She has tened to an eminent physician. She feared that something was radically wrong. The physician re-assured her, saying that the head was large, but that it had a good deal in it. The truth of his words was proved nearly fifty years later, when the brain in that large head was found to weigh fifty-eight and half ounces. The large head belonged to Wil liam Makepeace Thackeray, destin ed to become one of the world’s greatest novelists, who was born in India, July 18, 1811. Owing to the death of his father, he was sent to England when he was six years old. There he grew to manhood and did his life-work. And there the centenary of his birth will he cele brated this summer. Little is known of the life of the hoy William till lie entered the famous old Charterhouse, a school for boys in the heart of London. Of his experience there we have a few glimpses through letters w'rlt. ten to relatives by the student, and through "Pendennis,” one of the novels that made the name of Thack eray famous. In the experiences of the boy PendennlB, it is believed, the author gave reminiscences of his own boyhood, especially of his school life. In School Days. In one of his letters this reference is made to his school life: “1 really think I am becoming ter ribly industrious, though I can’t get I>r. Russell to think so. It is bo hard, when you endeavor to work hard, to find your attempts nipped In the bud. There are but 1170 In the school. 1 wish there were only 3(5“." 1 »r. Russell was ttie original of the portrait of the teacher in “Pen dennis,” who said to the hero: "Pendennis, sir, your idleness is incorrigible and your stupidity be yond example. You are a disgrace to your school and to your family, and I have no doubt will prove so in after-life to your country. Miserable trlfler! A boy who con strues do,’ 'and,' instead of ‘de,’ ‘but,’ at sixteen years of age, is guilty not merely of folly and ignor ance and dulnesB inconceivable, but of crime, of filial Ingratitude, which I tremble to contemplate. A boy, sir, who does not learn his Greek play cheats the parent who spends money for his education. A boy who cheats his parents is not very far from robbing or forging upon his neighbor. A man who forges on his neighbor pays the penalty of his crime at the gallows. And It is not such a one that 1 pity (for he will be deservedly cut off), but his mad dened and hea\(broken parents, who are driven to a premature grave by his crimes, or, if they live, drag on a wretched and ulshonored old age. Go on, sir, and 1 warn you that the very next mistake that you make shall subject you to the punishment of the rod.” Perhaps there was some justifica tion for the doctor's faultfinding. Those that knew Thackeray In school testified that he was not very stud ious lie was bright, and he went through with his work as easily as possible. His copy of Horace, pre served for many years, was said to hee “clean, beautifully clean, uu \diurnbed, unsoiled—what second-hand dealers describe as ‘in fine condi tion.* ” nowever, uooks were noi neglected for the sake of sport. The boy seemed to care nothing for games, lie was fonder of writing poetry than pf playing cricket. He enjoyed look ing on as others played, but play seemed to have been left out of 5is make-up. * Yet in spite of his tendncy to slight his lessons he was popular with the teachers, and in spite of his distaste for sport he was popu lar among his companions. Nobody aould help liking him, he was such a jolly companion, such a lover of Sun. Whether he was exercising his satirical gifts at the expense of some teacher or fellow student, or writ ing a take-off on a popular poem, he was irresistible. His first literary effort of which there is any record wras a parody on a popular sentimental poem, “Vio lets' deep-blue violets.’’ He began his effusion, “Cabbages! bright-green cabbages!” The third stanza of “Violets” read: t j "And when the grave shall open for me— 1 care not how soon that time may be— I i i Never a rose shall bloom on my tomb; It breathes too much of hope and bloom; Hut let me have there the meek re gret Of the bending and deep blue vio let.” For this sentimental twaddle the ! schoolboy substituted: ‘‘And when the dinner-bell sounds for me— I rare not how soon that time may be— Carrots shall never be served on my cloth; They are far too sweet for a boy of my broth; 1 But let me have there a mighty mess Of smoking hot beef and cabbages." As a schoc Iboy Thackeray was a spendthrift: money burned a hole ] in his pocket. He himself told of the sorrow caused by one bit of extravagance. When he was twelve years old, he was to go to his mo ther’s for the holidays. His tutor gave him five shillings for himself ar,d twenty-five shillings to be hand ed to his step-father. His own mon ey was spent at once without a thought for the needs of the journey. Then came mealtime. He was hun gry. He knew he ought not to touch his stepfather's money. But he spent fourpence for food and felt mis erable all the way home. Once there ho lost no time in confessing and seeking forgiveness. Thackeray very soon realized that this besetting sins vere idleness and I luxury, and ho tried to overcome them. Only a year or two before Htis death he said to a friend: “l nev j or take up my pen without tin effort. ; 1 work only from necessity. 1 nev er walk without seeing some pretty useless thing which I want to byy. Sometimes 1 pass the same shop win dow every day for months, and resist the temptation, and think I am safe; then comes the day of weakness, and I yield.” Thackeray was nineteen when he went to Cambridge. He did not take his degree, but after two years at Trinity College went to Ger many for further training. Then he entered himself as a student of law at the Middle Temple. The law had no attraction for him; so he left the Temple as soon as he be came twenty-one. Perhaps his rea sons for taking this step are re vealed in this picture in Pendennis: ‘‘On the other side of the third landing .... till long after midnight sits Mr. Paley, who took the high est honors, and who is a fellow of his college, who will Bit and read and note cases until two o’clock in the morning: who will rise at seven and be at the pleaders’ chambers as soon as they are open, where he will work until an hour before dinner time; who will come from hall and read and note cases again until dawn next day.” Thackeray was ready to be indus trious, but this was not the sort of Industry that appealed to him. He thought he would be a newspaper man; so he bought The National Standard, conducted it for a time, and sank in the venture almost all of his inherited property. Several other misfortunes took the remain der. A second newspaper with which he was connected as Paris cor respondent paid him £400 a year. On this amount he felt ricli enough to marry. Six months later the pa per suspended publication, and he was once more penniless. Then came the real beginning of his literary career. Under the spur of necessity he wrote scores of news paper and magazine articles, seldom using his own name, but choosing a number of fantastic noms de plume. Later he realized that by so doing he made a mistake; public recognition was comparatively' slow in coming to him, for the public, did not know his work. Yet he felt that he had no choice. Publishers would not | use too many articles by the same contributor. He had to have money for many articles. So he made him- > self into many men. In 1840 he was contributing a louger article than usual to Fraser's Magazine, “A Shabby Genteel Story.” It had reached its ninth chapter, and the people were beginning to realize j that the author was a man to be j reckoned with, when the instalments were interrupted. The story was never completed. Only Thackeray’s intimate friends I knew the explanation which was not given to the general public until sev renteen years later. Mrs. Thackeray | became melancholy and then hope 1 lessly insane. Soon his home was broken up. Mrs. Thackeray retir ed to a country village, where she was under the care of nurses for more than half a century. Death 'came to her relief in 1804, more than ‘ thirty years after her husband pass j ed away. A Terrible Blow. Thackeray was crushed. His home had been everything to him. The foundations of his life seemed to be removed. He was unable to I Complete the work on which he had been engaged w'hen his wife became ill. But it was more than ever ne cessary to write in order to meet the increased bills for the support of those dependent on him. From that clay he gave himself to the task of earning enough money to make se cure the future of his loved ones. Often he worked beyond his strength. Probably his death was hastened by the extreme tension under which he worked for the rest of his life. But he never was too busy to care for his children. He talked to them of their mother by the hour. On their birthdays he would take them to the Colosseum. Again they would go to the Zoological Gardens j or to the Exhibition. He had af ways had a warm place in his heart for children, but from the day his wife was taken from the home he was devoted to them. few inings roucnea mm so mucn as the needs of children, and those that ministered to these needs were heroes to him. Once, when he was lecturing in America, Croker, the fa mous chief of Tammany Hall, died. The name of the man was hateful to Thackeray until he learned that tne politician had once begged his wife to fetch from the city a num ber of homeless children, that they might stay In the country over Sun day. “They will destroy your flow er-beds and upset my inkstands,” he said, “but we can help them more than they can hurt us.” The thought of his wife was al ways with him. Once he gave a glimpse of his thoughts of her when he wrote: “Canst thou, O friendly reader, count upon the fidelity of an art less heart as tender as true, and reck* on among the blessings which Heav en hath bestowed on thee the love of faithful women? Purify thine own heart, and try to make it wormy of theirs. All the prizes of life are nothing compared to that one. All the rewards of ambition, wealth, pleasure, only vanity and disappoint ment, grasped at greedily and fought for fiercely, and over and over again found worthless by the weary win ners.” Misfortune had a softening effect on Thackeray’s life. “His fortune lost, his talents unrecognized, except in a very small circle, his second child dead, his beloved wife taken from him!” his biographer exclaims. "The great sorrow chastened his soul, and made his later writings more sympathetic than his earlier; and the only use he made of his grand power of sarcasm was to chide, nearly always with gentle hand, the follies of his fellow men, in the endeavor to show them the path of honor, virtue, goodness, and mercy, which he himself endeavored to fol low.” His new gentleness was apparent when his name was put up for mem bership in the Athenaeum Club. He was blackballed by one member, probably because of his satirical writ ings. Thackeray took the rejection in good part. He said: “There must be thousands of men to whom the practice of ridicule must be very offensive; doesn't one see such in society, and in one's own family? persons whom nature has not gifted with a sense of humor. Such a man would be wrong not to give me a blackball.May we all be honest fellows, and keep our heads from too much vanity.” For years Thackeray did not have much opportunity to be vain. In spite of magazine articles, and his con tributions to Punch, and his draw ings,—he was an artist of ability, as his illustrations of his own nov els show,—in 1846, when he was thirty-five years old, he “was un known outside literary circles and his own friends.” In that year he wrote “Vanity Fair,” which was published in twenty monthly parts. The publishers paid him fifty guin eas for each part. The public bought eagerly. The reviewers received the book graciously. The Edinburgh Re view said the work was “as sure of immortality as ninety-nine-hun dredths of modern novels are sure of annihilation.” Thackeray had come into his own. Later novels like “The Newcomes,” “Pendennis,” “Henry Esmond,” only increased his j fame and fortune. But fortune was not increasing fast enough for the husband and father, (Continued on seventh page.) WAS CURED OF PELLAGRA. Mr. Pearson Veils Friends of Re covery From Disease. Mr. Cecil Pearson, of Chatham county was in the city yesterday and while here told of his recent visit to Columbia, S. C., where he went in search of finding a cure for pella gra. Mr. Pearson stated that he was suffering from a bad case of this peculiar disease, and that his sister, Miss Dardie Pearson died in the spring of the same disease. He says that he believes the cure will be permanent. Mr. Pearson is a son of Mr. Claud Pearson, who was supervisor for the fourtli district during the taking of the last census, and is well known in Durham.—Durham Sun. ELON COLLEGE. Situated in the delightful hill coun try of North Carolina. All modern conveniences in equipment and ad vantages in instruction. Special Courses in Music, Art, Expression, Normal, Commercial, and Prepara tory Departments. Terms very reas onable—$133 to $187 per session of 10 months. Twenty-second session opens September 6. Co-educational. For catalogue or other information, address, President W. A. HARPER, Elon College, N. C. •>***•:•** rTTVTTTV'.'TVVVTVVVV V V V V V THE NORTH CAROLINA na. leading to Degrees. Special Courses for teachers. Free tuition to those who agree to become teachers in the State. Fall session begins September 13th, 1911. For catalogue and other infor mation address GREENSBORO, N. C. State Normal and * Industrial College I Maintained]by the^State for the women of North Caroli Five regular Courses t JULIUS 1. FOUST, - President * * * ► ♦J* •$* *J» *J* Oxford College | OXFORD, N. C. FOUNDED IN 1850. Literary, Music, Art, Business and Teaching Courses. Two Degrees, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sci ence. The course leading to the degree of B. A. has been extended by one full year's work. The Bachelor of Science course is shorter by one year. It omits Latin after Caesar, Math, after Algebra, and French af ter first year, but retains the full En glish, Science, History, and moral Philosophy Courses. The Science course is made just as practical as possible. FACULTY. The heads of departments are spe cialists, and represent in their train ing some of the great Universities and Standard Colleges of the land, such as Vassar College of N. Y., Smith College, of Mass., Hollins of Va., the Institute of Applied Music of N. Y., the Cincinnati Conserva tory of Music of Ohio, the National Academy of Design and Stu dents’ Art League of N. Y. Location noted for healthfulness— free from malaria and without a case of typhoid fever in thirty-one years. Board and Literary Tuition a year $166.00. Apply for illustrated Cata logue to F. P. HOBGOOD President. •I# *5* *2* *!* »I« The North Carolina ^ t COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE * l AND MECHANIC ARTS * * The State’. INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE * * ====== '* '!* *1* %- *S* •!• *!* v v *!- v •!- v -I- *3 Four-year courses in Agri culture; in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering; in Industrial Chemistry; in Cotton Manufacturing and Dyeing. Two-year courses in Mechanic Arts and in Textile Art. One-year course in Ag riculture. These courses are both practical and scientific. Examinations for admission are held at all county seats on J uly 13. For catalog address THE REGISTRAR, West Raleigh, N. C. V v* v *!* -i- v v v 4* v '! • v *1 •J* Not Sisters Now and again you see two women pass* ing down the street who look like sisters. You are astonished to learn that they are mother and daughter, and you realize that a woman at forty or forty-five ought to be at her finest and fairest. Why isn’t it sot The general health of woman is so in timately associated with the local health of the essentially feminine organs that there can be no red cheeks and round form where there is female weakness. Women who have suffered from this trouble have found prompt relief and cure in the use of Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription. It gives vigor ana vitality to the organs of womanhood. It clears the complexion, brightens the eyes and reddens tbe cheeks. No alcohol, or habit-forming drugs is contained in “Favorite Prescription.” Any sick woman may consult Dr. Pierce by letter, free. Every letter is held as sacredly confidential, and answered in a plain envelope. Address: World's Dispensary Medical Association, Dr. R.\ . Pierce, Pres., Buffalo, N.Y. EAST CAROLINA TEACHERS TRAINING SCHOOL A State school to train teachers for the public schools of North Carolina. Every energy is directed to this one purpose. Tuition free to all who agree to teach. Fail term begins September 26th, 1911. FOR CATALOGUE AND OTHER INFORMATION, ADDRESS ROBT. H. WRIGHT, President, : Greenville, N. C. * * ❖ <5» + •» * ❖ ❖ •:* * *> •> *> ❖ LOIISBURG COLLEGE NORTH CAROLINA The One Hundredth and Ninth Session of this School Will Begin September 13, 1911 MRS. MARY DAVIS ALLEN, : : President, LOUISBURG, NORTH CAROLINA. <♦ * f * •F •S* <♦ * ❖ * + * * Here Girls and Young Ladies can secure, at moderate cost, pleasant homelike sur roundings, Healthful conditions, thorough intellectual training, liberal culture under true Christian influences. All the requirements for a well-equipped life. Address «j> * * <*> ♦ CORTRIGHT smiles n THE TIGHT I3 Never Leak—Never Need Repairs—Fireproof—Storm proof—Handsome—Inexpensive—Suitable for all kinds of buildings. For further detailed ■information apply to S. B. JOHNSON SMITHFIELD, N. C. TRINITY COLLEGE 1859 1892 1910-1911 Three memorable dates: The Granting of the Charter for Trinity Col lege; the Removal of the College to the growing and prosperous City of Durham; the Building of the New and Greater Trinity. Magnificent new buildings with new equipment and enlarged facilities. Comfortable hygienic dormitories and beautiful pleasant surroundings. Five departments: Academic; Mechanical, Civil, and Electrical Engi neering; Law; Education; Graduate. For catalogue and other information, address R. L. FLOWERS, Secretary, Durham, N, C. Trinity Lark School ESTABL ISHED 1898. Location ideal; Equipment unsurpassed. Students have use of the library, gymnasium, and athletic fields of Trinity College. Special attention given to health. A teacher in each dormitory looks after the living conditions of boys under his care. Faculty of college graduates. Most modern methods of instruction. Fall term opens September 13. For illustrated catalogue, address W. W. PEELE, Headmaster, Durham, N. C. REPORT OF AUDITING COMMITTEE, Farmers Commercial Bank, Benson, N. C. We, the Undersigned, Directors and Auditing Committee of the Farmers Commercial Bank, Benson, N. C., do hereby cer tify that we have this daycompleted a thorough examination of the books and records of said bank; that we have counted the cash, balanced the individual ledger, notes, certificate of depos it book, savings ledger, checked all bank reconcilement sheets, and find that each and every one balance to a penny. The loans are exceptionally well secured and considered by the undersigned absolutely good. We heartily endorse the management of the institution, and by reason of its available assets, consider it one of the strong est banks of this section Those desiring to do a banking business, will, in our opinion, make no mistake in open ing an account with this bank. Respectfully submitted, Wm. D. BOON C. T. JOHNSON P. B. JOHNSON PRESTON WOODALL Directors and Auditing Committee. This July 13th, 1911. Farmers Commercial Bank, : Benson, N. C. CAPITAL $12,000.00
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 28, 1911, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75