Newspapers / The Roanoke Beacon and … / May 8, 1908, edition 1 / Page 2
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jOficinotial S?ay irect Ey Jlrthur Warren. GRE-VT stir has been made in the world about dummy direc tors One would think this were a new discovery, whereas the fiet is that most directors are dummies, and have ever been so The majority of them are on their respective boards because they were wanted for other purposes than directing The statutes had to be complied with, custom . had to be huuued, names are useful, and votes are abso lutely necessary. Most directors do not direct. They vote n tb'pv mo told to. naps resolutions which are prepared and laid before them bv the man, or men, in control, approve the papers they are asked to approve, disappiove those they are asked to reject, listen to reports which have been boiled down to the bone and bereft of all detail, pocket their fees, adjourn, and a few minutes later, attend other directors' meetings, for other companies, perhaps in the tame street or even in the same office build ing. Many boards meet only once in three months. They have executive com mittees of their members which meet ence a week. Let us suppose that a board is composed of fovutr-en or fifteen members, or more, and that the executive committee contains seven members, or less. cry rarely is there a full board meeting; it is not often that a majority is present. Usually the official quorum has to be drummed up. This is true, also, of ex ecutive committee meetings. The directors have so many meetings to attend that they cannot be present at all of them. How, then, can they know much about the businesses which they are supposed to direct? If any of their em ployes knew as little they could not hold their places for a week. I knew a persistent old gentleman who spent half his life at this sort of thin.?. He played at directing as another man might play at golf. He was on the boards of fifty-time companies, and some ten executive committees. Ho was reputed to attend a thousand meetings a year. You can easily figure it up, for he was very diligent in attendance. He would flit from meeting to meeting remaining long enough at each to collect his fees. He was a very veil known man, - very rich. Lis fees earned him at least $20,000 a year, and as he lived very modestly for so rich an old gentleman, he could, and did, put all his dividends into investments. How much did he know about the affairs of the fifty-three companies? He knew when they would declare divi dends, and what the rates would be. That is always a very profitable knowl edge when it comes to you in advance. He knew, before each event, when stocks and bonds would be issued, and the details concerning them. If bor rowing or lending was to be done he knew of it. It was his business to kno-w these things. He was a professional director. But what his fifty-three com panies were really doing, and how they were doing it, he knew only what he was told in brief formal reports and in chats with the chairmen of the boards. Of course, he relied on their word. They relied on his vote. They put good things in his way; he put good things in theirs. From Success Magazine. M U M m 2s Gamblers as Bankers S EyOS. Marden. HE recent spectacle of multitudes of people (many of them waiting in line all night) drawing their money out of per fectly solid banks and trust companies is a good illustration of the power of fear to bring about a financial panic, even In the midst of prosperity. There was absolutely no real cause for this panic which, for a time, played havoc in the financial world. It was started by gamblers and promoters, who were posing as bankers; men who used sacred trust assets to rig the stock market, and to promote their own schemes gen erally. This financial storm came out of a clear sky, and when we were en joying unusual prosperity Capital was well employed; comparatively few people were out of work in the entire country. Almost any one, with any sort of ability, who was willing to work, could find employment. There was co extended economic disturbances anywhere, and the business of our marvel ous country was never in better condition. In all parts of the United States level-headed, conservative business men are most optimistic. Representative business men, prominent merchants and manufacturers in different parts of the country have been interviewed, and they say that business was never more satisfactory, that the volume this year will greatly exceed that of last year. The demand for a better, higher class of goods is quite general all over the country; the demand on wholesale houses for spot and future gocd3 is better than a year ago. Collections are good, and business premises to be as large as last year's. In the West, 'business is re ported better than ever before. A large western merchant says: "Formerly we kept pretty close watch of the stock market, for any seri ous trouble there was sure to affect our business, especially in high-priced goods. Now, we pay no attention to the stocks. Too many people have the money to buy what they want. Wall street slumps make no impression upon our trade." Bank clearings show a marked increase over those of 1906, Uself a record year. The gross earnings of railroads tell the same story of general prosper ity in even a more marked degree than the banks. From Success. to a a to r The Taste of Tin ! A Ey Dallas Lore Sharp. ? MAN may live in the city and buy a squash and eat it. That is all he can do with a boughten squash, for a squash that he cannot raise, ho cannot store, nor take delight in cutsida of pie. And can a man live where his garden is a grocery? his storehouse a grocery? his bins, cribs, mows, and at.ies so ai 1 i i i a 1 J .. 1 rr; .1 . 1. :j 4- pie may taste like any squash pie; . but it is no longer ElURsn; anI Is a squash nothing if not pie? Oh, but he gets a lithograih squash upon the can to show him how the pulp looked cr God made it. This is a sop to hi3 higher sensibilities; it is a commercial reminder, too, that life even in the city should be more than pie -it is also the commercial way cf preserving the flavor of the canned squaeh, e!se he would not know whether he were eating squash or pumpkin or'swee-t potato. But then it makes little difference, all things taste the same In the city a.11 taste of tin. The Atlantic. to to to to to ujny joup mast uo Ey Dr. Osier. From What to Eat. OUP must 0. There i3 a popular fallacy that soup Is nour ishing. That is a mistake, it i3 one of the most harmful things one can eat. It is worse than lobster. Of course, there are times when a simple beef of mutton broth is not to be easily digested. It ii the greatest cause of dyspepsia and neivous disorders. Vegetable soup should be thrown into the garbaga pail, where it belongs, Instead of being poured into a delicate Etomach. Half th6 nervous wrecks anions society folk who live well are caused by eating soup. liJorjdcr jj uben? H;c soldiers rcjr, In the last lono slcd of all. Al" t)C iQi)"w5icl) only holds one cues N IIM Iq Ibjd narrow, silcnf Ijall- I voQder ij rgcy carj to-daij All the children; as then come, wl fad tl)c ringino rptcj Ifjqf H)c buolcj flay fy)d tf)e rollinp of tfjc drum. I -wonder, too. i tljey tycar 115 fell I -wonder if, vljcrc Mjcy fare afar, D3CIJ caij $cc H;e fko trjal" J lic$ "Will fyc olory-oieam of rfje jlrijv cujd jtnr 5 it flutters irj ffje jkicj. If fycy may 130!" look back to 115 l"o-day Wtyle the h'um?el- cal rcouijd, r)d ); lily v)k 013d tl)e roje v? lay 0i) Hje my rHe-cohered mourjd In rhe tones of loi?e artd,?ridc, rjov? tfjeij lii)ed for'U3; Ijoi lljcy foilgfjfcrjd Jell; o) lijcy marcljca away cirjd died If cu do rjol" gcze TfJitQ tl)cir l)nij njcj And fheir rest" h not more wcel" -H tJ!-r 'f ivi'IIrtT ) nnrts nf f- 1 1 F rtc Cod rest H)cm veil! for a cougtruj rru5- tre slymcd for'ciuc in their halloaed du$ )d ynrour) cad) soldier's name' God rest trjem veil! JJ to-day tlyij coire r cui) see Irje Ijearr of us Deal" glad 113 tuije vitl) fle t(jrob1):i): he) Irjcir rest 13 pjonouj. n dm - STONEWALL JACKSOX. MEMORIAL DAY. Ko;v It is Observed In the South. r? N the North they sometimes call cj it Decoration Day, but in the f South it is always Memorial Day. Both have the same meaning, however, to the old soldiers of the country, who remember the dark years of the early part of the six ties, and Memorial Day In the South is being more generally observed each year, for the custom is being handed down from the veterans themselves to organizations of their sons, who join in the process ions and take their i art in the beau tifying of the cemeteries. Each year finds thousands of those who wore j the gray uniforms falling in line on Memorial Day, to tramp perhaps three cr four miles in order to pay this annual tribute, not only to their dead comrades, but to many of the men in blue who were buried near the scenes where they fought. The UEitcd Conft derate Veterans, which is the main organization of the old soldiers of tl.e South, still number about 70,000 in camps scat tered all the way from Maryland to Texas. In recent years many of the largest camps situated near burial grounds of Union soldiers have re- transformation. This la especially notable at Atlanta, where the resting place of nearly every Southern sol dier has been marked In some way. It also contains several of the finest monuments of this character In the United States. At Marietta, Ga. where thousands of nameless South ern troops are buried, the graves are marked with blank stones in order that they may not be forgotten, and yearly these are decorated as well as those which contain Inscriptions. ooseecoe9e3oooco9Go 1 A MOSBY I g VICTORY o o oc ooe c 900 060 9 eeccoceeoco The accompanying spirited picture illustrates the fight at Cabletown, near Harper"s Perry, between Captain Elazer's company of picked Union men armed with the then new Spencer repeating guns and Colonel John S. Mosby's famous Confederate Guerril las. Of this battle Colonel Mosby wrote: "For a few minutes there was a hand to hand fight; but each of my men had a pair of pistols; these were as superior in a close conflict as the Spencers were at long range. Many of Blazer's men fell killed and iip ; A . mam: HE DELIVERED A POWKIIFUIj BLOW, membercd in this way those who fell on both sides as well as their own. For a number of years past the hundreds of graves of unknown dead in the cemetery at Winchester, Va., have been beautified, although in not a few repose the bodies of Northern men who lost their lives in the sev eral battles which were so bitterly fought in this portion of Virginia's valley. Some years ago a monument was erected, largely through the sub scriptions of the people in the vicin ity, which is one of the most attrac tive in the South. On it is this sig nificant inscription: "None knew who they were, but all knew what they were." As may be imagined it was erected to these nameless ones. While the Government has done much in recent years In adorning such cities of the dead as those which are located at Antietam, South Mountain, Arlington and oth ers famous in 1 tory, the Southern people have also engaged in the same work for their own, and although most of the fun 's raised for the pur pose have bee through private con tributions they have effected a great wounded; at last they gave way. in a tumultuous rout. Blazer, of course, had to go with them. He made an attempt when he reached the village of Myerstown to rally the fugitives; but in vain; they kept on in a head long flight. "Blazer rode a fleet horse and was one of the last captured. One of my men, whose horse was the fastest, a youth, Syd Ferguson, at last over took him. Syd had fired the last shot from his pistols. The flying horse man leaned over on the neck of his steed. Syd rose in his stirrups and delivered a powerful blow on the neck of his foe. "Blazer fell from his horse; the race was over; and his career ended there. "This affair was as fatal to Blazer as Culloden was to Charles Edward. The Spencer carbines had been of little use at close quarters. "Blazer's loss was twenty-four killed, twelve wounded and sixty-two prisoners and all their horses. The extraordinary number killed was on account of the fight being hilt to hilt. "However great may have been Captain Blazer's chagrin at this de feat, he took his capture in good part. ' The victors and vanquished were soon on the friendliest terms. Blazer and each of his men carried a canteen of old whisky. They shared the con tents with my men, and before they had crossed the mountain it was a merry crowd. That night they had a high jinks at a farmer's house in Loudoun." BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD. B-itf 1i F1:sf "f 1 ". t Tennis.' e i K;,l jie..t capture., at L:.ttle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1S0.J. The muffled drum's sad roll lias ieat The soldier's last tattoo; No .nore on Life's parade nhirll meet That brave and fallen few. On Kntne'tt eternal camping-ground Their .silent tenia are spread. And Glory guurd.s, with solemn round, The bivouac of the dead. TRUE GREATNESS OF JEFFERSON DAVIS By GEX. STEPHEN D. LEE. Jefferson Davis stood tho test of true greatness; he was the greatest to those who knew him best. One of the marked trait3 of Mr. Davis' pri vate life was his exquisite courtesy. He was one of the most approachable of men, as polite and affable to the "Sec! Jackson like a etone wall stands! No charge that stubborn line can break. Stand firm, my comrades," Bee commands, "Stand firm for Carolina's sake!" Searcc had he spoken when he fell, Firt victim of a section's hate, ! Who heard the cry of victory bwcII, And passed to Heaven through Glory' gate. The name immortal Bee had given Was sealed in storm of nhoC'and shell; The foe at Bull Hun, panic-driven, Learned Stonewell Jackson's tactics well! And in the Valley's great campaign His armies never knew defeat; He crossed the mountains, and again He saw his enemies retreat. A t Harper's Ferry calm he stood While twice five thousand stacked their arms; JEFFERSON DAVIS. humblest as to the most exalted. In his old age in Raleigh, N. C, he ex cused himself to all callers, in order to receive tho visit of his former slave. It is characteristic of the man that he closed his farewell address to the Senate by apologizing for any pain which in the heat of discussion he might have inflicted. His last words on earth were, "Please excuse me." Such gentleness usually mark a man of courage. On a memorable occa sion he uttered the characteristic maxim, "Never be haughty to the humble, nor humble to the haughty." In seven days no less than 267, 000,000 herring have been landed at Yarmouth, England. He crossed Potomac's raging flood And rested midst the Frederick farms But Barbara Frietchie's palsied hand T ,'.,.. n i ';., ii.. ti.of .,r. Av,,i i,i-.,nn i...i,r, .n..Twt . Passed through another streot ana way. Where r redenckshurg lies on the plain lie dealt a switt and deadly blow, And drove an army back again Whose blood encrinisoned winter's snow. Then came the fatal Tenth of May; And as he rode outride his line, A hasty volley from the Gray Came e'er they heard the countersign. Wounded to death, yet patient, calm, They bore him from the battlefield; He blessed his baby with the arm That nevermore a sword should wield. A Christian pure, a hero strong, geniii3 passes writer's praise. Virginia still in poet' song Shall magnify "Old Stonewall's" ways. Mrs. H. S. Turner. Washington, D. C., in Confederate Veteran. It"1'! I - "X FLAGS CARRIED BY VARIOUS C O N F ED E R AT li A itM 1 K, JEFFERSON DAVIS' TRIBUTE TO SOUTHERN WOMEN In the dedication of his able historical work, "The Rise and Fait of the Confederate Government," President Jefferson Davis pays a hand some tribute to the wromen of the South. The Dedication is as follows: To the women of the Confederacy whose pious ministrations to our wounded soldiers soothed the last hours of those who died from the ob ject of their tenderest love; whose domestic labors contributed much to supply the wants of our defenders in the field ; whose zealous faith in our cause shone a guiding star undimmed by the darkest clouds of war; whose fortitude sustained them under all the privations to which they, were subjected; whose annual tribute expresses their enduring grief,. lov and reverence for our sacred dead; and whose patriotism will teach their r revolutionary sires; these pages are children to emulate the deeds of ou dedicated by their countryman. Jefferson Davis. DON'T EE AFEAID. Don't be afraid to work, it is healthy physical and mental exercise. Don't be afraid to hustle, be glad of the chance. Don't be afraid to think before you act. Don't be afraid (o tell the truth. It is a part of your honor. Don't be afraid of imitators. Ori ginality always bear? Tirade-mark. I i
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
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May 8, 1908, edition 1
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