The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-06
The New Editor OF the Nashville Chris
tan Advocate.
(Froln the Petersburg Post,

tian Advocate.
[Froln the Petersburg Post.l
About 1S43 a-youth about fourteen years
OF age dropped Into that prominent and
popular newspaper Office 1.-THE Lynch
burg Republican,, and apprenticed him
self for four years to make himself a
master of the profession. He did not come
exactly as cothesless as cold ST." but his
wardrobe was very scant one, and his
pockets entirely empty. He was boy OF
small frame, long neck, an unusually large
head, liquid blue eyes, we think, and u
most intelligent and pleasing face. We be-
lievc he was fatherless, If not motherless.
He had only slight .:old-tield - education,
generally given at that day in North
Carolina and Virginia. He was OF strictly
moral habits, but would take much
fun in the foIlies and weaknesses Of others.
He went to work in '.dead earnest" andin
short time made himself very swift and
accurate compositor and proof-reader. He
never put in type good article that he did
not thoroughly understand and appropri-
ate to himself all thcintellgence it conveyed.
All OF his leisure moments (eyen while wait
ing for copy or proof-sheets) he devoted to
reading. His penchant for leading papers,
periodicals, and books that came within his
reach was predominant, and he would de-
vour their contents, night and day, with the
greatest avidty. His only wages consisted
OF his board and his clothes, so that when bis
apprenticeship expired he was still without
money and in possession OF 4 scanty ward
robe with which to go out into the world
and fight the battle OF life. lie had, how
ever, by strict application, acquired q vast
doal of valuable information: had i'm.
proved his education, and under the min
| istry, we think, OF the Rev. William A.
Smith, y. D., or Bishop John Early, had
become an earnest Christian. he had also
made many and strong friends, who knew
| him well, and one Of these-who was Ben
nett NJ. Dewitt, well remembered among
| the Press as the founder Of the old Rich
mond EIdn1aTer-itted him out with a
horse and carryall full OF books and periodi-
Gals, and he went peddling them off in
| Southern Virginia and Eastern North Caro-
| lima. He did not succeed well, and, giving
it up in few months, after visiting bis old
home ir CaSweil county, N. c., (around
which the most OF his youthful affections
still clustered,) he worked his way down
South through Georgia, and finally, by
water, around by the lsthmus, into the new
and adventurous gold-tields Of California.
| In the mean time he had made himself a
|
| indomtabIe energy, and great popularity.
Not long after reaching his iar-away home
he became editor of The only Methodist
newspaper in that prominent State-the
name of which we forget now. After some
| ten years OF labor in that field politi-
cal parties came into sway, public schools
| were established, and our rising young
friend was nominated and elected by
| the Democratic party as State Superin-
| tendent Of the public schools at fine
| salary. He was twice or thrice elected by
| the popular vote Of that State to the same
honorable position, until finally the Repub-
! licans came into power aud defeated him.
Since then he has no doubt been engaged in
good Church.work; but we had lost sight
Of him until recently, when we observed
his familiar name appear among the most
prominent in the National Methodist Con-
| ference held in Atlanta, Georgia, in the per-
son of our old friend and youthful companion
and protkge, Rev. DR.. Oscar p. Fitzgerald,
D. D.
We are glad to observe that the Confer
ence appointed DIR. Fitzgerald editor OF the
Nashville Christian Advocate, one OF the
leading religious papers in bis Church, and
that his future home will most probably be
this side of the Rocky Mountains. We love
to chronicle such noted instances OF SELF
made men, who, from extreme poverty and
against adversely, have worked their way
up from obscurity to honor and fame.
At another convenient season we shall
take occasion to write up q briet of the
character and rise Of three other diynes,
now prominent in their churches, who were
graduates OF the old Lynchburg Republican
newspaper Office under our charge, one OF
whom is the Rev. j. G. Long, a prominent
Portsmouth last week. The other two were
Presbyterians.
[Thc nickname which the boys in the Of
flee gave to young Fitzgerald was "Galifat
Blue bags" or Sc Blue-breechcs."l