The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-07-23
For TIE CHgaSICLE
Letter From New Berne.


CHRONICLE = Is a question that has been
asked me more than once since the recent
union. DO tell Us If there is room for a.
IN the new mansion which presents So fair
AN appearance "a almost Ia reconcile me
10 the abandonment OF the oid homestead.
] say almost adylsenIN for though
progressive, and always glad to SEE neN
literary mansions builded IN North caro-
Ina, ! still cling atfectionaIely L. old a.
sociatiOn. ! may not desire to live my life
in tbs old homestead, but | DO not wish II
destroyed, may appreciate moderf IN
provemcnt while still tenderly cherish
the memory of the cid inconvenieuceS /
always >emrathized with Won, Capt Shot
well, when you-weil felt like cussing. -
IA the boys say, over the defects Of the old
horne Where some OF the household made.
their debut into newspaper life. felt for
Nou when printers and printers ink did
not sustain YOU, ~ they should have done
and am truly glad To see you in new
house with AN ample corps OF assistants. but
hope our old homestead, the Farmer
and Mechanic" will not disappear from the
newspaper world, but like some repaired
cottage, will stand, with a new coat of
paint, beside the new mansion. In other
words, while your weekly issue comes to
us as the STATE CHRONICLE, let the monthly
which hear YOU propose 70 give us, still
fly at its mast head the old flag and retain
the old name
| did not mean to be 80 djffuse but my
feelings have run away With my fingers
and must stop the chatter Of my cali
graph on this subject and tell the House
hold readers of the new issue of a charm
ing day | recently spent, visiting one of
tue most widely known literary women OF
the nIted States. Since the publication
OF the Major Jack Downing Letters =
by her husband. Seba Smith, Esq Mrs.
Elizabeth Oaks Smith has been a promi-
nent thinker and writer AMI stood before
the world, not only as IL literary but also
Il social queen. Books of beauty. | viii
not say how many years ago, contained
her portrait, and y. T. Wills ranked her
Us one of Americas sweetest poets
Sh, is still Il magnificent looking woman
with remarkable conversational powers.
and, with her personal "reminiscences of
such men and women as Henry Clay, Dan
iel Webster, Horace Greedy, Thurlow Weed,
Fanny kemble, Charlotte Cushmau, and
other celebrities with whom She was on
intimate terms when they We're III their
prime most charming companion.
spent last Sunday with her at Hollywood,
the residence OF her son, Appleton Oak
smith, Esq, four miles from Morehead
City, and do not remember ever to have
passed IL more charming day.
She first met Henry Clay at the opening
of the American Institute in New York,
having, by request, written an ode to be
sung on that occasion 1t was proposed
to introduce her to Mr. Clay as the author
of the poem, but she begged to be present
ed in company with the other ladies sim
ply as Mrs. Smith. 1t happened that she
stood waiting her turn, she heard Mrs.
James Smith" Mrs. John Smith, Miss
Sarah Smith" Miss Mary Smith, etc,
introduced one after another to the states
man, 50, when Mr.. Clay took her hand,
she SAID with an arch smile II am sure
Mr. Clay YOU will always remember me
from my very uncommon name. With
that cOurtly grace which SO distinguished
Henry Clay in his intercourse with women,
he raised her hand to his lips and bOwin2
low over il replied, j will always remem-
Der You, Madaln,ln spite OF the name. lie
was true to his word for from that hour tC
his death they were warm personal friends
After her husbands death she petition
ed to the Legislature of New York to in
corporate her name and his for the use OF
her children who have ever since borne
the name of ''Oaksmth, though she still
writes herself Elizabeth OakeS Smith.
| also had the pleasure Of making the
acquaintan c of DR.. and Mrs. Dabncy, at
Morehead City. and was glad to find, in q
chat with the Doctor, that. though Il lr
ginian by birth, he, through his mothcl
who was a Miss Morrison. belongs also K
North Carolina. our State is often blamec
for going outside her borders and bring
ing in strangers to fill her offices, but il
this case She only brought back her own
| was glad to hear Or. Dabney speak s'
highly of Mr.. George Aliens "Foity Le>
sons in Book Keeping, he expressed mI
| opinion Of it far better than can myself,
But, as he has already endorsed the worl
in THE STATE CHRONICLE | will not repea
what he said, only, like Mr.. Lincoln, tel
a little story.
Some years ago, having occasion TO write
a notice Of q book on >>Evolution" whicl
the publishers wished me to popularlze, 81
as to present the theory to the non ScleA
| ttit reader, | called in ,'our youngest,
/ then about fourteen years OF age, and rea'
| the article 10 him, telling him if he die
| not understand he must ask questions, a
/ | wished to be very clear He said moth
| ing until had finished. then in a grea
hurry to get off fishing explained, Il sup
pose YOU think if cau understand yol
| any fool can. Its just this only the frog
are behind time, and every frog has to b.
/ his own tadpole, instead Of being satisfied
that his great great great grandfather
| thousand times off vas one, like we ar
i that our Was Jelly fish.
Now think that Mr.. Allen sent his boo
to me on the same principle that | rea'
my article to Tom, and | have about a
clear an idea If book keeping, after look
! into it. as Tom of evolution. That Is,
take in the principle and see how clea
Mr. Allen has made the subject for thos
who are willing to take forty lessons Il
a science which have heretofore consid
cred so very tbstruse as to require month
of hard study and practice to become eve
a tolerable book keeper.
Housekeeping accounts have always bee
a terrible tangle to my brain, and on
year ago gave up all effort to keep at
counts so feel competent to say that
| can understand Mr. Aliens system IAN
fool can do So" And | did underStan
him when | had his book III my hand, bu
do not mean to explain him; book Keel
ing is not literature and like the little bO
who was told by his mother that a dose {
cream of tartar was only nice hot lemoI
ade, | reply yes, its mighty good but
don't want any more now" Fearing yo
may say the same of my letter will clos
il. NJ r. e.
Killed by Lightning.
Alexander I4eai "A hard working, worth
young man, was killed by lightning o