The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-11-09
THE ESTIMATE OF RESIDENT
OF CHARLOTTE.
CHARLOTTE, \. G.. Nov. ,, 1SS

CHARLOTTE, y. G.. Nov. ,, 1888
The writer Of this letter has often heard
Mr. Yates say that bis earliest ambition
was to learn how to ',print." aud in LIS
connection Will mention the strong ia Ii
in the efficacy Of prayer that distinguish 4
him from carly boyhood until his death
While SET, ifg bis apprenticeship ~ =
printer (even yet in boyhood) in a Fayett,-
Vile office he would kneel beside a favor.
oak-tree on his way home from his GAY
labor and pray that he might one ray
have paper OF his own. He took for h's
youthful paragon that good and true North
Carolinian, Z. J. Hale; ard he respected
him and loved him, as "A son would a tat b
er, until his death. The mother and So
tiers of Mr.. rates were won't to tell ban
that he would one day be Governor OF tie
State, because he was 20 ambitious and
was so devoted and good to them
The responsibility and support of his
mother, sisters and younger brothers de
volved upon him at the immature age u
fourteen years. Not once since has any
one Of them known want, SO faithfully
did this noble son and brother discharge
his sacred duty.
The following incident will serve to IL
lustrate his generous nature in youth,
which made itself so manifest in man
hood After he had learned to print
he spent mu>h Of his leisure time in teach
ing some OF III, poor comrades how to read
and write; because as be said i seemed
to him a pity that while he could read an /
81 rite and print they could not even
read or write It is stated BY those who
know, that, in the caller days of hi, edi
torohir, he would compose his editorial
matter standing at the case, ''setting it
up" at the same time. He always con
a 4 l.;
was proud Of tht. fact In his modest
way he appreciated what success he at
tanned in life DOUBLY, because he attained
il without the aid Of any man. 4 tailor
here, who has been respected citizen of
Charlotte for thirty three years said to this
writer while discussing Mr.. Yates death,
"Our uddcr gootman is gone and Johnny
Vogel is very sorry. MeiSter Yates and
me come to dis town togedder and ven !
vas cross legged mine table on, Meister
Yates was standing his ''printin' box be
side But ven he git up in de world he
vas not proud a bit, but hadt always dc
same kind words for Johnny Nogel
Mr.. Yates was d man who verify Obeycd
the scriptural injunction; 'Let not thy
left hand know what thy right hand do
eth He was munificent in his charities
to the poor and frequently his own family
have learned, only by accident, OF some
prodigal act Of charity 1t was his custom
to have carload of coal and many cords
of wood piled up on his spacious back lot
in winter time and it was understood by
the poor of the neighborhood white or
black, that they could haze a supply for
the asking. One of the laws in bis house
hold was, that no begger should leave his
door empty handed. a "prominent' aims
seeker of this city was heard to remark,
on learning of the death of the subject of
this letter: 'Alas my best friend, the
best friend of the poor of this town, is
lost to us now" Mr.. Yates never forgot
a kindness. When young man on his