The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-11-09
l. Ell TER FROM DIR. YATES.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE

Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE.l
In compliance with your request | give
you, as briefly rs l can, a few points with
regard to my dear brother:
While a mere child his fathers health
failed, and his early education was, there
fore, limited; but his mother beng Il Wo-
man Of remarkable mental ability and
goodness, was able, with the aid of the
common school of that day to give him a
good start in books. He was fond OF learn
ing, and the printing office of that day was
one of the best schools. He took to it rs
naturally as the mind takes TO anything
for which it has a talent and foGdness
and Of course rose rapidly until he became
almost a Lecesslty to the proprietor and
editor of the paper he mastered books
by the midnight lamp, and quite early III
his youth he had acquired wide and ac-
curate knowledge of men and things. He
early imbibeI the political principles Of
Thos. Jefferson, and ardently loving his
native State, he never awelved from that
line of measures which he conscieutiously
believed was the best for the whole people
He was a statesman, confinink himself
with heroic eSinusal TO the pen OF the ed
itor and the composing stick of the priu-
ter He had but little git as q public
speaker, but his Natural and acquired
ability would have enabled him 10 til with
success almost any Office within the gift
Of the people.
Some of the elements of his character
We're his untlagging INDUSTRY. He was
never idle The Sabbath was his only rest
tay and he observed it as the pivot Of his
p,ety towards God, and made il a matter
Of principle never to 60 70 his office or
open his mail on the Lords day.
He had an analytical. clear and dscrim-
mating mind, seeing truths and f,llacies
as with Tightening glance. His compro
hensiOn was remarkable. This writer
never knew another man who could come
so near seeing the end from the beginning
as he.
His COMMON SENSE and good Judgment
were matters of common remark. 20 much
SO that his opinion Was valuable about
almost anything, and was sought far and
wide, He was. when a boy. economical
and saving Of his money Being general
favorite with editor, proprietor and other
men employed IN the Office where he was
as boy learning the business. the dimes
and quarters that came to him as a mark
of t.eir appreciation, were put III box
and given TO his mother for safe keeping,
then instead Of spending il in dissi patton
and FOLLY, he would buy something useful
with it. And here lies the secret of his
material success.
He was generous, kind and charitable
when boy, always taking the part of,
and b ing kind to, the boy that was smaller
than himself; and in his manhood no poor
person ever appealed to him III vain. He
took real delight il helping the needy
His mother was very dear to him, and IN
her old age she was the special object OF
his affection and care. He was one Of the
roundest, fullest, finest characters the
State has ever produced.
When he purchased and became the edi-
tor Of The North Carolinian AT Fayette-
vile, some years before the war, such was
the character he had made for houesJy,
far dealing and good Judgment, tnat that
veteran editor, Z. j. Hale, Of the Fayette
vile Observer, though opposite IN politics
became his fast friend and remained So ji}
10 the time Of his death.
u