The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-11-29
NORTH CAROLINA'S ARTIST.

vantages, and his victory over them, il
mnutely told, would read like romance.
More than ten years ago he had formed a
taste for Art and the desire to become a
great artist, and every energy of his being
has been bent in that direction His life
thus far presents an example of industry,
economy, courage and determination
almost ijhout a parallel. Yet it was not
until within the last few months that be
has been enabled to devote his entire at
tention to his chosen life-work for which
nature has SO richly endowed him. He is
twenty nine years old.
Just ten years ago he left his mountain
home in Burke county for Chapel Hill
afoot. He walked to Winston, rode from
there to Hillsboro on the train, and walk
ed from Hillsboro to Chapel Hill. He had
only thirty cents when he reached there.
Mr.. RANDALL kept in little note book a
sort of diary of that walk and we give a
few extracts:
November 10th-Started to Chapel Hill;
travelled till midnight; slept in Perkin s
school house.
Nov. IL Started before day; ate break
fast on a log eight miles from Lenoir.
Passed through Lenoir about 10 O'Clock.
Children got scared at US A friend on his
way to Trinity College was with him.-ED-
ITOR. and thought we were tramps. DIM
ed three miles from town and took nap.
Got 70 Mr.. Edmund Tilley's at p. N. and
stald all night.
Nov 12-Started at 73O a. NJ Passed
through Moravian Falls 2.3O p. M, and
from four houses Got to Mrs Gray's, a
Travelled twenty nine miles.
Nov 13-Started at 730 and walked
hard all day. Got to the Yadkin river at
II a N. Stopped at sundown where shin
giles had been made.
Nov 14-Got up about midnight and
walked to Huntsviile-about eleven miles.
Lay on hill near the mill till day. Got
the miller to put US across the river. Got
to Winston at , o'clock p. m. Took the
train at o'clock and arrived at Greens
boro at 7 p. u. Jim left on the train for
High Point at 8. 80. Slept in a vacant loI
in a pile of leaves.
Nov. 15-Left Greensboro at s. 80 a. N.
and arrived at Hillsboro at II a. ~. Walk
tO 10 SudDel Hill.
Mr.. RANDALL'S purpose was not to en-
ter the University at once. He knew that
he was not prepared for that, as the writ
ing and spelling in the diary show. His
education thus far had been obtained
almost solely from the public schools OF
his county. He hoped to get work of some
kind about the University so that he could
spend odd times in preparing to take d
regular course.
There was preparatory department at
the University then and fortunately Mr..
RANDALL was able to borrow few dollars
TO pay his board and entered this depart
ment. He boarded from then until June
for less than So a month. As might be
expected his progress in his studies was
rapid, and in September, 1880, he entered
the regular Freshman class. He continu-
ed at the University until June, 1884
when he graduated almost at the head OF
his class. He held the position of Libra
rian for several years and was at one time
President of the Dialectic Society. Dur
ing his course he had been doing work in
Art and had made quite a number of por-
traits for which he received fair prices.
He was not yet able, however, to make a
living by Art. SO in the Fall he opened
school in Marion, Mcdowell county,
where he was very successful for two
years All this time he had been work
ing with view to completing his educa-
in Art IL, Oatnhar 1SSR he Upnf
to the National Academy of Design, in
New York, where he spent one year, COM
pleting the course that the average pupil
there spends from three to four years ID
completing. Besides this, in three months
after entering the Academy Of Design be
received the appointment to "a position to
teach free hand drawing in school fol
boys on Fifth Avenue, having been recon-
mended for the position by his instructors.
This took only four hours week of bis
time but it more than paid his expenses
while in New York. After completing bis
work IN New York he returned to North
Carolina and did some portrait work in
the Western part of the State.
In September, 1888, he began work in
the University of South Carolina as III
stIuctor in Free-hand and Mechanical
Drawing aud Descriptive Geometry. he
could have remained in this position this
year at an increased salary, but he was
offered the presidency of a Collegiate In
stitute in Texas at a still larger salary ano
thought ouce Of accepting it. He finally
made up his mind, however, to give uE
everything but Art, and few months age
came to Raleigh and settled. We are glad
to know that he has been kept busy evel
since he came and that he now has orders
ahead that it will take two or three months
to finish.
At the State Fair his work took the only
premium that he entered for: the best OIL
painting by North Carolina artist. His
large oil portraits of BISHOP LYMAN anc
BISHOP ATKINSON are as handsome as any
portraits ever seen in the State.
The CHRONICLE has given this sketch o.
Mr.. RANDALL for two reasons: First, a.
an inspiration to the boys of this State
who think that poverty and its drawback
cannot be overcome. Second, in order thai
the people of the State may know what ar
Artist and what man we have here among
us. He will one day be recognized through
ont this country as a great Artist and ar