The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-08-15
Echoes from the Press Convention.

Mr.. w. w. Northumberland,
Jolly, whole -souled, "Brother Nc -
of the Lumberton RobesOnian, who
was elected President this year, says
this Of the Convention:
There is perhaps no town
of its size in N. c., that equals Lenoir
in refinement and wealth and one of
our speakers appropriately referred to
it as the Athens of North Carolina.
4 1t was our privilege to be
most happily and delightfully."- domi-
ciled with our lifelong friend, Rev.
Colin A. Monroe, and his most inter-
esting family. y 1t was such
a sincere pleasure to be with the friend
of our youth, that nearly all of the
time not devoted to business, was
spent with the family, yet we met
quite a number Of the citizens and
were impressed with their culture,
their refinement, but above all, with
their elegant hospitality. They did
all in their power to make our So
journ among them pleasant and profit
able and though the weather prevented
the enjoyment of much of it, yet there
was enough to satisfy even the most
exacting. And in this connection it
may not be amiss to notice some of
the objections that have been urged
against some of the features in our
annual gatherings as we'll as to notice
some of the improvements.
There are those who characterize
those meetings as "junketing tours "
and claim to believe that the aspira-
tions run no higher than to eat, drink
and be merry. The press of the State
is held in the very highest esteem by
the people and this fact is evidenced
by the number of cordial invitations
which the Association receives every
year. Whether justly or not, they es-
TEEN it an honor and privilege to
have as their guests the newspaper men
OF the State-the men, who, if they
are eonscientiously discharging their
duty, are doing more to develop all
the interests Of the State, than an;
other class or profession. And when
the press Of the State, through its
chosen executive officers, decided to
accept the Inequalities of the citizens
of one of the many tenders that are
made, it undertakes TO do SO IN the
same whole hearted spirit in which the
tender is made. Then, too, a great
many special invitations are extended
from the citizens Of the town where
we meet and other places. Our recent
meeting was no exception to this rule.
These included, among other things
which have escaped our memory, a
lawn party at the residence OF Mai.
Harper, a visit to Hibriton, a
trip 10 and an entertainment and
ball at Blowing Rock and a banquet
at Hickory. A committee was ap-
pointed to consider these invitations
and report to the Association. This
committee recommended that the first
two be accepted, thai the invitation
to the ball at Blowing Rock be de-
clined and that the word "supper" be
substituted for banquet at Hickory,
as the word banquet implied wine or
champagne. Thus the Press Asso-
citation, through its committee, put
itself on record as opposed to balls
and banquets. The Association by
vote overruled the committee in re-
gard to the ball, but the action in
regard to the banquet was sustained,
and that too, in the face of the fact
that Lenoir is dry town.
There was great deal of work
done. The Association convened at
9 a. M, and with the exception of the
ordinary receSses for dinner and sup
per, remained in session till 10 or IL
O'Clock at night. The meeting this
year was probably the best meeting
though one of the smallest) that we
have ever had and we verify believe
marks new epoch in the perpetuity
and usefulness of the Association. 1t
also went long way in the matter of
Kidding itself of much of the odium
that attached to it, especially in the
minds of some,o those who never at
tended, though it was their privilege
and duty to have done So.