The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-12-17
THURSDAY, DEC. II, 1891.
THE CHANGES OF A DECADE.

THE CHANGES OF A DECADE.
In closing the tenth year of this
writer's residence in Henderson, and
the tenth volume of the GOLD LEAF,
we feel like taking retrospective view
and noting the progress Henderson
has made during that time. There
have been many changes, for better
and for worse, but the former greatly
outweigh the latter. People have come
and people have gone, but the tendency
of the times has been upward and on
ward. The growth of the town has
been steady and of a solid, substantial
character. So gradual has it been
that it is necessary to stop awhile and
take backward glance to realize the
improvements that have been made all
along the line.
Ten years-one decade!
Not very long time, to be sure,
and yet what changes have taken place
during that period. How Henderson
has spread out and grown and pros
pered. How many of the towns prom
inent citizens have passed from the
stage of action in that brief span.
Then there was but one brick build
ing in the place, and the inhabitants
numbered less than 1900. Now we
have bustling, thriving young city
of more than 5000 population. Elec-
trio lights, water works, mammoth
warehouses, spacious prize factories,
splendid brick stores, handsome
churches and elegant residences,
public and private schools, costly
manufacturing plants and innumerable
smaller industries, tell the story of our
growth and prosperity more eloquently
than words can portray.
And the GOLD LEAF has been in at
the birth and an interested spectator
of all this, and if it has contributed in
the slightest measure thereto it has not
worked in vain. For ten years it has
labored with love and devotion, if not
with ability and efficiency, for what ii
conceived to be for the best interests
of the people of this section, and we
have the authority of a prominent min
ister for saying that " its history is in
part that of the town and county, and
its record is seen in every step taken
every victory won, every hope accom-
plished in this community during thai
time" However that may be, we
have done the best we could under the
circumstances, and what we have done
or attempted to do, has been unselfsh
and, as far as human fallibility woulc
permit, free from prejudice, passion OF
personal prediction. How far we
have succeeded in our efforts, and how
far our motives have been understood
and appreciated, is for the public te
say.
And here we take occasion to say
our associations with the people o.
Henderson and Vance county, have
in the main been as pleasant and
agreeable as we could ask. We have
erred of course, and caused offense
but we have done 50 in the discharge
n what seemed to be our duty, and
cherishing no i'll will for any man we
shall strive to live for the future and
not in the past. 1t is not saying toe
much. nor do we mean it as fattery
,-hen we assert that there are no better
,son,e in North Carolina than the cltl
IONS of Henderson, and consequently
nome better on earth. We have nc
cause to regret that our home has beer
with them for the past ten years
.,o,o whom and for whom the bes
efforts of our life have been cheerful,
and freely put forth.