The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-05-13
Nat MacOn-A Parallel.
City Economist.

Nat MacOn-A Parallel.
City Economist.
The people of North Carolina and
the official authorities of the State are
looking for a picture of Nathaniel Ma
con, one of the greatest and most dis
of its public men, and of the
most pronounced and attractive indi-
viduality. They desire it to be placed
on the walls of the State library among
the other distinguished North Carolin-
ians whose distinction is her honor.
No likeness of this illustrious Carolin-
ian has yet been found. But we are
rejoiced to be able to furnish a photo
graph that was impressed indelibly
upon the retina of ots eye over sixty
years ago. In $780, while a boy at
school in Warrenton, we saw Macon
for the first time at fourth of July
dinner. In 1885 we saw him as the
president of the convention to amend
the constitution of North Carolina, and
for ten days while we attended the sit
tings of the convention, we noticed him
day after day and he was so thoroughly
impressed upon us, from his distinguish
opposition and his unique character, that
to this day the impression of his personal
appearance is as distinct as the photo
graph then painted: Dutchy in build,
robust in person, little stopped at the
shoulder, apparently little over five
feet in height, hair a grizzly-thin-gray,
but not bald, wearing on the street
chip hat of domestic manufacture,
thin homespun coat of domestic make,
browny.white in color, trousers match
ing with the coat, and a vest of the
same material reaching we'll over the
abdominal region. Add to this a gray
cold eye and mouth indicative of good
nature rather than firmness, and you
have a picture of Macon, a unique
figure in North Carolina biography,
and in his marked individuality, apart
from ali theirs in our history, in the
18th year of his life. Mr.. jefferson
called him the ''last of the Romans. "
Mr.. Benton called him the "Cincinna-
tus of America" John Randolph said
in his will that he was "the wisest man
he had ever known" And now we come
to the practical part of our article.
North Carolina has made vain
search for some likeness of Macon to
be placed in the library, and it has
finally accepted the statement. that he
never allowed likeness of himself to
be taken. There is a photograph oi
Mr.. Macon in North Carolina, taken
when he was president of the conven
tion Of 1885 at Raleigh. We have it
1t is perennial photograph upon ou1
eye. We have model by which thai
photograph can be reproduced as &C
curately by good artist as if Mr.. Ma
con had set for it. That model is Hon
T. G. Skinner, and if he will sit for g
picture of Nat. Macon we can re
produce the picture. Do you want 1
fultlength likeness? Put three quarter
, of an inch on Tom SINNERS alti
!. tude, take out his little brown. blacl
: eyes and put two larger and fulle
e cold gray eyes in their place. Take Of
$ his thick gray-black hair, throw ava
). one half of it and substitute for it
y sparse covering Of sandy-gray hair
t Give little more plumptness to hi
: lips, with little less compression
a Give Tom SINNERS head slight re
8 move from an upright balance,
:, slight stoop from the neck projectin
s it forward. Change his complexio
n from brown to blonde. Clothe him i
s. brown, light, summer coat made an
|. manufactured at home, of the sha
d type, without the shad longitude, wit
r trousers and vest of the same mat'
,e rial, the vest having an abdomina
is length, and you have as good a l;k
a. ness of "Uncle Nat as anybody want
is If you want him in street costun
h put a homemade chip hat on To-
r. SINNERS head