The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-06-14
SPARKLING JEWELS
GOVERNOR VANCE'S HISTOR-
ICAL SKETCHES.

GOVERNOR VANCE'S HISTOR-
ICAL SKETCHES.
His Brilliant Efforts to Popular
ize the History Of North Caro-
Neutrality-suspicious. Of Her Nat
ural Features Which Show How
Passionately He loved the State
He 50 Faithfully Served.
Correspondence Charlotte Observer.
AS no allusion to the fact has ap-
peared in the recent eulogies of his
life work, many nave no doubt for
gotten that Governor Vance early in
the '7o's wrote series Of sketches on
the history of North Carolina. These
sketches "were written under most
unfavorable circumstances many were
"penciled off at night after fatiguing
day of labor in the court house, and
Others whilst on the circuit and
were first published in the Norfolk
Landmark, newspaper outside of the
State. But doubt whether, during
his whole career, anything came from
his tongue or pen which showed
purer and more unsellish love for his
State. Said he: al began the task,
selecting, naturally and instinctively,
North Carolina as my theme And
again: BY being published first
in newspaper outside of North Caro-
lima, of large circulation and high
character, the facts set forth in rela-
ton to our physical surroundings and
social characteristics, though familiar
to our own intelligent people, may
reach many readers who perhaps would
not otherwise have seen them, and |
thus may have done something for the
good Of our State
So we'll received were these sketches
that in April, 1875, Mr.. Hope, the
brilliant editor of the Landmark, pub
lished them in a modest little volume
of ITS pages. entitled, " Sketches Of
North Carolina, by Ex-Governor
Vance, Together With an Elegiac
Ode and other Poems by James Bar
ron Hope
In the Publishers Preface Mr..
Hope, speaking of Governor Vance's
purpose in the work, says: "These
sketches have done much to popularize
the history Of North Carolina. He
ignored, On a sound theory, the more
ponderous treatment and elaborate
details of the annalist or historian.
But in doing this he has still preserved
the essential facts ofCarolnas history
he has grouped these in mastery
manner, and through the whole per
formanCe, hasty as it was, he has
shown an aftluence of resources and
warmth of coloring which render his
successive pictures worthy an endur-
ing place in our literature. In a noble
ambition to popularize the history of
his State, and in the robust and manly
spirit which belongs to him, as a true
mountaineer, he can we'll console HIM
self for any possible criticism of an
unfriendly nature which may be made
upon his performance.
In taking a general survey of the
State, Governor Vance naturally
selected the point of view from which
his distinguished preceptor, Governor
Swain, had taught, as president Of the
University, and compared the limits
of North Carolina with those of the
whole earth, thus:
"The physical aspect of North
Carolina presents some rather curious
features, to which Governor Swain
used to delight in calling the attention
of the senior class in the University"
Computing the entire surface of
the globe at 100000 OF square
miles, the area of North Carolina,
$4,000 square miles, is one-fourth
thousandth part. Computing the
land surface at one forth of this, or
100000 of square miles, the area
of North Carolina is just one thou
sandth part thereof"
q In 1916, the area of the original
thirteen United States was but little
over 100000 square miles, of which
North Carolina composed the twentieth
part. Our present area, except the
recent acquisition Of Alaska, is, in
round numbers, 100000 of square
miles, Of which North Carolina Constl-
tutes the six;icth part. In other words,
says the Governor triumphantly, the
world might be divided into just a
thousand, and the Union into sixty
States equal in extent to North Caro-
lima
"sEAs OF SILVER"
1t was not Governor Vance's pur-
pose to write complete history Of the
State 4ic Dlan WAS ssto plance at