The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-29
A VERY VALUABLE RELIC.
An Incident Of Natbaaiel MacOn's
COurtship RetO8d.
LITTLEToN, N. O., 5 pt. %.
To the Editor Of the News and Observer.


To the Editor of the News and Observer:
DR. T. w. Harris, Of this place, who Is
fond Of collecting antiquities, has It
Gently come into the possession OF an old
writing desk once owned and used by
Hon. Nathaniel Macon, and to say that
he values il almost beyond the price Of
rubies, would b. putting it mildly.
Few men were ever reared in the Old
North State who attained greater promi-
nence than did the gentleman from
North Carolina" and to day his memory
is loved and cherished by every true Car
Gilman. Having been Representative
in Congress for twenty five years, and
for two terms Speaker of the House of
Representatives, as well as United States
Senator for twelve years, all the time
serving his people with fidelity and great
ability, it is little wonder that he was so
loved and honored. If you will pardon
the digression-it has been written of
Mr.. Macon that he was a man of great
perseverance and tenacity of character,
as is illustrated by the following anec-
dote, whicn | copy from a biography OF
the g eat soldier and statesman, by Ed
ward r. Gotten, published in 1910:
ut appears that Mr. Macon and one
OF his rivals met at the house in which
Miss Hannah Plummer resided, at the
same time. (Miss PIummer was the
sweetheart of Mr.. Macon.) After the
ordinary ceremonies of the meeting were
settled, Me-. Macon proposed to his rival,
in the presence of the object of their
mutual admiration, that they take a
game Of cards for Hannah, and that the
vanquished should surrender her to the
other and nevermore be in hi way; told
him that be could think of no batter way
than this, and that it was certainly the
shortest way 10 decide their controversy
The expedient was agreed to by the two
rivals, and the result Of the game was
that Mr.. Macon lost Hannah, upon which
he raised up his hands, with his eyes
fixed upon Hannah, sparkling with beams
of affection, exclaiming: Hannah, not
withstanding l have lost you fairly, love
is superior to honesty; | cannot give you
up 1t is said the manner in which he
made this declaration inclined the scale
in his favor, and that he and Hannah
were, shortly after, married"
The old piece Of furniture in question
is constructed Of black walnut, and is
filed with pigeon holes, drawers, etc. 1t
must be over oue hundred and fifty years
Of age and is much the worse for wear.
This would not be the case had the desk
been taken care of, but it has the appear
ance Of having been exposed for the last
fifty years to the rains, SHOWS, storms
aad sunshine, aud the rea o., perhaps,
that it did not find its way into the fire,
was the fact that the wood was SO hard
that it could not be chopped up. It doubt
less fell into hands of thase who knew
nothing of its bis CRY, and the hsllcWed
c1ihging about 1t. ard hence
it's treatment. However it was rescued
before it was entirely destroyed, and is
now, everything considered, in wonder
ful state OF preservation,
Dr. Harris has generously rendered
the loan Of this valuable relic to the
Of the North Carolina exhibit
at the Atlanta Exposition, and believe
that 1t will attract much attention at the
big fair Indeed, the State exhibit
would be incomplete without it.
TIE name of Nathaniel Macon is
Synonymous with everything chiyalric,
statesmanlike, and honorable in North
Carolina, and the sons and daughters Of
the sod North State" take an interest
in everything that pertains to the mem
ory Of the Great CommCn5T.
j l. HARPER