The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-30
THE FIREMEN's CONVENTION.
A Great Gathering Of Firemen-The School
Tax D~oomed-The South's Besetting Sin.
News Notes.

News Notes.
Fayetteville, N. c., July %.
The indications are unmistakable
that, in the numbers Of people drawn
here from all parts Of the state, and in
the interest Of the proceedings, nothing
in F~ayetteville's post bellum history
has been comparable with the State
Ffremen's convention. to meet next
week in this city, save the centennial
celebration of 1889. 1t will be a three
days jubilee Of exciting contests in
skill and efficiency chosen
teams of the principal North Carolina
towns, throughout all which Fayette-
ville's old time hospitality will fairly
revel in this golden opportunity Of
making a lot of other people happy.
Nor will it be all play. The convention
will have to discuss much of import
ance to the general welfare, for the as
ISOLATION is of no little consequence to
the insurance n property interests
Of the state at large. The Messenger
will have daily full and accurate re-
ports of all their pleasant doings. .
Curses, like chickens, come home to
roost." The special school tax is DOOM
ed to defeat in this county. The solid
men Of the community-men who own
the property, and On whom rest the
financial BURDENS Of government
rightly distrust the last Legislature and
every measure growing out of tina
saturnalia of folly, incompetency and
party passion. Their righteous indig-
nation can see mo good out of NaZa-
reth;" let those who made this filthy
bed lie there in. This state Of feeling,
natural though it be, will work woful
injustice to the city graded school,; 1T
lives under the shelter Of a special act;
and, if the school tax were voted, it's
income would be more than doubled
but not even to accomplish this desir-
able result could the election be car
ried.
Throughout the grounds surrounding
two Of the churches Of this city are
great placards with the legend: mo
Smoking MISUNDERSTANDING illustra-
ton of the tenacious hold of the to-
baccO habit on this people. Not even
within the precincts Of the temple OF
the Most High can they fOrbear for a
little while to puff, and smoke, and
spit. A few years ago this correspond
ent was walking through the Memorial
Art building, in Paramount park, Phil
adelphia-the only structure left stand
ing Of the centennial exposition of 1876.
Despite the treasures Of art on every
side, though new beauties came to view
on every hand, I was uneasy, and the
janitor noted that fact. You are from
the SOUTH" he said. Yes" I replied,
with a gratified smile, for 1 felt certain
that he had noticed the purity of my
pronunciation or the sOftness of my
voice; Eyes, I am from the south. But
how did you know" From your anX-
iety to get hold of a spittoon!"
Fayetteville is one of the few towns
hi can never get justice. Its growth
is very marked; and, including it's SUI
burbs, it's population cannot be less
than 1000. Let anyone walk through
Gillespie street, Rowan, Dick, WinsloW,
| Maiden Lane, Cool Spring n Person,
and make a tour of Haymount and
| other environs, and the above state
| ment will be cordially endorsed.
AS amateur truckers, Mr.. and Mrs.
A. H. Slocmb, On Dick street, have
been "paralyzing" their neighbors by
the growth of mammoth tomatoes
reaching a weight of about two pounds.
! Nothing like them has eve been seen
in this section.
The remains of Mrs. Morrison, rellct
| of the late Colonel J. s.. Morrison, chief
| engineer of the Cape Fear and Yadkin
Valley railway, were Inferred here day
! before yesterday. She died at Dotham,
| Ala. Her s~on-in-law and daughter,
Mr.. and Mrs. Will Slocomb, are now
in the city.
Your correspondent feels again con-
| strained to speak of the urgent need OF
safety gates at the Hay street cross
ing of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad.
| He would also remind the authorities
that the occupants Of the Jail still make
the day irksome and the night hideOus
to all the surrounding neighborhood.