The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-06-30
JONI MORRIS
ON WEEKLY PAPERS.
He STUMBLED UPON A COPY OF
THE COMMONWEALTH"
A Train Of Thought set up and This
Article Followed.
Written for The COMMONWEALTH.

Written for The CoMMoNwEALTH.
A few days ago, while going through
one of my periodical grip-sack clean
ings, I found an old copy of The CON-
MoNWEALTH. / was at once reminded
of my promise to contribute something
from my pen to its columns, and also
the daring of its editor in proffering TO
pay me.
I am not professionally newspaper
man. and, hence, not haying selected
that method of perishings, l am yet
receiving aims from sources SO distinct
1y non-literary, that my newspaper
work, principally in urging Bill Russ,
the present mayor of Raleigh, for Gov
ernor, is altogether an offering as free
as this proffer from my pen to The
| COMMONWEALTH.
When / first brought out Bill Russ
for Governor, did SO because he had
no financial views, and, hence, might
not antagonlze the settled convictions
of Captain Buck Kitchin, and, at the
same time, be acceptable to the yellow
est gold-bug in North Carolina.
| I haye known Bill Russ since he, in
early life, turned from contemplating
career as Methodist minister, to lean
his head affectionately on the bosom OF
the Democratic party. While he has
always bad enough to eat and to keep
him fat, and clothes OF fashion and de-
cency so decided as to warrant him, if
suddenly called on, to lead a german at
the Capital Club of Raleigh, to pitch
right in when the band began to play,
without having to run home and
change breeches, yet, at no time has
he been so crowded with money as to
/, feel called upon to frame any definite
| financial views.
| I wish he bad pile of money as big.
as his big heart and big brain together.
If he had, he would be a very rich man.
[ wish we could have a Governor so
good as he would make. If SO, we
| would have splendid executive over
the civic and material destiny OF North
| Carolina.
But, mercy me I started to write
about weekly newspapers, The Con-
MoNwEALTH inclusive, and here | am
riding one of my pet bobbles-Bill
Russ candidacy for Governor.
When I am in a town where week.
ly paper is published, I always seek a
copy. When 1 have read it am then
fairly acquainted with the town, so
we'll, in fact, that l am at once at
home. The paper tells me If the pas
tor of the church is sick, or we'll. From
some little item hear the bell ringing
for the Wednesday evening prayer
meeting; and, sweetly, out of few neat
ly written lines, I hear the voice OF the
nice little lady who sang the solo in the
choir last Sunday morning. Stepping
over few stately phrases, making an
other item, see the proud, ambitious
boy who has just returned to the home
from college. Then, too, the weekly
tells me of some marriage. Then, my
mind, in surmises, guessing at witch
cries of love, may creep out in the moon
light where there are tarryings at the
gate, and low whispers of betrothal
which none but the lovers, God and the
roses should ever hear and, then, | am
brought back against the announce
ment of eliminating love and romance
the marriage itself, which find IN
the gosslpy weekly.
| Perhaps some issue of the weekly
has no news more startling than that 8
baby has been born in some home II
the place. A little item about little
baby! Yet, what text 1t furnishes
In the innermostness of the soul OF the
tiny item about the advent OF the wet
, baby there is beautiful story telling
of life futtering into the world, rosll,
and 1nnocently, from the perils 0
motherhood and then, too, of tresf
hopes thrilling the white bosom of ma
te1nlty-hopes to stretch out OF
mothers soul, all along beside the des
tiny of the child, from the swaddlinl
: hour to the final judgment of God
All these reflections come to me on th
lettered wings of the little item in tn
: tattling weekly.
Then, too, the weekly tells me tha
/ somebody in some home In the tow
}. died since 1t went its last weeks round
. from door to door, to tell the folks al
= the news it knows. When see thl
q item then know that somewhere in tn
e graveyard the dirt is grassless and ire
THO Chief Rnrpess 0f Mi10sburQ Pa