The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-23
Hrp On th8 Candl8r8.
How Aliens Father Drilled His Company During the War
He Did Not Give Commands

pers, ''Gentlemcm of the Banks County
Guards" / know of but one Gambler
family in the State and all its members
are marked for force and originality
This family goes back to revolutionary
sire and has inherited his virtues. his
patriotism. his integrity and sslf-reIiance.
| never knew Il family that had more
self-reliance. They lean ON nobody, and
ask no favors. but forge ahead. Yes,
they forge ahead and carve their own
way i'll the battle Of life, but not to make
money. They are all poor but are in
dependent and successful. | don't mean
TO say they are poverty stricken, but [
never knew Gambler who was rich.
Riches are not their goal. | know Of
two generations of these Gamblers and
they are all alike-the girls and the boys
alike in their family training-thcir
estimate of duly their sObriety their high
ambition. their cheSrfulneSs, their faith
in God and His DEGREES.
GIentlemen Of the Banks County
Guards, You will please to right face
III was during the long winter CT
lS61-'62 when we were in winter quar-
tiers at Centtrvile, Va, we boys used 10
60 down occasionally to hear Captain
Gambler drill his company. This Cap
tain Gambler was the father of our next
governor. and like all the Gamblers, had
his own ways and methods. He was %
Chesterfield i'll manners, a Stonewall in
patriotism and was never known to use
any pr0fane language or to relate n ynl- /
gar anecdote His politeness was in
tuitive. He couldn't help it. Gentle
men of the Banks County Guards. please
10 erir 7 Ill
my hand an order from the colonel com
manding directing me to take you on
PICKET duty to Mason's hill tomorrow
morning 1T sunrise and that you provide
two days ratiors for that service.
trust that it will tie your pleasure TO
comply with that order"
All his commands were polite requests
and even the rlldest of his men were inn
proved and refined in their manners and
conversation by association with him He
was a patriot. soldier and always
gentleman. The Second Georgia was
commanded by the brave Colonel
SemmeS, and sometimes when the reSi-I
ment was ON drill or dress parade Gen
eral Johnston and his staff would hap
pen there just TO hear Captain Gambler
drill his men. Gentlemen of the Banks
County Guards. Won will observe that
the eyes of our great leader are upon
you, and i trust that You will show your
very best Soldiery training while in his
IsrSnence. Gentlemen of the Banks
County Guards. You will please TO should
or arms; right face: forward march" He
always uncovered his head and thank
ed them when the drill was over.
| reckon these Gamblers were original
ly Chambers. for I find no Gamblers in
l. Al, Il
got Disguised with those fanati-
cal fellows nip north who abus-
el us so and he dropped a letter
from his name and boycotted the whole
concern. / have been domiciled with
these Gamblers in Georgia and Mississ-
ippi, and they are alike in strength and
force of character and good citizenship.
They use no corrupt methods to gain
their ends. Whether as preachers CT
teachers, or college presidents. or judges.
or members of Congress. they keep their
places without the aid of rings, or
schemes. or promises. | knew some of
these Gamblers away back in the forties,
at Nuckodisyile, when the Pigeon RooSt
gold mine was considered an Eldorad0l
and n remnant of the Cherokees were
still hanging around. The fact is that
our Allen came pretty near being I'm
Indian, for old Mrs. Pascal was his god
mother. and she had lived among the
Indians. Her son married John Ridges
daughter the princess of the tribe. His
cousin. Milton Gambler. looks more like
am Indian than white man. and all of
them have the stoicism Of the race.
While they are all devoted to their
kindred and to the moral principles OF |
their ancestors. yet strange to say they |
have separated in their religious faith, |
for some are BaptistS and some arcl
Netbodists and some Presbyterians. Butt
whatever they are they are that all over
and whatever they do is done well.
So now let rings and combinations take |
a back seat for a while and let the peo-
J,le speak and Colonel Gambler will goI
into office with the old time majority of
$4,000. and there will be a reunion of
rhe old time Democracy. The rugged
honesty OF the man will satisfy and
crafty the populists everywhere and all
dissensiops will be buried. He has all
ready spoken for economy and lower tax
es and he means it, The truth is thatI
our taxes have got to he a burden tool
great to he borne, and every leglslatuTel
adds TO it, | remember when the rate |
was only 10 cents on a hundred dollars, |
and now it is ten times that in the couE- |
try and twenty times in "A town or city !
Some strong mind has got to take hold
of this, thing and stop it. We want a |
Moses to lead the people our of their der;-
pondency. They have almost despaifed of
ever seeing purity in state politics again
and the recent possum debanch at New
nan gives no harbinger Of improvement. |
But Judge Fite said to-day that the
power of these political combinations wasl
not dead nor dormant, and that whlel
the voice OF the people was almost unan-
imolts for Gambler. it was still possible
TO defeat him in a nominating cOnven
ton. County conventions can still bel
hacked by shrew1 politicians and the on
" remedy is to have primaries in every
militia district on the same day. Rings
may mack one convention, but they can {
mack ten or IA dozen in each county on
the same day.
Friends. Romans. coumtrymen! Let lls
ALI awake to the magnitude of fhe stua-
tion and place sentinels on the watch
towers and see To ii that honest methods
are used in the next election. Let the
dcad past bury its dead, but let rs take