The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-18
LIVES OF DISTINGUISHED
NORTH CAROLINIANS.

The North Carolina Publishing So
cicty, an association composed of pubic
spirited gentlemen, have formed com
pany Tor the purpose of perpetuatlng thc
lives OF distinguished citizens. The inst
publication of the society-now about 10
issue from the press--is Lives of Dis
tingushed North Carolinians." 1t VIII
contain the most valuable sketches ana
speeches of sixteen subjects, VIZ;
Davie, Macon. Murphy, Castor. Moore
Badger Swain, Ruffin, Bragg Graham
Pettigrew, Fender, Ramseur, Grimes,
Hill and Vance. with finely executed
portraits of each. The lives will aver
age about forty pages each. The book
is the product of twenty-four minus
among them the brightest which the
State has afforded.
The main object of the promoters OF
this enterprise is historical and educa-
tiOnal. The educational value of these
sketches and speeches is probably what
will chiefly recommend this undertaking
to the public. A course of home read
ing about worthy men close enough to
the reader to stimulate his interest can
hardly he Oyervalued and it is the best
substitute for the training Of the schools
as well as Il powerful assistant in such
training.
1t will not he understood that an at
tempt is made in this volume to publish
the lives of all distinguished NOMh
CaTolinianS-therc are others, perhaps
as worthy ms any which here appear;
and should this book he approved and
sufficiently sustained by those who have
State pride enough and sufficient love
for true history. another volume may
be issued at some future time.
This book is written of North Caro-
linians by North Carolnians. Many of
the writer's are no less distinguished than
their subjects. and these together give
it local color, distinctiveness and person
ality. which ought to make it interesting
to every citizen of the State and valu-
ahlo to those who seek to know lis
through intrinsic evidence.
The introduction by the compiler
(about fOrty-fivC pages is devoted to
showing how history is being miswrit-
ten. to the prejudice of the South, and
has been for century. The causes Of
the war between the States, especially
the main underlying and overlooked
causes, is used rs n most startling illus
traton. Many facts of far-reachng i'm
port are unearthcd which Northern and
foreign historians have Systematically
suppressed.
The lives and some Of the best ii
borS Of these men are brought together
and edited by w. !. Peclc, ESQ. of this
city, in Il handsome volume of 600 pages.
printed in most excellent taste and which
will be bound in the best style.
More than one hundred copies have
already been subscribed for in this city
during the last few days. Only a limited
number of copies will he published-An
average of about thirty to the county.
Some counties like Wake will probably
take half the edition.
A copy should he placed in the hands
of every child that can read A COPY
at least should be in every household
The book is probably the most valuable
acquisition to North Carolina history
that has been made in years.
The price of the book. cheapest bind
ing. will he only $500. There are other
styles of binding viz. Embossed cloth.
1926; half Morocco. $3.50: half Persian
calf plain, $2.75 Persian calf, gilt,
$500.