The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-06
ARP ON OLD FRIENDS
He Talks of Plant and Simon
Peter Richardson.
PREACHER AND BUILDER
PLANT NEVER PROFITED AT
THE EXPENSE or OTHERS.
THE CASE OF SUBSIDY THURBER
The Philosopher Discourses onDog Days and
How they Came to be So Called. A
Relief from War, Lynchings
and Kentucky Politics,
and Kentucky Politics.

Simon Peter Richardson and Henry
b. Plant, two more of my friends, have
fallen asleep. They Were not my near
and dear friends, but they were friends
to humanity and | am human. | knew
them well and was always pleased with
their presence 1t is a good sign when
YOU are glad to meet even an acqualnt-
ance-a good sign for him and 1t Is
good one for YOU when your acqualnt-
aures meet you gladly. Simon Peter
Richardson ministered here several
wears and | was always cheered with
his presence and learned something
did not know. He was a walking edu-
Gator. a man Of wit and wisdom and OIL
great philanthropy. Sometimes he cut
to the quick, but his knife was sharp
and left no ragged edges. | recall an
incident that illustrated his earnest
readiness to reply to Il man Who refused
a little charity to a very poor bind wo-
man who wished to go TO Atlanta 10
have DR. Calhoun to remove a cataract
from her eye. Simon Peter very earn
estly related her condition and her ex-
treme poverty and said, Please give
me half a dollar, only half dollar
The merchant replied, No. l can't do
it. We merchants are bled to death
by these country people and we have
got to stop | tell you, Uncle Simon,
we are bled to death, you must excuse
me- Simon Peter looked ut him as If
he were amazed. After brief silence
he said "Bled are you. Let me show
you something" He took off his long
linen buster, then unbuttoned the wrist
band OH his left arm, rolled up the
sleeve and pointing to two little scars
near the elbow said, a long time ago
a fool doctor tried to bleed me and
made those scars. He missed the VEN
and got no blood but the scars are there.
! am afraid that is the experience OF a
good many people who ask little chart
ty for the poor They get no blood, but
leave the scar"
We who saw the point smiled audibly
The merchants face Redeemed under the
sarcasm He suddenly pulled out the
money drawer and handed dollar to
the old man, and said: "Give this to
her / don't want any of your scars
about me-"
The last year Of his sojourn here
Uncle Simon took a vacation and visited
his old home on. the Peedee River, in
South Carolina. When he returned he
told me exultingly of the good time he
had and about wonderful revival that
occurred in his old home church-the
greatest revival he said that he had
witnessed for many years. How many
converts did you take into the church,
said l. .'The first week, said he I'VE
never took in nary one, but we turned
seventeen out and purged the church.
IN Az, 4 ,ad
there is many a church in this part Of
the country that needs the same medi-
cine"
Uncle Simon left his impression upon
the people of every community IN which
he lived. He was an earnest man,
strong man, a man of convictions and
was perfectly fearless in maintaining
them. Woe to the infidel or skeptic or
agnostic who encountered him. Woe
to the man who declined to go to
church because he didn't feel the need
of religion. No doubt we have as good
men now, but the preachers are rare in
any denomination who are his equals
in convincing and converting force.
With Paul he could say, Il have fought
good fight. have kept the faith"
Mr. Plants photograph IS before me.
What broad, attractive, human-like
face. There is nothing Of awe or sol
emnity in his features that would in
timidate the approach Of the humblest
of his race knowing that thou was1
an austere man" did not apply to him.
Always dignified. always self-poised and
earnest, he seemed as much concerned
for others as for himself. He was
frank but careful in speech. genial UNI
complaining and never worried over
business cares or disappointments. His
last letter to me, written III February.
was an autograph and is a model of
good old-fashioned penmanshp 1t IS
a large, open, honest hand without a
blot or erasure the is all dotted, the rs
all crossed and quotation marks where
they should be- In speaking of his
health he say: Il have been suffering,
but am yet on deck and prepared In a
moderate way to attend to my duties
and in some measure be of benefit to
~ the people"
have taken note of him for nearly
han = century and know of no greater
man in ahe line Of public progress and
public henefaction. Many mflIionalres
have acquired fortunes from speculation
speculation that robbed others. Many
have built on the foundation that others
laid and some have wrecked railroads
and private enterprises on purpose for
their own profit. but Mr.. Plant made
honest plans in early life and has by
slow and sure degrees expanded and
matured them. lie has added to values
not only Of his own property. but to
that Of communities 'an0 States He
has proved himself an unAelfish friend
to the South and won the love and adj
miration of our people. Shakespeare
says, 1.-THE evil that men do lives after
them. The good is oft inferred will
their bones" That is not always true
In fact. he might as truly have said
''The good that men do lives aftel
them" Good deeds are like the circlin.
waves that gently move to the shor,
when a stone is cast into pool. The,
never lose their influence. The gooe
that Mr.. Plant has done for the peopl
has not been buried with him, nor vii
he be forgotten for generations to come