The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-05-23

feel more attached to the Roanoke
Ncws than any other newspaper.
That is our alma mater in the school
OF journalism. 1t was in the Roanoke
NeWs office that we first learned to
set type and pull the Archimedsan
lever OF the ancient Washington
hand press from which countless
numbers OF well developed biceps had
been graduated before us.
That was way back in the 7Os
when we were young and hopeful. A
career OF fame and fortune opened up
before us we thought-but alas! we
have achieved neither. And we have
always blamed that old Washington
hand press. Our early training in
the newspaper business went more to
muscle than mind-that accounts for
it. Had the present day lightning
speed web perfecting press with its
cutting, FASTING and folding attach
ment all combined been in vogue in
those days that old Washington hand
press would have been in the Junk
pile or some curio shop and we would
have been doing something else more
conducive to the formation and cul-
tivation of gray matter in our think
tank than strengthening the fibrons
sinews and developing Sampsonan
muscles in back and arms.
But perhaps it is better so. Had
it been otherwise we might now be
running yellow journal some where
and publishing things that people
didn't believe, and things that were
hurtful to our fellow-man. And We
wouldn't want to do that-rather
print an unpretentious sheet that's
clean and helpful and have the re-
spect and confidence of our fellows
than be rich and talked about if it had
to come the other way.
to moraliZe or become reminiscent
When ones thoughts begin to dwell
too much in the past it is sign that
he is getting old. And we are not
that, although we can't help thinking
of that old Washington hand press,
and old Weldon as it was then, and
the boys and girls of twenty-five or
thirty years ago. Where are they
now Some of them gone, some
dead, others remain the leaders in
business, in society-married most of
them are and the heads of interesting
families who ere long will take their
places as we knew them in the happy
long ago.
| GOVERNOR AYCOCK IN NEW YORK.
Gov. Aycock delivered splendid
speech at the banquet of the North
Carolina Society in New York Monday
night. Owing to its length we can
not print it this week, but it has gone
on our "copy" hook for next issue.
He was invited to respond to the
toast What is North Carolina Doing
to Meet the Changed Conditions
Brought About by the War;" and in
plain, direct, vigorous, eloquent Ian
guage he told 'em-told things which
ought to be read and pondered by our
friends at the North. A press dis
patch says:
Two hundred North Oarolinian. and
their friends Of the New York North
Carolina Society held their first an
nual banquet at the Waldorf-A,toria
tonight. Judge Augustus Van Wyck,
the president of the society, was the
toast-master and in 4 happy speech
| eulogized the State where he was
educated. He introduced Governor
| Aycock, who had been invited as tho
principal speaker. as worthy sue
| cessor to the great Vance The Gov
ernor was greeted by that prolonged.
piercing rebels yell heard only from
the Threats of North Carolinians that
carried the Stars and Bars to the
heights of Gettysburg.
Mr.. Aycock's speech was one of the
strongest and best of his career. He
said that New York paper had re-
ported him as coming to this city TO
preach secession. He declared that
instead if this great State of Now
York should go out of the Union to-
day, he stood ready to give the Wash
ington government 100000 able
bodied white North Carolinians. who
never missed a squirrel, to help put
the Empire State back in the Union.
South Carolina, Mississippi and Louis
| ians had disfrAnchissd the negro and
nothing had been said. Why all this
fuss about North Carolina? Because
at last the most conservative State in
the Union had moved and with such
deep conviction that it had awakened
the nation, but the State had done
| right and had nothing to take back.
I'VE are now doing things down
there and want to be let alone. Last
year We grew 100000 bales of cotton
we spun 100000 of them. This year
We will spin every bale we grow. We
have this spring grown $1,000. GOO on
our strawberry patch. High Point
claims to be the second place in the
| world in furniture manufacture. We
spend more than half the revenues OF
the State for education. In 1905
every white and black child in the
State will be able to read"
Assistant District Attorney James
W. Osborne made bright and witty
speech on the Mscklcnburg Declare
ton and pointed out in the room a
half dozen descendants of the immor-
tai signers.
George Gordon Battle closed with A.
long Inst OF names of distinguished
men the State had given to the nation.