The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-28

A Tribute to Has Memory From One
Well QunIined 20 Write OF HIS
Great Work for Public Edaeasion
I'm Wnminxfon.

Chapel Hill. N. c.. January IS. 1902
Editors Messenger:
Ny intimate and extended a~cquaint-
ance with h work OF the late Mr..
James III. Chadbourn in behalf of the
public graded schools of Wilmington
prompts me to give public ufterance to
some thoughts suggested by his recent
death.
For practically one-third of a century
he. a business man OF many cares, du-
ties and responsibilities. gave though.
n labor to building up q system of
public schools which should give unex-
celled educational advantages to every
boy and girl in Wilmington.
j well remember my first conversation
with him Just after 1 had taken charge
OF the schools at superintendent. / had
come to your city young. enthusiastic
and ambitious. / told him that in place
or the old. unsightly Hemenway and
Union buildings We ought to have two
modern buildings and a we'll equipped
High school to which the lower schools
should serve as feeders. He looked me
steadfastly in the face and made a re-
mark that 1 have since found was thor
oughly indicative of his character.
Keep still. Let's get the lower school,
first and then work for the High school
later on" And yet. by Keep still. he
old not mean to be understood as op-
posing the High school idea, but simply
to build up to it carefully and surely
from The lower schools.
He was a thoughtful reader and stud
led carefully the intricate problem of
popular education. He took the sensi-
DIE and practical view tina the schools
should not be over oaded with subjects
that too often commend themselves to
enthusiastic persons who know abso-
iutely nothing about the possibilities of
a course of study. Thoroughness in the
essentials was his first and abiding aim.
a a occurred in the
corps OF teachers, his immediate and
steady purpose was TO fill that vacancy
with a better teacher. I'VE must go
forward. not stand STILL" he would al
Wavs say. In fact. in every respect he
was. in my judgment, a mode school
committeeman. In the selection of
teachers l never knew him to have a
candidate on The ground of friendship.
He never voted for an applicant be
cause she needed the position, but be-
cause he was satisfied the position need
ed her. He regarded a position not as
"a job" to be given away to a persis-
tent applicant. but as an important post
to be filled by the best to be found, by
n of enthusiasm, success and profess
sional training for teaching.
His relations with me as Superintend-
emit were most pleasant and helpful.
Enthusiastic and proud of the schools,
he dealt with them through me entirely.
leaving every detail Of management to
me. and never inviting nor permittint
either directly or Indirectly, a request
or a complaint from n teacher
Quiet and transformations. he would
inspect the schools or attend the pub
lie tai He Shrank from
publicity and personal notor1ety, and il
was with much difficulty that 1 could
get him to sit upon the rostrum al
times when the committee ought to 81,
there.
He always took great delight in the
public exercises of the schools. 1 car
see him now at the Union school on the
closing night. sitting in one Of the
front seats that l always saved fol-
him. his sturdy. forceful face lit VI
with genuine pride as he followed the
children in the exercises, or caught with
gla ears the music of the songs he
loved to hear them sing. And after the
audience had gone he would come tt
me with words of praise to be followed
with his oft repeated declaration. well
it was good. / liked it, but let's &c for
ward neXt session."
! shall never forget his work in sc.
curing h High school. / happened t.
be at the depot n day as he returned
from his northern trip. After the greet
ing. he asked me to call on him tina
night. 1 called. and in the privacy o
his home he pledged me to secrecy ant
told me of the conference he had haC
with the generous owners which had re
suited in their offer to turn owe tn
Tileston buildings and grounds to tn
school committee of Wilmington. O
course. I felt some pride at his conf
dence. and yet I shall ever believe that
had it not been necessary for him t.
have some on to help him in the CORE
~spondence which was necessarily to fol
low. he would not have told me. 1t wa
his ambition to tell no one until ever.
detail should be arranged and the pa
pers ready for the signatures Of al
parties concerned in the transfer of tn
property. When the papers were read.
he requested the members of the tw
committees and the county board o
education to meet him in his privat
office. where, sitting at the head of tn
large office table. with no attempt a
self-praise, he told in few and stmpl
words the story of his efforts that hat
secured for the children OF Wilmington
forever the handsomest school propert.
in North Carolina. l shall always b.
glad that I saw and heard him in tha
moment of his greatest official pride.
The death of such a man is indeed
loss to the city. The last time l saw
him at his office was Just before n
went home never to return to bushes
cares again. While talking to me.
contractor came in. evidently by ap
pointment. for he turned to him and II
a few words closed a contract fer worl
at the Union Annex where the primar.
classes are taught. and then as tn
man left us Mr.. Chadbourn said to Ine
Il want those little ones to be comfort
~able"-shook hands with me for tn
last time and went home to die A glo
rious ending Of a busy life. 1 TAX ii
when the last act is one done for tn
comfort Of the little ones"
NJ. c.. s. NOBLE.