The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-11

dash. OF Mr.. Browns work it says
it is decidedly meritorious, and the au-
thor's style has life and feeling and
manifest literary power" There is one
reflection made worthy of reproduction,
for there is hope in such opinion in so
reputable monthly. 1t says:
THE time is ripe for the use of reason
and sanity in the solution of those great
social questions arising out of the pres
ence of a mass of Africans in the very
midst of our community The North and
South are gradually beginning to under
stand one another, and books such as this
will serve to hasten the process This
work is welcome, not alone on account
of the soundness of its subject matter,
but also because of the attractive man
ner in which it is put"
/ hail with satisfaction and pleasure
such a manifestation of common sense
and justice.
| received quite recently a letter from
my excellent friend, and most worthy,
Judge Oliver H. Allen, of Kinston, giving
me d brief account of a work in his
library with the following title page:
Fishers River Scenes and Characters
North Carolina), by Scitt, who was
Raised Thar Illustrated by John Nc
Lemon. Harper & Brothers, publishers.
Franklin Square, 1859" When 1 was in
Surry county found that the author was
a native of that county and lived on or
near Fisher River, which flows into the
Yadkin He was Baptist preacher,
named Tolliver and moved to the West
There has been a second edition of the
book published and it is rather rich
piece of literature.
I'm the preface the author says: For
his opportunities Jesse Franklin was the
greatest man North Carolina has ever
produced.
There is History of Rowan County
and one of Jones County, both interesting
books"
l forgot to mention the excellent
Greek and Latin Grammars prepared by
the late Col. William Bingham, two
works that are of such genuine merit as
to be introduced into several of the best
classical schools in our land. / believe
some colleges also use them. He was
the oldest son of the late distinguished
teacher, William Bingham, of Orange
gentleman, and wrote we'll. l remember
4 series of articles he wrote at my solicit
tation about 1859 when / was editing the
Raleigh Sentinel. They were in the
Biblical style, that of the Book of Chroni-
cles, and were remarkably clever indeed.
1 was accused of writing them, but they
were beyond me in skill, humor and
point. I would have rejoiced if l could
have acknowledged their paternity.
was at school for Il short time with him
at his fathers in 1S45. / recall also that
Dr. William Pritchard, of New York,
son of the late Rev. DIR. Thomas II.
Pritchard, published several years ago a
small work on Nervous Diseases. I re-
member also that one of my lost books is
the Life of Rev. J. L. Pritchard," the
faithful and able Baptist minister who
stood bravely at his post of duty and
danger in Wilmington during the awful
scourge of yellow fever during the great
warm 1863, l believe it was. He was
one of the victims, and went to his
blessed reward. My very dear friend,
Rev. DR.. J. D. Hufham, wrote it not
many years after his untimeIy and deeply
deplored death. Dr. Huffman has writ
concerning his Baptist people in North
Carolina, and their early work in the
Albemarle and other sections of the
State. If all he has contributed to this
end was gathered into one volume it
would be of portIy size and impressive
excellence. and would be valuable as a
contribution also to the history of the
State. l was much gratified at the recent
generous and judicious praise bestowed
upon him by leading North Carolina
newspapers, for he is one of the very
best friends Of long life | have had. l
have no better, truer friend among the
living, and never had a nobler, more at
tractive, more deserving friend among
the "gone before" He is every way
worthy of my profoundest admiration, my
highest, most unreserved confidence, and
my sincerest affection. The recent de-
monstration in his honor at Henderson,
where for seven years he had been the
pastor of the Baptist church, by Metho-
dists of both the old and Protestant
bodies. by Presbyterians and Baptists.
upon his retirement from the active min
istry, was alike generous, distinguished
and broadly appreciative. Long may he
live to serve his Lord and Master, and to
help to bring souls into the Kingdom of
Righteousness, and when the close comes
to his most useful, benignant life, may
it be Good Morning and Heaven entered.
There may be other books to mention as
l shall hear from other friends.
l find since writing the above that l
have in my library Hon. William A.
Graham's "Mecklenburg Centennial" in
one volume of 1877 pagds, published by E.
j. Hale 81 Son, New York 1875. 1t is an
Address delivered at Charlotte on 4th
February, 1875, with Accompanying
Documents published by the Legislature
in 1881. Il is valuable, important con-
tribution l published in 1866 volume
of 276 pages of a theological sort, but it
is not deemed of enough Importance tc
merit special consideration It was
North Carolina book, however, as was
a 1O0-page "Guide to the Philadelphia
Centennial Exposition in 1876. | wrote
it in just three weeks. The late Rev
DR.. Thomas H. Pritchard published in
North Carolina newspaper, that he found
this Guide" better, more useful, than
any of the larger Guides" for sale in
Philadelphia, and. he added correctly
that it was written by man who never
saw the Exposition, and was not even in