The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-08


terrible struggle to pass through, and
the odds were all against ii. Bat, let us
go back to ante-belum days, before
speck of war cloud had shown itself IN
the political sky.
One of the best teachers ever went 10
was John B. Bobbltt. who came TO this
city from Louisburg in the torties, ara
opened a school on Hargett street, be-
yond the city cemetery, near the Old FAIR
Grounds. He had taught many years IN
LCulsburg, before coming to Raleigh, aEi
his fame as a teacher of the language
was State wide, but as a manager OF d
school he was a failure. He did not
know any OF his boys, and rarerly ever
knew what was going on in the school
room. Many times L have seen every
boy leave the building, except the boy or
boys reciting; tor he was so intent on
his work he seemed TO be oblvious to ali
surroundings Besides, he had a way OF
leaning back against the wall, with his
feet upon the rounds OF his char and
closing his eyes, while Tie class or the
boy (for he generally took one boy at :,
tiiEe), was on recitation; and so 1t was
an easy matter for all who were not
reciting to get cut and stay out so long
as that recitation lasted. He was al
inveterate chewer of tobacco and expect
torated freely. Sometimes, when rery
much interested, he would take off his
CID bell crown hat and set IT down on
the hearth beside his chair and then it
was fun to US boys to see him chew his
tobacco and spit IN his hat, forgetting
that it was down by his sue. But for all
that, he knew all the books by heart
and would make a fellow who had not
prepared himself for recitation see ITS
before he let up on him. He never knew
me by name. When my father went &c
pay my tuition he sald he didn't know
any such boy, but he supposed Harriet
CHS wife) did; and so my father settled
the matter with her. She kept the ac
count all right As instructor he had
40 superior, but as he used to say he
didn't fool away his time on boys ,tho
did not try TO learn"
While 1 was at school here in Raleigh
Major William F. Collins, then State
Comptroller, killed man by pushing
him backward from the steps at the
south door of the Capitol. l do not re-
member just how it happened, but my
recollection is that the man who was
killed was worrying Major Collins by
following him about and so to rid him.
self OF the annoyance, he pushed him
back, as they were entering the south
door of the Capitol, and his head striking
a rock he was killed. The doctors sawed
open the head of the man and gave it rs
their opinion that death resulted from
the fall. Major Collins was tried for
murder, but the Jury returned verdict
Of 81 4 I,.N
had no idea OF doing the man any dam
age.
Speaking of murder, brings to my mind
the killing of John P. Smith, away back
il the early forties, by Alfred Haywood,
brother of the late DR.. Fablus j. Hay
wood Smith was a constable, and went
to serve a warrant on Haywood, who
became enraged and stabbed him. He
oied in a short time, but Haywood was
never arrested. It was said that after
remaining secreted in this city for d
while he went to Alabama and l have
heard that he died a few years ago.
Smith, the man he murdered, was a quiet,
sort of man, ordinarily, but as an Of
ficer he was overbearing and sometimes
even offensive in the discharge of his
duties, when there was no necessity FOR
somebody would sooner or later whip
him or 90 him bodily harm, which pre-
diction came true.
I attended the first State Fair held at
Raleigh and as / remember it now, II
was the best Fair we have ever haf.
True, it was on a very small scale, but
as far as IT went, it was complete, foi
the pumpkins, potatoes, turnips, beetS5
hh~n la
as now, and the corn, wheat, rye and
oats looked just as they do now, and the
bed quilts and other feminine exhibits
were as pretty as they arc now, and L
am sure the girls or that day have not
vet been, nor can ever be- surpassed a
any State Fair So, as I remember 1T,
the first Fair Raleigh ever had, was the
best one, small as 1t was, in compariscl
with those OF modern times. Midways
had not then introduced the fakirs, the
thimble rlggers, the ''Orientals' and the
''hoochee coochecs," but we had amuse-
ments that pleased ana entertained, and
nc body was alarmed about pick-pockets,
for before the war that race OF light
fingered gentry, which seems to have
grown SO numerous had not located III
this country.
ing to the boys to tell them about the
ID. Q. u.s." an organization Raleigh had
away back in the tifties But if the boys
have not read that inimitable book called
Don Quixote," written by Cervantes,
an afraid they will not understand and
appreciate this incident But supposing
that they have read Don Quixote, and
are familiar with its characters, l as
sumo they will know what I mean by &
'.Don Quixote Association"-that 1t was
for the purpose of giving the public 2
practical demonstration Of Don Quixote's
vagaries and Authorizations, when, as
knight Grant, ne went forth to right the
wrongs and alleviate the distress and sor-
rows of the world The ID. @. Is
that is, the Don Quixote Invincibles'-
| made their first appearance on the streets
OF Raleigh during one Of the fairs ia
| the fifties. They were all dressed as
| knights, wearing masks, helmets an,.
shields, and carrying spears or swords,
and were mounted on the poorest horses,
mules and no-horned oxen that could be
| found. Of course Don Quixote was a,
the head of the column, riding his cele
brated steed "Rosinante," and, close be.