The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-27
LIFE OF DAN SHORT
An Old Style, Home Made,
Upright Citizen.
Judge Bennett Writes His Biography, Adding
to the "Short and Simple Annals Of
the Poor"
(The Monroe Journal.)

me F00r,
(The Monroe Journal)
Some men write their own biographies,
while for others this work is done by the
less partial hands of friends. Arson coun'
ty has an official biographer. IT'S no less
person than her most gifted and famous
son, the Honorable Risden Tyler Bennett.
Somehow, we love the spirit of man
who, like Judge Bennett has occupied
the high seats among his fellows, and rich
ly endowed with natural gifts and en-
joying full-handed, the fruits of his own
industry and ability, yet turns aside to
write tribute to one less Fortunate
perhaps but an addition to the "short but
simple annals of the poor. Be it grant
ed that Anson's gifted biographer puts
much of his own philosophy and more of
his epigrams into his obituaries, they are
thereby but adorned and made more in
teresting to others than the family He
has an infallible nose for evidences of
true manhood, and he ne yer misses the
trail. We cannot refrain from quoting
somewhat from his last effort-"In Mem.
DRY of Daniel Short The opening para
graph runs
IN Daniel Short, son of John Short and
his wife, Sarah Short, born in what is
now Morven township, Arson county,
North Carolina, November Is, 1873 who
died in Gulledge township, September 10,
1903, from old age and debility consequent
thereon, our county loses an old style,
home made, upright and severely candid
Irif wi a ND
duties, public and private without osten-
tation, but all the same through and
through"
Having become somewhat familiar with
the manner of man Daniel Short was and
acquired in the same sentence the proper
information concerning his antecedents
| and the length of his pilgrimage, we are
prepared to learn that he MARI ed Nancy
Pratt daughter OF Samuel Pratt
and raised seven children and lost
one in infancy. This wife having died,
he married Hannah Vaughan and to them
were born eleven children, making, in all,
nineteen, with which number the sub
ject of the sketch was blessed. And here
the biographer puts in this native but
sensible remark:
There is no fear of race suicide while
such domestic fertility is spared u.s.
We are told that Uncle Daniel stood by
the ancient ways, particularly III the mat
ter of the useless habit of wearing I'M
dershirts, for he Wore one shirt at 1,
time made of cotton of his own raising,
woven under his roof in the looms, with
shuttles, which taxed the patience but
gladdened the hearts of our mothers and
grandmothers, cut and put together ana
fitted by the women folks of the house.
These shirts were made with a broad col
lar, double breasted or folded bosom,
which was the earlier style
But the most surprising virtue of the
deceased was his peaceful inchnations,
for HE never had law suit with neigh
Dor or stranger or foe in any court, high
or low His further characteristics are
thus infinitely catalogued:
"He was a frugal minded man. Made
money by farming and saved his money;
lent it at interest, if the intended borrower
suited him: never took unlawful interest
of usance for the loan or forbearance OF
| money
"a moral man who never joined any
church but, like all sensible men, had his
| religion; believer in the teachings of our
| blessed Bible, honest in word and deed
| through and through.
He lived up to the scriptural injunc-
ton: Owe no man anything, except to
love the brethren.
He was plain of speech; sometimes too
| candid in his talk to keep in friendly
touch with everybody. To one desiring
| to borrow money he said he had it. but
| it wern't doing the proponent any good.
His business was his pleasure. His
education was rudimentary His economy
was worthy of praise. His habits of saw
ing were assurance against unworthy citi-
zenship. There is much self-denial mixed
up and blended in an humble life which
makes and saves its earnings"
But if Judge Bennett can well sum up
the virtues of an humble son of Arson,
he can no less patty describe some other
folk. Hear him refer to the ancient and
windyworded Athenians:
IF after this life, the spirits of men,
just or unjust, do not perish with the
body but enjoy in some measure the I'm,
speakable privilege of fellowship with our
God-the Unknown God Of the Athenians
whom Paulus, IN great burst of Divine
IeFFoT, pressed nome upon the lOunSlng
idle class of learned citizens spending their
leisure upon Mars Hill-then this dead
man knows more than Moses and the
Prophets knew in their day of the mystery
of the undiscovered country, from whose
bourne no traveller returns"
Other Daniel Shorts may live, but none
will have more brilliant or fertile minded
| friends to embalm their memories.
''Now good digestion waits on appetite,
and health on both.''
II it doesn't try Rurdock Blood Ritters