The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-19

Correspondence of The Messenger.)
Red Springs, y. c., May Il.
h commencement exercises at the
Red Springs Seminary during the COM
ing week promise unusual interest.
sermon to the graduating class
will be by DR.. Wells, of Wilmington,
on Sunday, May 18th. This has been
the most prosperous year in the history
OF the seminary. The total attendance
during the year was 342 and the pros
poets for the future is decidedly
bright.
In addition to the large auditorium
built a year ago L large three-story
brlch building has been erected and
the necessity for the erection of anoth-
er is apparent in order to
date the increasing patronage. An or
gan of immense size has recently been
placed in the auditorium at a cost of
$500. The cost of the erection of the
buildings foots up fully $40, 900 and the
$ OF additional buildings now con-
templated. Will require an outlay of an
additional $50, 900. Notwithstanding the
dlfficulties the work goes steadily for
ward. BaptiSts, Methodist. EPISCOPAL
tans, as we'll as those who believe in.
John Knox have united in carrying;
Jul liz NSSlSII VI Tie DEOdu IllnO6Q
and heroic men who inaugurated this
great educational enterprise. Among
the trusetees all Protestant denomina-
tons are represented. Fitness for the
work assigned them is the great re-
quisite for the members of the faculty
and among them may be found repre-
sentatIves Of all protestant denomina-
lions.
The educational address will be de-
liVered by Governor Aycock and this
Will draw an immense crowd of WISH
tors, who Will testify by their pres
ence that. like their Scotch ancestors,
they will live or die with CHARLIE
DR.. Murphy has returned to the mil
itary Academy here after a years alb
sence Owing to impaired health he
was compelled to resign a year ago,
but his health having been fully re-
stored he has returned and has been
reappointed superintendent, much to
the delight of the cadets. with whom
he is a great favorite. The doctor is
not an old man. though he was a Con-
federate surgeon during that little un-
p~leasantness that once existed between
the states. The closing year of the
North Carolina Military Academy
show the largest attendance of any
ear Of it's history. With two veteran
teachers, DR.. Murphy and Capt. Nc
Arthur at the head Of the institution,
with Captain Mcleod. McEachern and
Horne. as ASSISTANTS. the success of
the Academy is no longer prOblemati-
cal.
The municipal election in Red
Springs passed off quietly with the
election of Hon. A. B. Pearsall as
mayor.
Miss Margaret Shaw, who is over 100
years old is in very feeble health. She
was born January list, 1903. and has
naH-ar takan a dose of n1a6Icina in har
life. Though blind and feeble she re-
tains her mental faculties unimpaired.
A few of the descendants of Col.
Thomas Robson, for whom this u
ty is named. have recently erected a
monument to his memory at Councils
Bluff, in Bladen county. where he and
his brother, Captain Peter Robson,
are buried. Although Col. Robson eX-
pended nearly $50, 900 dollars of his w
money in paying off his soldiers after
the battle of Elizabethtown, yet his
countrymen have allowe his grave to
remain unmarked for more than a
undre years.
On Tuesday night the Hope Mills
bands played in the opera house here
to a lrage and appreclative audience.
We have heard many bands in u life,
but none better than this. The pro
ramm was strictly ~up-to-date in
every way n every piece was greeted
with loud applause. One of Sousa's
pieces was repeated to crafty the
long continued cheering. When the
audience was leaning forward to catch
the last strains Of a familiar melody
suddenly broke forth Dixie, the battle
song of the south. The cadets of the
academy mounted benches n chairs
old soldiers clapped their hands and
stamped with feet, and there was wild
and tumultuous cheering. Capt Cot
ton leads one of the best bands in the
south, said an old Confed, and this re-
mark has N emphatic endorsement.
A. J. McNair. the oldest drummer IN
the state, died recently in Moore county.
He was lieutenant of artillery during
the civil war and surrendered al
| Greensboro in April, 1865. His residence
was at Maxton. For over 80 years he
has been continuously on the road. A
gallant soldier. a true friend and eX'
| cellent citizen has gone to his rest.