The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-18
Echoes From the Reunion
What Has Caused Over 100000 North CarOlinans
To Make Their Homes n
Other States.

| Carolina character as in these few sell
fences? Are you surprised that they
warmed the heart of the concourse OF
Tar Heels present and were received with
an enthusiasm indescribahle?
1t is a pity that all the letters received
| from 1.-The scattered abroad cannot be
printed. Already many kilograms ex-
pressing regret have appeared in these
columns but to publish the letters would
require too much space. 1t was expected
that Hon. Hannis Taylor, exMinister TO
Spain, who was born in New Bern, would
be present and speak. His presence in
England on important business prevented.
In writing of his regret that he could not
be present, Mr.. Taylor said:
Carlton Hotel, Pail Mall, London,
October 4th, 1908.
Charles d. McIver. ESQ,
| Chairman, Greensboro, n. c.
Just line, my dear Mr.. Chairman, to
tell you how deeply 1 regret my inability
to be with you at the reunion now so
near at hand The older 1 grow the
|
North Carolina. Wherever 1 am il
England l am continually contrasting the
genius of the people here with that of
the people among whom 1 was born.
There is no State in the Union. perhaps,
whose substructure is more purely English
than that of North Carolina. The main
hdmixture has been with other peoples
from the British Isles, notably the Scotch.
The outcome has been a homogeneous
community with high ideals Of morality,
religion, government and law. Thus
armed many of our sons who have gone
forth into the world have been able to
make their impress upon other communl-
ties.
You do we'll to assemble in order TO
honor those who have had the greatest
success in that regard. Your action VIII
incite others to still higher endeavor No
matter how long a man may be severed
from the land OF his birth. no matter
what he may achieve, in the home OF his
adoption, he is ever whispering to him.
self, in the penetration of his heart
what verdict has been rendered upon my
life by my own people? And as the end
approaches he is ever comforting himself
Il with the hope that some day he may re
turn and die at home at last" Please
remember me tenderly to all of my peo-
pie who still remember me.
Faithfully yours in love for the Old
North State. HANNIS TAYLOR.
That is a very fine tribute to the parents
of North Carolina that Mr. Taylor makes
when he attributes his own success and
I the success of others who have gone away
to the training received in the State OF
their birth. Let us all read it over:
"Thus armed many of our sons who have
gone forth into the world have been able
TO make their impress upon other COM
J munities." That thought ought to sink
| deep into the heart of every father and
mother There is a personal side to 1t
and a noble sermon on parental response
bility in a few words.
One of the very best letters was from
one of the most talented and lovable
sens the old State has produced-Mr. Pc
ter NJ. Wilson. He was at one time On
the editorial staff of this paper when it
1 was called the Observer. before the con-
solidat.on with the News. In my day
no man has written better English in
North Carolina paper or had a pen
stepped in purer love of the history
traditions and people of North Carolina.
The stories he wrote illustrating North
Carolina ought to be reprinted, for there
was an original humor and delight about
them that make them forever fresh l
always grieve to think that North Caro-
Ina Journalism was not blessed by MS
continuance in the profession. He was
not here in person, but he was here
in spirit, as the following bright and
delightful letter shows:
when Greensboro was still a town
there lived in it a choice spirit, the ven
cradle Lyndon Swain, who was not only
a legislator and a very upright citizen,
I but an editor who wrote pure English,
gentle humor and kind words. In a let
ter to Hales Weekly, he described visit
to old Salem town on the new RAIL
/ way. is one passenger coach was dlvld
ed by partition that made the front end
a second class, and the rear end first
class compartment. On the return trip
the numbers, but not the car, were re-
versed, and it was a perplexing thought to
him always whether he was riding in the
first class end of a second class car or
the second class end of first class car,
and the only satisfaction he could ever
get out of it was, going either way, he
would land in Salem or Greensboro.
80 it is coming from beautiful Wash
ington to beautiful Greensboro. Think of
| it! You can go to sleep in Greensboro
and wake UP in Washington, and that is
what every good politician dreams of and
hopes to do some night or day. But what
is better, you can go to sleep in the most
beautiful city of the world, the center of
our great country, and wake up in Green's
boro. And that is what every prodigal
North Carolinian dreams about and hopes
1 to do.
you know the legend of the man who
went to Heaven and was amazed to find
there man bound with a golden cord to
a graceful pine tree. is this the Heaven
OF the pagans, and is that Prometheus of
the fable?" he asked in fear and wonder.
No. said a cherub guide, that is man
from North Carolina, and if loosed he
would go straight back home