The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-24

well. and he ordinarily behaved with
great dignity He was popular and
effective After his misfortunes he
went West and became prominent
When | first knew Jim We both lived
til that delightful place Of residence
'rhomasviIle. Or. Reid was a presd-
ing elder Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church and his family were among
those in the village who led in its So
c1ety. Professor Frank Helman taught
most successfully the high school.
think James Reid succeeded hlm as
teacher after | left the place. NJ the
time | read law little and for a lew
months before my trip TO England,
taught 4 small school in the country,
two miles away. AT the ThomasEille
Academy there was a debating society.
Jlm ana | We're several times pitched
against one another. once | recolect
there was public debate preceded by
commencement exercises ! delivered
an address previously prepared, and
as had to accompany a very hand
some young lady to the entertainment
at the academy was slightly frustrated.
nut Jim did his part in the discussion
magnihcently- Another time we had
mixed or melOdramatic performance
at the tobacco factory. The two Reds,
jim ana Frank, We're leaders, as also
was tneir young uncle, Charlie Reid.
IL was ueCINeu, HIlef CpnSluefallOn,
that ! was to write the memorial ad-
dress to the Confederate dead ana
james Reid WAS to deliver it. for / told
the other managers Of the affair that
Jim could beat me all hollow in de-
ciamation. We also had Il little drama
Ia mere skeleton--written by me, in
which Ellsworth was killed at Alex
andria by the Virginia hotel Keeper
jackson, whose flag Col. T.. ordered
|. no 81
was killed. 1t was short and snappy.
whatever it's numerous deficiencies rs
a piece of literature or an acting play.
Jim and | and Charlie We're all ac-
tors. 10 Jones was also in it, and /
think Junius Harris. afterward the
Rev. Junius T. Harris, as fine a fellow
as ever lived The melodrama was a
moderate success in raising money
with which To enclose and secure the
graves of the Confederate and Federal
(prisoner) dead in tho little cemetery.
Jim deserVedly got big credit for his
oratory, but one of my over-zealouS
lady friends an elderly pious woman,
who wanted an equal distribution OF
honors. whispered to Miss Blank,
daughter of a leading citizen, "Do You
know who wrote that speech?' NO"
was the reply, II thought Jim Red
did No was my friends reply.
1t was a contest between Jim Reid
an zero HAMS as u who should
deliver the memorial and jim offered
a compromise by agreeing to deliver
any speech Cicero should prepare for
the occasion. This suited the latter
precisely, he said, and so Cicero wrote
and Jim acclaimed the address" l
merely tell this TO show my own APP
probation of Jim Reds powers even
as a boy.
Col Wharton j. Green was succeed
ed i'm Congress by Major Charles Nc
Clammy, a veritable Cincinnatus. 1t
is said that the formal notice of the
nomination to the House reached the
lnajor as he was in the field ploughing.
Major McClammy had an extensive
reputation in Southeastern North Car
DINA as stumper. He was humor-
Gus, racily so. In the House l have
seen him conVulse the hall more than
cnce. But he did not make himself
common by any means. He reserved
his wit for right occasions
man of d fferent talent was Judge
Colonel Risden Tyler Bennett. When
l edited the Wilmington Star my first
Impressions of Col. Bennett We're that
he was a most companionable man,
Intelligent, wide-aWake, public-spirit-
ed, courageous. He liked equally well
to discuss Molliere or constitutional
law. Later, when my acquaintance
with him ripened into friendship dur
ing his career in Congress- l learned
to appreciate him even more highly.
A single hearted, jovial, bright mind
ec man The Judge had his manner
isnS and never cared whether the
House stared or appau1ed So soon
as il had the chance to hear him on
an important question it applauded
and ceased to stare. But it sometimes
mixed a bit of good-natured laughter
with its unstinted applause. Judge
5ennetts originality and earnestness
are among the jewels North Carolina
cherishes.
w. A. B. Branch had two terms in
the House from the First district. He
was the son of a. Congressman and
grandson of a Congressman, who was
ole of President Jacksons recalcitrant
cabinet members. BY the way
1t seems queer that North Carolina al
ways drew the prize in the cabinet
lottery of the naval portfolio. Never
once anything else. Bromide, Badger.
Graham, Dobbin. In the Confederate
Cabinet her fitting place was the law.
and she adorned it With two such men
as Bragg and George Davis Well !
started to speak not of the elder or
The second Branch, but of William. the
third Branch. He was quiet, earnest
gentlemanly and made no effort to at
tain the distinction of his grandfather