The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-23

Lecture of DR.. Battle Was
Historically vaIuably,
WittiIy Entertaining.

At the Summer School yesterday DR..
X. p. Battle, of the University OF North
Carolina. delivered a lecture on era
ham and Badger that was poth val
liable historically and to the greatest
interest and entertainment of the large
crowd that gathered in Pullen Hall at
o'clock to greet the speaker.
DR.. Battle, than whom there is not
A more painstaking and tnorouSh
historian in the United States, brings
to his lectures the added charm OF hu-
NOR and the anecdote Of a man VINO
has lived through and taken an active
part in the most exciting and porten-
tous events which have occurred in the
State. His style is simple, direct ana
conversational, although sometimes
bordering on imprisoned utterance,
and his stories have the contagious eff
fact that always distinguishes a tale
that is, told we'll by d man who gets
fun himself out of the telling.
The subject selected by DIR. Battle
was one that lent itself particularly to
his style and he handled it in Il mas
terly way. He, of course, knew both
Mr.. Badger and Governor Graham
personally and was engaged with them
in the stirring ante-bellum times,
which eliminated in the Constitutional
Convention, called for the purpose of
considering the secession, and later
when as the leaders of their State, they
were wrestling with the weight of mis-
fortune and the harassing problems
which arose as the result of the Civil
War
With many personal anecdotes and
incidents the speaker outlined the
ives of these two great North Caro-
,mians. Beginning with Mr.. Badger,
ne told of his early precocity, his fix
.dness of purpose, and his complete
mastery of any subject in which he
undertook to become proficient En-
ivening his subject with many bits. Of
numor, he portrayed Mr.. Badgers ca
reer as a lawyer and Judge. He quot
I'd Judge Marshalrs high tribute to
MIR. Badgers transcendent ability as
IN advocate. He described Mr.. Bad
serS efforts to take only causes that
we're right and showed how careful
y he protected witnesses in his court
md required lawyers to save the time
IF the court. He presented in vivid
and dramatic style the great scene in
the Constitutional Convention when
Mr. Badger opposed the ordinance Of
secession.
With fullness of knowledge and
wonderful accuracy of memory he fol-
lowed Mr.. Badgers career until the
lime of death, and left with his aud
.ence finished portrait of the great
md versatile North Carolinian.
The lecturer next proceeded to dis
cuSS the career of Hon. William A.
Graham. Starting with his early edu-
tation and graduation, he traced out
lis political career, which eliminated
IN his nomination for vice-president
ae pointed out Governor Graham S
oainstaking character as a law maker
md his influence in the Constitutional
Convention, made up of the ablest men
n the State.
He called attention to the note
worthy fact that Japan's brilliant ca
reer has resulted from the treaty that
Governor Graham. as Secretary of the
Navy, virtually made through Com
modore Perry's ships of war. He
showed how this treaty of intercourse
With outside nations led to Japan s
growth in power until now she is able
TO cope with the great Bear of the
North.
The large audience was greatly de-
lighted with DR.. Battles style and
earning, and left the hall with a deep
II generation of these two men, who
were truly among the giants of their
generation.