The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

of John C. Palmer, Esq. of Raleigh,
the latter of whom is a brother-in-
law of Philo White.
In 1871 Mr. Evans rented the old
Spectator Office and began the pub
LEGATION of the Milton Chronicle" At
the close of the war the Chronicle
stopped, and Mr.. Evans published,
for two years, paper in DanVllic'
Va. Next with his son, Captain T.
c. Evans, he published the Hillsboro
Recorder" for two years, and then
sold to John d. Cameron. Next and
last, in 1873 he revived the "Chront-
Gle" and now, in his 69th year. he is
still conducting the paper he estab-
hshed forty years ago. Mr.. Evans,
though by no manner of means a
romantic person, has certainly led an
eventful and romantic life. He is
capital editor. Like Xavier Martin,
he sets UP much Of his editorial in
his composing stick. without stopping
TO write it out. Charley Evans" as
he is called by his friends, could not
90 dishonest thing if he were to try.
1t is the wish of the whole press of
the State, whether he belongs to this
association or not, that his last days
may be his best days. and that he may
long be spared to his family, his read
ers and his friends
| regret 1 have mislaid an interest
ing letter from Lyndon Swain, con-
tanning d sketch of the Greensboro
press. William Swain died in the
prime of manhood. His nephew.
Lyndon Swain, with NJ S. Sherwood,
| conducted the Patriot many years,
and gave it a high character as q
newspaper. Some years since Mr.
Swain retired from the press. He
! has represented Guilford county in the
| Legislature. Mr.. Sherwood died some
| years since. He also represented
| Guilford county in the Legislature
! And now, Mr.. President, though I
am sure / weary you, ] must refer to
another living editor, who, though not
! yet an old man, has made his mark
| indelibly in the annals of the State
| William j. Yates, of the Charlotte
| "DemOcrat,' is g native of Fayetteville
a practical printer, having learned the
| art in the Office of the North Caro-
liniau," in that town. That paper was
established by II. L. Holmes, and con-
tinued by ". Fl. Bayne and Robert X.
| Bryan, the latter now the editor of
the Fayetteville Examiner and in
1856 by Mr.. Yates, who removed to
| Charlotte in 1856, and purchased the
l"Democrat" Mr.. Yates has never
| been a candidate for office before the
people, but in 1S59-60 he was chosen
| a councillor of State by the Legislature.
! and under Governor Clarks admins.
tration was a member of the Literary
Board. Mr.. Yates has never been
neutral on any public question, but
| has uniformly expressed himself,
without regard to the smiles or frowns
OF the public. Honest, candid, mex
! ible in his devotion to his principles,
/ industrious, enterpristng and public
spirited, we all rejoice in his pros
perity and wish for him many more
| years of usefulness.
| l have thus imperfectly sketchedA a
number of the luminaries Of the press.
Some of them have gone out, and
others are still shining. 1 might men
| ton q great many others within my
recollection during the last fifty years
/ who were trained writer's for the
press, and who have left shining pages
of wisdom and wit in the States bis
| tory. Neither have I space to dwell
on that very large number of public
men whose intellectual training may
be traced to the habit early formed
of writing for the press as CORE
! spondents' or amateur editors. The
old town of Oxford has witnessed the
training of such men as GoodlOe,
Wiley and Kingsbury, the latter now
the scholarly editor of the Whining
ton Star" Mr.. Goodloe is one of the
ablest writer's in this country, and
/ -
any one. 1 say plain Calvin II.
Wiley, for no title could add weight
to his name. He has probably done
more for the cause of letters in this
State, and more by tongue and pen
for the education of the people Of all
ages than any other living man. And
this is true in a greater or less de-
gree of all the cities, and towns, and
villages in the State. Kind words
uttered over the dead can 10 them
no good. If they deserve these words
let them be said while they are living,
that they may be thereby cheered and
strengthened in their endeaVOrS to
benefit mankind. And John II.
Wheeler, our venerable historian, who
began to live almost with this CEN
fury, whom I had the pleasure of see
ing recently at his house in Wash
ington. He has nearly lost his eye
sight from intense labor in finishing
the second edition of his history. His
eye is dim and his frame totters, but
his heart is still young. and its last
pulsations. so far as things mortal are
concerned, will be for his beloved ma
tive North Carolina. Like Governor
Swain. he has been writing nearly all
his life for the press.
Governor Swain once told me that
his father being postmaster Asheville.
he imbibed his first love of reading
when a boy from the National In
teIligencer." During his most valuable
life he wrote much for the press, espe-
cially for the University Magazine"
The same is true of Governor Vance,
also a native of Buncombe county.
When a youth of 8 he wrote for the
Asheville Messenger" and in 1854
for the Asheville Spectator" and in
l1S55 he became a regular editor, with
John d. Hyman, of the latter paper.
While at Chapel Hill, in 1852, he was
one of the first editors of the "Univer-
Sity Magazine" Governor Swain en-
tered the House of Commons from
Buncombe in 1924. in his 23d year.
and Governor Vance entered the
House from the same county in 1854
in the oath year Of his age. Governor
Swain was chosen Governor in 1882,
in his 31st year, and Governor Vance
in 1862, in his 32d year. Both these
men were poor in early life, but they
were largely gifted with mind. [
have no doubt that much of their
great success in life may be traced to
their habit early formed, of writing
for the press.
Hard are Hfes early steps; and but
that youth
| Is bCuyant. confident and strong in