The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-30

The students of the College of Agri-
culture and Mechanic Arts publish an
Annual which they call The Agro-
meek. The 1905 number was dedi-
Gated to State Treasurer Lacy, and
Ex-Governor Ayccok was requested TO
write Il brief sketch of Mr. Lacy as a
preface. The sketch has delighted all
who have read it. for it shows that the
Governor is as happy in elegant eX-
preston with his pen as he is eloquent
with his tongue. Here is the sketch
Benjamin Rice Lacy.
l have been asked blythe young men
conducting the Agromeck to write a
short sketch of the life and character
of my friend Benjamin r. Lacy, to
whom this issue of the Annual is
dedicated They have furnished me
with a few facts relative to Mr.. Lacy's
life. He was born in the city of Raj
eigh on June 10, 1854. He is a son
of the late Rev. Drury Lacy, dis
tinguished and learned Presbyterian
minister, who was for several years
president of Davidson College. Both
Of Mr.. Lacy's grandfathers were Pres
byterian ministers. On his mothers
side he comes of long line of notable
preachers. At the age of Is he went
into the Raleigh and CASTOR Railroad
shops in Raleigh as an apprentice.
For about fifteen years he was a loco
motive engineer. He became promi-
nent member OF the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, and holds his
connection with that compact and
wisely managed organization. AS a
member of the Brotherhood, he served
for a number Of years on the GrieV-
ance Committee, and his wise and
considerate conduct in that delicate
position gained for him and he now
holds the love and confidence of the
men to a degree rarely equalled, and
he always enjoyed the respect or the
officials of the railroad.
He served six years as Commissioner
of Labor, having been first appointed
to that office by the late Governor
Elias Carr. He has twice been elected
State Treasurer, being nominated to
that high office the last time by accla-
nation. Mr.. Lacy, spent some months
of his life on the plains of Texas and
in the southwest, where he became
acquainted with ranch life. and con-
tributed his part to the history of
those brave men who combine sound
Judgment with an attractive daredevil
reckleSSneSS. These meager factS
furnished to me do not make Mr..
Lacy's career or his character under
standa BILE. TO those of us who know
him best, he yet remains something of
a mystery Simple i'm his life, a quiet
and orderly man, with only Such
knowledge of books as he has picked
up at intervals in busy life. what Is it
that has won for him such distin-
guished honOrS, and enables him 10
count the whole population as his
friends? An intimate association with
him for four years has solved this
question for me to my entire satisfac-
Nlpn m
of fine natural sense, but beyond and
above this, he is possessed of warm
heart which never tires in service for
others. He takes the minutest inter-
est in all that concerns his friends ana
acquaintances. He knows children not
only by sight andNfavor but by name.
He knows the working class of the
community in which he lives and calls
them by their Christian names. not is
matter of condescension or patron
age, but as a mark of his sense of
equality and friendliness. He is on
terms of friendship and intimacy with
the learned and powerful He sees
things from the point of view of the
wage Garner. and realizes how the
employer looks at the matter from mis-
position. His concern about the IN
terest of those with whom he comes
in contact is real He rejoices with
those who rejoice. He is present at
the weddings of the sons and daugh-
ters of his friends. He weeps with
those who weep. He attends the fun
erals of those who have crossed over
the river. He sits up with the dead.
visits the sick, aids the widow and
orphan. In doing these things he
never counts the cost in time or labor.
He is a poor man, but finds enough
money to spare to needs that are
greater than his. His sympathy is al
ways on the alert for those who labor.
He thoroughly believes in higher
wages, shorter hours of labor, and
more comforts and more opportunities
for those who do labor. Knowing
these few simple facts about Ben Lacy.
one knows and understands the man
and his popularity. He may not be
great man, but he is a good man. He
has his faults, but others may tell of
these; l shall not. | will leave this to
his enemies, with the certainty that
the public will never be enlightened
on that side of, his character by any
North Carolinian.
Ben Lacy's career is an inspiration
and a hope to every toiling boy in the
State.
For years he has been a sufferer
from asthma. great many nights
he sleeps not at all, or only from eX-
haustion after weary coughing. Day
after day, after passing nights of
wakefulness and suffering, | have seen
him in his office at his desk at work
with a smile on his face and ready
greeting to every one who called,
whether on business or just for chat.
Patience, cheerfulness, industry, help
fulness-these make combinations out
of which success can always be
wrought. This lesson Mr.. Lacy
teaches: Love of his fellow men, IF
his community, of his State, of his
country, this endears him to us al
May he have long life in which to
serve the people well and to add I"
the comfort and cheerful2ess OF life.
CHARLES b. AYCOCk.