The news & observer., 1905-12-24
Glad Christmas for Mr..
and Mrs. Grissom.
STORY BY UNCLE JOE
He Tells OF the Day Long Ago When
He Left the Old Mother
State. Blackburn is
Still Standing to
His Guns.
By THOMAS j. PENCE.

Washington, ID c.. Dec 23.-Mrs.
Velma Gillian Grissom, wife of Rob
ert Grissom, of Spray, N. c., who at
tempted to end her life in Farragust
Square several weeks ago by shooting
herself in the breast, has been dis
charged from the Emergency Hospital,
and it is understood will go to Spray
at once. Mrs Grissom left the hos
pital alone, and could not be located
today. The statement is made that
reconciliation has been effected, and
that Mr.. and Mrs. Grissom will be re-
united on Christmas day. The only
child of the couple, a son, is at the
home of the father.
Representative Blackburn has not
run up the white flag as yet. Today
he was at the Postoffice Department
and had q long interview with Post
master General Cortelyou. 1t is
known that Mr.. Blackburn toop up
some of the pending cases in North
Carolina. notably Gastonia. He is un-
derstood to be protesting against Rol-
Inns action in ignoring the county
organizations at AsheVille and Gas
tonia.
When Uncle Joe" Left Home.
ed to Speaker Cannon to deliver
the commencement address at Gull
ford College by j. Elwood Cox
and a North Carolina delegation
a few days since the fact was
recited that Mr.. Cannon was largely
responsible for the gift of $4,000
which Andrew Carnegie made for the
erection of a library at the college.
Uncle Joe, who is of Quaker origin.
had a kindly feeling for this institu-
ton, which is located near his birth
place, and he willingly wrote a very
strong letter to Mr.. Carnegie, whom he
knows personally, recommending the
institution as one worthy of his
charity That letter probably resulted
in the gift, which is soon to result in
q library.
Mr.. Cannon has been much criti-
cized for the Indifference he has mani
tested towards his mother State, which
he has not visited in siXty-four years
This correspondent travelled this sum-
mer with a party, of which Mr.. Can
non was a member, and he heard him
express his admiration for the people
of North Carolina and his sincere de-
sire to return to his birthplace in the
near future. Mr.. Cannon has been a
very busy man in recent years and it
was q source of regret to him that he
was unable to attend the reunion at
Greensboro a few years ago. Out
on the plains of Montana this summer
Mr. Cannon brought up the subject of
his North Carolina connections. He
spoke tenderly of his mother and his
recollection of his leave-taixing of the
State, which made a deep impression
on his youthful mind. He was then
only 6 years of age.
Il remember well the caravan of
white covered wagons" said the
Speaker "as we took leave of the old
home place in Guilford. There We're
several families in our party that made
the trip over the mountains and across
the plains to the new promised land,
then a wilderness. The names of our
neighbors are familiar to me now.
/ can look back and see the Menden-
halls, the MoreheadS and others who
came to see US off and say farewell.
/ am told that these old families are
now prominent in the life of the peo-
pie of Guilford. 1t was early in the
morning when we started our long
journey. 1 recall, among other things,
that my father had buggy which
was the envy of all the neighbors, and
my mother and l had the seats of
honor in this conveyance. I remember
the taking as we'll as if it had
occurred yesterday. 1t was ar i'm
pressive scene-this cutting away from
IlGlSnDOIS anu IIlcHuS anu SlIlhlliS Out
for an unknown land. AS the caravan
started off / remember looking at my
mother and the tears were streaming
down her face as she waved a farewell
to friends, she said, Goodbye, North
Carolina, God bless YOU This Incl
dent has clung to my memory ever
since. I remember crossing river,
where the ford was very deep, and
also a summer resort in the noun
tains, and these We're my last impress
sion of North Carolina"
Change Insurance Laws.
e. r. McKeithan, of Fayetteville,
who served in the General Assembly
of 1901, has written Governor Glenn
urging him to call a special session
Of the Legislature for the purpose
of changing the insurance laws of the
State Speaking with reference to the
necessity for action of this character,
Mr.. McKeithan said:
North Carolina is the worst in
surance ridden State in the South. The
insurance interests have passed such
laws as they desired and have defeat
ed with ease all reform measures.
This was accomplished, not
venality on the part of our
legislators. for the New York dis
closures showed that they paid out
only $3.50 in the State-they simply
paid no attention to the matter and
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