The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-08-24
c. P. Sapp.
Monroe Journal.

There died in Norfolk last week a
young North Carolinian, Mr.. C. P.
Sapp, chief editorial writer of the
Norfolk Trginian-Pilot, whose ca
reer must have ripened into one of
unusual brilliancy and usefulness,
had he not been cut down when, at
the age OF thirty-three years he was
but upon it's threshold. Few of the
readers Of this paper knew Mr.. Sapp,
though he had relatives just below
here in South Carolina, and was HIM
self q native of Cabarrus. So we
write from . personal standpoint, OF
~ beloved friend first, and secondly,
as Of q fellow-worker whose powers
were: SO well known and admired.
We pay an humble tribute to the
memory OF generous friend and the
most vigorous mind that We were
closely associated With.
Mr.. Sapp had been editor of the
Virginian-Pilot, a large and influen-
tial morning paper of Norfolk, for
five years. He went to that paper
from the News and Observer of Raj
eigh, and to the latter from the
Greensboro Telegram, OF which he
was the first editor and on which he
saw his first newspaper experience
He was a graduate of Wake Forest
College of the class of 1898, and
went to college perfectly prepared
from the excellent school of Professor
Eddins of Stanly county. At college
the writer learned, with admiration,
and almost astonishment, of the
wealth of endowment of the young
man, not yet in his majority, whose
mind seemed to grasp any question
with the strength of middle age. We
thought then, and yet, that as de-
batter, at that age. he could have held
ground against many of the public
men of the time. As roommate, we
had opportunity to know his work
and admire his talent, both of which
grew stronger and better, but never
changed in character in his after ca
reer. He was equally devoted to any
thing of human interest, and never
in another have we seen both intel
lectual and physical enthusiasm so
blended, balanced and unbounded.
A poem, a proposition in calculus or
a "tussle" with his room mate were
of equal interest to him for the time.
Mr.. Sapp was fitted by nature for
the profession which he adopted. He
was a born writer. Language flew
from his pen without effort. He wrote
for the very pleasure of it. While
ostensibly preparing at college for
the profession of the law, he was uh-
consciously preparing for the profes-
sion for which he was born. To this
writer he first mentioned the fact
that he would like to be a 'journa-
list," a writer attached to no hard
and fast place on a paper, but doing
work wherever his fancy liked. He
gripped a proposition with intellect
ual steel and tore it into elemental
principles. Widely read, he was ever
ready, and his facility of expression
was equal to the vigor of his mind.
He loved the broad principles of JUS
tice and equality upon which our in
stitutions are theoretically founded,
and in his professional life his work
was a constant struggle for their sup
port. He was sincere; in him there
was no taint of hypocricy, no fawn-
ing, no make-believe. He bowed the
knee to no man or thing. He knew
neither'physical nor moral fear. His
life influence was for justice, for right,
for better things.
Two of the brightest minds that
North Carolina has given to the
country in this generation found their
work in the newspaper Office. P.
Sapp and l. E. Avery. Both we're
born for the work, and both, without
forethought or generalization, fell
into it naturally, as the water seeks
it's level, as the needle it's pole. Both
died as their wonderful powers were
yet growing and when the world was
but learning the charm of their ge-
MUS. Each was in a field of his own.
Sapp was logician, a partisan with
out bitterness, Juvenal without a
sting, a fighter without venom, de-
batter, a lover OF poetry, but nopoet;
Avery, the prose poet, the master OF
description, tender philosopher, ele-
giant, versatile, an artist who gather.
ed his material from the walks OF
men and portrayed his pictures with
lavish colors but finest tints. Avery,
the latest product of fine race ofal.
| ready distinguished men; Sapp, the
first sprig of genius bursting from
a long line of sturdy but ,'undistin
guished North Carolina stock. Each
destined to be a star of first magni
tude but cut down ere the rising
The pity of it! The sadness.