The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-22
Spirit of the Press
The Mother of a Governor.
Asheville Citizen.

ASneVllIe CltlZel.
The papers of the State for the
last three or four days have been
printing splendid eulogies of NORTH.
Cardinals new Governor. The de-
scription of the inaugural ceremonies
occupied several columns and the
success of the event is still a topic
for discussion. But one little sentence
has been overlooked by the leading
journals of the Old North State. 1t
was a simple one, and hardly calcu-
lated to attract much attention. but
now after the excitement has subsid-
ed, and the Inauguration Is fast be-
coming q memory. the sentence refer
red to speaks out in dulcet tones.
Down toward the bottom of the col
umn we rescued the following from
the inaugural report of Il Raleigh pa
per:
His mother Governor GIenn'sl was
an interested spectator"
That was all, but what q world of
love and maternal pride it unfoldS! A
silver-haired and sainted mother sat
among the cheering multitude feasting
her eyes on Her Son-noW holding
the highest office in the State. What
mattered to her at that moment the
years of tender solicitude and heart
yearnings? Upon her knee in the long
ago the future Governor of North
Carolina had lisped her name. To the
people of a great State he was The
Governor-to her he was still her
Robert. Happy mother! Noble son!
Some years ago the same son was an
honored member of the General As
sembly of North Carolina. An import
ant measure was bending in the Sen
ate, but when the fury of debate was
at it's highest Robert Glenn was caught
calmly writing a letter. When asked
how he could evince such indifference
the Senator replied Il have thor
oughly considered the question ana
am now WRITING A LETTER TO
MOTHER, as is my daily custom. Is
it any wonder then, that the State
Senator found fortune smiling on his
path as he advanced, and that he is
now the Chief Executive of the
grandest old State in the Union? Is
it cause for surprise that his gray
haired mother should feel the mater
nal spirit yelling up within her as he
stood bare-headed before thousands of
men who loved him as only a loyal
people can love true manhood? What
cared she if her eyes swan with tears
of joy; perhaps she could not see
him, but she knew that her boy was
there, and that was enough for her.
So it is fitting and proper thai
when we shower honors upon our new
Governor we should remember the
mother who gave the State such
son. We have often in the garden
seen the smiling rose how perfect fts
foliage, how enhancing its form! we
have stopped to gather to ourselves
it's incense-li like fragrance and softly
kissed it's tinted petals. But how
few of us have ever remembered the
training hand of the gardener! Lost
in admiration for the result of his
labors, we do not recall the anxieties
and cares endured by him, that the
world might be made sweeter ana
fresher. The mother of the Governor
was the patient gardener, whom The
Citizen congratulates today. The
mother service is the unheard whisper
which in future years speaks aloud In
human character. The echoes of that
gentle TONGUE have reached the high
est peak, her smile has shed a radiance
in the lowliest cabins of the earth.
And thus it comes that 1.-The hand
which rocks the cradle rules the
world