The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-09-07
MELVIN GARDENERS CAREER.
The Young Newspaper Man VINO
Killed Himself at Winston-Saiem
Several Months Ago wrote Oot
His BeIief.-The Scroll Is Discovered
in His Desk at GreenvlIIe.
Charlotte Observer.

Charlotte Observer
Readers Of the Observer Will recall
the story OF Melvin Gardner. ayoung
newspaper man who dropped into
the office one night, and asked tor
work. He was given temporary po-
sition on the Chronicle. Later he
tried to kill himself but friends saved
him. Finally, however, he succeeded,
one night at Winston-Salem. Before
coming to Charlotte, Gardner worked
for the Herald, OF Grcenville, ). {. In
a recent issue OF that paper the foi-
lowing story appeared:
There came to this city not many
months ago a tramp newspaper man.
He had tales to tell OF the far South,
OF the cold North, OF Texas towns
and Mexican bull fights He was
what the world calls human wreck.
In his physique, that was SO. But
the man had soul. stllled though 1T
might have been through Il series OF
debauches and life OF dissipation.
This same fellow went away after
awhile and drifted into work else
where-the free masonry OF the craft
guaranteeing him Il shelter and sus-
tenance wherever he happened to east
his lot. Soon, though, in fit OF
melancholy. he quit the game OF life
and passed ont into the Eternal.
In one OF the drawers OF his desk
the other day this creed was found
folded away in an old soiled envelope:
81 believe in little children as the
most precious gift OF heaven to earth
| believe that they have immortal
souls created i'll the image OF God,
coming forth from Him and to return
to Him. believe that i'll every child
are infinite possibilities for good or
evil and that the kind OF influences
with which he is surrounded in early
childhood largely determines whether
or not the budding life shall bloom i'll
fragrance and beauty, with the fruit
thereof noble, godlike character.
Il believe it is to be the mission of
all of us
Step by step lift bad To good:
without halting, without rest.
Lifting better up to best
II believe III play as the child snOr
nal effort to understand himself
through free self-expression: and be-
lieve, too. in work. but work that is
Joyous, and that the Joy in the doing
comes largely from the well-dOing
IL believe in freedom, but not in
license; i'll prompt, cheerful obedience;
in punctuality, regularity, accuracy,
industry and Application; that wisely
directed self-activitl should result i'll
self-control, in seli-forgetfulness i'll an
increasing desire to CHOOSE the good,
true and beautiful. and to contribute
happiness of Others.
II believe i'll cultivating the intel
lect and the will. but believe, too.
in soul-cult IRE, and that out of this
cultivation comes the more abundant
life bringing forth the fruits of spirit
Kindness, gel.tleness, JOY, peace, truth,
faith, hope, love, reverence for God.
for each other. and for his lowlv
creatures.
Il believe that the white city OF
God, with its river OF life and its tree
OF life is the divine type OF the home
with its life giving love, sunshine and
companionship and its symmetrical
unfolding OF all the beauties of child
life-physical. mental moral, spirit
ual'
And Gardner, poor fellow. knew
not n home since childhood nor had
n child to cheer him. Pity It's his
beliefs could not have made him as
he wished to be.