The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-03
The Genius of Col. A.
Andrews a Southerner.
A visit to the Western Country ChaI-
Ienges Admiration for the Early
Pioneers, and the Tragedies Of
That Period.
BY Rev. Nj. T. PJYLER.

world toward the top of Mount Tam
alpais. The panorama of mountain
scenery, ever picturesque, ever new,
kept all on the alert, save one lover
of sleep who dozed through it all. He
did not even see the deer that scamper-
ed away ahead of the car. Finally,
we gained the summit and there lay
the Pacific to the west the Golden
Gate and San Francisco to the south
the Sacramento and scores of peaks to
the east, and to the north a varied
scene of hill and dale. 1t was one Of
those views one wishes to preserve
through all the coming years with lit
tie regard for the descriptive title
gives it. To say it is grand or sublime
or lovely means little to one who has
felt the whole swept in upon the
soul-life. How inspired then to hear
an ecstatic maiden exclaim: "Oh,
isn't 1t SWEET" This would be more
in place down by the waters edge
near the careless tapping of the surf,
where | saw bride and groom nestled
by big rock. There was the Cliff
House; the seal rocks, covered with
the children of the open sea; ten thou
sand miles of the wide, wide sea,
dotted with the sails of commerce, but
what cared they? He gently folds his
arms about her. listens to the surging
II
all the world "Oh, isn't it lovely?"
And | could but feel that it was lovelier
than the view from Mount TamalpaiS.
Be that as it may, the far western me-
tropoliS is an interesting city and has
views many and varied.
OF course all Eastern tourists must
60 through Chinatown, a section OF
the Orient, smell and ALL where live
twenty thousand Celestials. Mr.. Ward,
90 7
proved most satisfactory, and gave our
party all we wished form fact more
than some of the Olfaet6ries of the
girls cared to have repeated. Then all
must enjoy Golden Gate Park, go to
the Sutro Baths for plunge, hang
around the Cliff House, and rush to
dozen more places of popular concern.
But when you wish a vision of beauty
you go to Andrews Diamond Palace.
Its floors of marble, walls of French
plate mirrors framed i'm pillars of
ebony and gold arched ceilings with
panels overhead decorated with fun
length oil portraits of Scriptural char
acters put it at the head. Including
the more than two hundred thousand
dollars of diamonds on these paintings,
the whole cost more than one quarter
of a million dollars, and the stock Is
valued at two millions, all the proper
tv of Colonel A. Andrews. But my
purpose is not to write of this dream
of beauty and wealth of gems Far
more interesting than this product of
the Colonels brains is the man, a.
Andrews. One has to go far to meet
a more interesting personality. Though
now eighty years old. he looks not
day above sixty. The fresh complexion,
the sparkle in his eye, the animation
in every movement point rather to the
days of two rather than four score
years. Colonel Andrews spent his ear
ly years in New Orleans and counts
himself a Southerner. His sympathies
were with the South in the Civil War,
but owing to the oath to support the
flag, when fighting in the Mexican
War, he could not well join the South
ern Cause So. rather than oppose the
South. he spent eight years in trade
and travel in other lands. The PEN
sion received for services in the Next
can war goes to a poor widow. He
speaks eight languages. has hobnobbed
with Presidents, Governors and Send
tors, and held numerous official posi-
tons in his State. Though an active
Democrat he holds ri~ht on through
the Republican administrations The
day / saw him another commission
had Just been received from the Gov
ernor The Colonel is justly proud
of the work done by him as Commits
sioner for California at the Cotton
Centennial Exposition at New Orleans.
This appointment was made by PreSl-
dent Arthur. He has enough of.
badges and marks of distinction to
decorate a Russian general. Colonel
Andrews seems proud of the fact that
all the wonders of his beautiful palace
is the product of his brain. He tof'
lowed no model. and it does show
genius. But to me there are better
marks of his greatness. Notwithstand-
ing his wealth, his business sagaclty,
his social position. his many honors
far more than half a century, he is Il
genial, cultured gentleman, simple in
his habits, with a friendly interest in
common men. His frank and genial
ways win from the first. An hour in
his presence is a genuine inspirations.
He diScloSeS an interest in men and u
love for art. AS RuSkin says: Noble
art is nothing less than the expressions
of a great soul, and great souls are
not common things" | might say
much more of this remarkable man.
A story of his days with Winfield Scot,
an appreciation of his disposition to-
wards the South, record of his dOingS
in developing California would make
a tale of fascinating interest. but [
forbear.
Mr.. Editor, allow me one or two Oh
servation in this final word This
western country is a great land ana
wealth of life has been given In Sc
curing the present prestige. AS
looked upon Dover Lake. high up in
the pass of the Sierra Nevadas, and
listened to the tale of suffering en-
dured by those early pioneers the
tragedy of those early days seemed
more real than ever. out of these
struggles have come the proud empire
of the West. From this the old COM
monwealths of the East should learn
a lesson The Old North State has the
resources and the variety of climate
and products to rank among the first,
! had we the enterprise and skill to
develop what we have. skilled labor,
native hustle. and determination to
let the world know what we have
would work wonders. 1t is not enough
to talk about our unlimited re-
sources" There must be an exhibit
of the goods and q showing of ways
and means by which capital may be
come productive. The Pacific States
can do more effective advertising in
one year than we can in fifty. 1t has
become almost a fine art with them.
They are sure to keep the best foot
foremost and a standing promise of 4
new shoe on that foot with every