The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-05

life and resided with his even more
notable son, Hon. Alfred Moore Wad 4
dell, at The lsltter's elegant and capa-
ciou5 mansion. BON mother and
Gather were interesting persons Of en-
gaginG manners ana both were appar-
entity fond OF young people. Ill was
my good fortune, while editing the
Morning Star in the full flush OF spirit
ana energy belonging to early years,
to have had the benefit OF the elder
Mr. WaddelfS company for q short
time every two or three days. He
would drop into the editorial room IN
the later morning or early afternoon,
sometimes accompanied by Mrs. Wad-
dell, hut more frequently alone. and
would say, with the high courtesy of
the old school gentleman, that he fear
ea TO intrude upon my valuable time.
but il l would let him ramble on in
his old mans way or give him q coun-
try newspaper 10 glance at ttaking
our his spectacles) he would remain Il
little while. He SO delighted me by
the urbanity Of his address. the intel
ligence Of his views, and the variety
and freshness of his reniniscencies
that / succeeded in persuadmg him
that l could at one and the same time
prepare such copy for the printer as
was then needed in the Office while.
permit me 10 do this. 1t was my
compromise to Keep him from going
away, ana it was successful. But /
could never persuade him even under
those conditions to stay above & half
or three quarters Of an hOur--usually
not quite SO long. | recollect he gave
me the most vivid idea / had had,
and not cxcellcd since for viridncss,
OF the oratory Of Clay and Preston.
4 ~
he thought perhaps General prestdn's
oratoricaI bursts were of Il higher
range of beauty and thought. He
drew q wonderful tongue picture OF
The great Editor Gales sitting and re-
porting the debates in the United
States Senate, when the men he
took" in his mixture Of short hand
and analysis from recollection were
the foremost American statesmen and
orators of any age of the country's
History excepting possibly those who
organized the government. The steady
look OF the commander Of the Nation
al intelligencer at the speaker on the
floor, his thumb nail held to the mid
die tooth of the lower jaw with mis-
BODY bent slightly forward and never
sWaying to one side or the other !
see now as he described it TO me. Mr..
Waddell presided as Speaker at differ
ent times over both houses Of the
North Carolina Legislature. He was
fond Of public life in his younger and
middle periods OF life, but seemed TO
care nothing for membership OF the
National legislature. But he visited
Washington often and liked TO look on
the arena Of the giants. Tn those
and earlier days 4 seat in a Southern
legislature was frequently more highly
rriZed than one in the Congress. In
Virginia this was colSpicuouSly the
case. Hence Mascn's grand light was
cal heaven in which was the
orbit OF the greatest State OF the
Union in his day. Virginia. Patrick
Henry, too, perhaps next 10 Demos
themes the s1andest of orators out
side the sacred desk, preferred the
home legislative to the Federal legis-
lative chamber. Mr. Waddelrs, there
fore was not a singular choice for MS
cay and generaiiOn--a day of remark
able men and Of loVabie women.
Among his recollcctions We're some
personal ones of the noble old Gran
vile bar where he would meet
Badger, Graham. bat" Moore, Man
gum, Gillian, Lanicr and other gifted
Oncs--ali Of whom have passed to
their reward, the last named not long
since. Mr.. Waddel told me he was
much impressed with the dignity and
ability of the magistrates, county JUS
tees Of the peace, who held the coun-
ty court. Among these he was pleased
to refer In terms Of courtlv compli-
ment to an ancestor of mine, Rev.
Willis Harris, VINO was often the pre-
siding judge.
Alas. alas! The debt of nature mas
been paid and ali these grand old
country gentlemen have been gathered
To their ia theirs. With them sleep the
roble man of whom / have been talk
ing and his accomplished helpmeet
So much has been said of the gifted
sire there is small space left for the
more gifted son. But the people know
him better. He is still % then1--a
part Of recent histoTN-a portion OF
the living present. BefGre ! went to
Wilmington TO reside, in 1872, | mad
not had much knowledge OF Alfred
Waddell. But there ! came soon 20
admire ard warmly regard him as az,
orator OF singular grace and elegance,
q lawyer OF repGte, & statesman Of
force and sincerity and q citizen Of
heroic mould and splendid leader
ship In the dark hours that try mems
souls. From the humblest hod-carrier
IN to George Davis, the foremost man
of the section, if not of the state, the
people loved and trusted Alfred Wad-
CELL. And I am glad &c know that he
holds the same place in their affec-
tons and imaginations. As writer
he is effective and there is no cen~
sure save that his productions of the
pen are too few and far between. His
morse lecture, his biography Of the
Revolutionary Hugh Waddeli, his
grand father, both interested me
deeply. I wish he would edit, intro
duce and supplement his great kins-
mans George DavisD papers or Cape
Fear history and write the life Of that
majestic and pure-hearted man. No
4tuer. service to North Carolina could
be rendered by any of her talented
sons.
rhere iS sonnet ming wrong with The