The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-16
Tuesday. January IS, 1906
IDLE COMMENTS.

The board of editors of idle Com
ments" nave every reason to congfat-
ulate themselves on the delightful book
they have gotten out. the selections
given being the choicest werk of the
late |. E. Avery, probably the most
the state press. and recalling wildly
the splendid articles which appearec
nearly every day in The Observer,
treating local happenings in such a
manner that they took on added in
terest and made his writings eagerly
looked for everywhere that The OBJ
server circulated.
A short but interesting sketch of Mr.
Avery is givin in the book, the writer,
who evidently is Mr.. J. P. Caldwell,
editor of The Observer, closing >witr
ed as merited in every sense Of the
word.
The writer processes some familiar
ity with the contemporaneous news
paper writer's of the south and is sure
that he INDUCES no exuberance of lam
guage, that personal affection warps
his judgment not at all, when he says
that for original thought, for power
or felicity of expression Isaac Erwin
Avery had 10 an equal among them
The splendid ability shown by Mr..
Z worry Oa va oTrN1in6c for tho holiof fI,of
some day he would achieve high fame
in the literary world, his talents hav-
ing already attracted most favorable
comment from many learned men. The
sudden death that came. while he was
apparently in the very bloom Of life,
was recognized as a distinct loss to
the state, and the tributes paid to his
memory were appreciative and sim
cere, there being widespread hope ex-
pressed that his best writings be saw
ed in more permanent form than in the
file of the daily paper. This matter
was taken up by several Charlotte
gentlemen, who promised to finance
the scheme and they asked the gentle
men on the board of editors to prepare
the volume. which they have lone in
so successful a manner The board
who gave themselves to this loving
and laudable task was composed Of the
following gentlemen: Editor Caldwell
of The Observer; DR.. c. Alphonso
Smith, of the University; Professor
Edwin Minis, of Trinity; Rev. Plato
Durham, and Editor J.. William Bailey
of The Biblical Recorder. After sew
eral weeks work they have gotten out
a handsome volume, containing what
in their judgment represents the best
work of this gifted man. Short
sketches are placed in each chapter,
under the chapter headings, "In and
About a Newspaper Office" Charlotte
and Her Neighbors,'' Character
Sketches" Negro Types" Woman
and Her World" Children" Ami
mails Christmas" Southern Life
and Manners" Anecdotes "Observa-
tons on Literature" ideals of Writ
ing and Speaking Music and ORA
ma" Reflections on Life and DEATH
and Miscellany"
Just a glance at these headings will
give AZ idea CT The versatility # lie
work, appealing to all classes cf Lee
pie. But only those who read his
ar:ir.os regularly can be prepared 10
sSoacE the delightful sketches anl So
rsas that fellow. ALL of the writings
were b:.I@red during his regular work
on The Ct2erver, under the pcas5uIe
of tine and night work, which news
paper men experience, and their fciic-
ity Of oct on and elegance Of cxpr.s-
sioa sew more clearly than any ling
else Tie genius of the man.
The book is published by The Avery
Publishing Company, Of Charlotte. Il
is handsomely gotten up, and is {
4 great credit to those VINO had it in
charge. The proceeds from the sale
of idle Comments" will be used te
establish memorial scholarships a
Trinity College. Mr.. Avery's alma ma
ter, and this laudable purpose should
in itself cause a generous reception b.
the public.
idle Comments" is on sale at al
the Charlotte book stores. and copie:
ca nbe secured from Mr.. George Steph
ems, chairman of the Publishing Com
rany, in Charlotte.