The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-08-26

tprpeOple to be found anywhere than
the folks about whom we are writing.
We have purpOsely omitted some
minor details not wanting to 90
over ground that has been covered
50 we'll by another 1u addition to
the very interesting editorial article
written by Mr.. JOsephus Daniels and
uublishpd III the News and Observer
Saturday (reproduced on the front
page Of the GOLD Lead he had this
To say in his news columns of the
same issue:
The two biggest days in the history of
Henderson are the celebration given to
Senator Vance in 1886 upon the Occa-
sion Of his first visit to Henderson after
the creation OF the county named in his
honor, and today, the occasion OF IL
great barbecue and picnic given by the
business men OF Henderson to the people
of half II dozen counties. When Vance
came it was in the winter and no i'm
meuse crowds come together in agricul-
tural North Carolina in winter. But he
had great welcome and made nota-
bic speech. Today is the biggest day in
point Of an immense gathering.
Some weeks ago the business men here
determined to invite the farmers from
Vance, Warren, Franklin, Granville and
upper Wake, and any others who might
desire to come, to an Old-fashiOned bar
becuc on n scale much bigger than the
old times as the Henderson of today is
bigger than it was in 1860. Though
the original charter made Henderson,
corporate limits lone mile in every d.
rection' from the square adjoining the
depot, the town was Il small one then
mere village. Today it is one of the
largest 0nd most prosperous towns in
Central North Carolina. To think of ex-
tending hospitality by a citizen of Hen
dersOn is to extend it, and so the whole
sOuied invitation went out and prepa-
rations were made to entertain 10000
visitors. And they came-every person
invited and all had royalty good time.
The procession started Immediately
upon the arrival of the special train
from Raleigh, and formed opposite
the residence of Dr. Melville Dorsey
There were fifty floats representing
the chief business houses in Hender-
son. some OF them elaborate and all
beautiful and attractive, mounted mar
shals and beautiful girls on horseback
thirty automobiles, the military compa
MES from Raleigh, Louisburg. Franklin
ton. Oxford Warrenton and Henderson,
the Henderson Band and the Third Regi-
ment Band from Raleigh. All the floats
and automobiles were festooned and
decorated and the floats were poems in
colors. the whole making a pageant that
attracted and showed the good taste of
those responsible for it.
As soon as the procession moved to
the park, the band played Dixie, and
then lifting addresses of welcome were
made by Mayor Powell and ex-senator
\. {. Iollicoffer. The response was
made by Mr.. l.. Il. Croker, of Middle
burg. who touched upon the good feel
ng that exists between the people of
the town and country and the pleasure
1t gave the people who live on the farms
To accept the invitation of Henderson to
be their guests. Mr.. T. NJ. Pittman in
PRODUCED Prof j. b. Carlyle, of Wake
Forest, who made an eloquent and witty
speech that charmed and delighted the
big crowd present 1t was gem. Mr..
/. L. Hicks, after n brief address, intro
duced Mr.. Josephus Daniels. editor of
The News and Observer, who spoke
briefly on the need of cooperation, and
heId up the example of Solomon Jones,
OF Henderson county, who built road
from the valleys to the summit of Mt.
Hebron. and wrote his own epitaph,
Solomon Jones, the Road Builder-He
labored Fifty Years to Make the
World Better Than He Found It," Mr..
brooks Parham through his megaphone,
iheh announced that dinner was ready,
AMI the people were ready.
The men who planned and carried out
TINS hg barbecue and grand picnic here
Ioiay have won the gratitude of every
t'iizen IN Henderson and of every person
VINO enjoyed this great day The execu-
1--WE committee in charge was composed
1i Iol. Henry Perry. chairman, Col. w.
r. "ary George \. Rose. Samuel Wat
NlilS ana ). +. Cooper representatives of
5le most progressive interests in Hen
ueFsoh, Too much praise cannot be given
=" i"t barbecue committee. They were
", "; i. smith, chairman, J. c. Thompson,
nHoilas Il. Blacknall, George E. Perry,
W: W. Swain W. Nj. Ellis and Sam
brlggs They provided 5000 pounds OF
succulent barbecue, of Vance county pigs
ana lambs, and 300 gallons of Bruins
wick stew, 5000 lOaves of bread. 5000
gallons OF lemonade, watermelons by the
wagon load, and pickles. ct cetera, in
sufficient quantity to feed 10 900 people,
aud to have plenty left. That was no
ordinary thing to do even in a great
city, but no city could have given any
t4ing more 'scrumptuous But if the
dinner was good and abundant. the ser
wee was equally as good, or rather
sn"dId say better Judging by the fact
mat the table Mt which | had the pleas.
nFe OF being served particularly beauti
lui Young lady was in charge and gave
gracious hospitality The serving Of the
thinner was an army contract and was
III charge OF MIR. Hamilton Beacon and
I'VE hundred assistants-men, womer
and glrls-and there was no DELAY. nc
cowdlng; but everybody was served az
promptly as possible. and with a gooC
cheer put into the dish that added to tn,
good taste OF the dinner After dinner
The people all mixed, were sociable, ant
heighhorly. The young people paired of
the old people snapped yarns, the babe
We're petted, and they divided their tim
between attending the bail game watch
Ing the tull dress drill by the militar,
IoIlpanles, seeing the moving picture
Kept open in the two theatres all da,
i ire Tor all, and riding in the automobile
. mere were twenty-eight automobiles il
Tue parade and all afternoon the own
ers Kept them on the go, ia king ever,
motnan and child present on a spin in al
automobile all over the town. How tn
4bys and girls did enjoy it, Some o
,n mad never before been in an auto
lnooile and the thoughtfulness of tn
ttIpnpllment OF an automobile ride to al
cue visitors was one of the chief delight
on The day to the young people not &C
'uStomed to this sort Of locomotion.
Masters John and ga. d." Jr., tn
bright and manly little sons of Mr.
a. ID. Harris, of Warrenton, spen
,asC week with Edward Manning AM
m mere mere for the big picnic, tn
papaue feature of which they enioye'