The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-06-08
North Carolina Press Association
Starts Movement to Honor
Humorist
GRAVE IS ALMOST UNMARKED
"BiIl' Nye Requested That No Big
Monument be Erected in His Mem
orv al Grave so Friends Would
Find Some Other Place.

Wrightsville Beach, n. c., June s.
one of the features of the opening ses-
sion of the annual convention of the
North Carolina Press association,
which convened at the Hotel Tarry-
moore this morning, was the launching
of a movement to erect substantial
memorial to the late Bill Nye, the
humorlst, whose death occurred at his
home I'm this state in 1896, and whose
unmarked grave in Henderson county,
&c the mecca for many tourists. The
movement. which was introduced IN
the course of an essay on journalistic
problems by r. w. Vincent, of the
Charlotte Observer. was eloquently
seconded by James II. Caine, of the
Asheville Citizen in an enthusiastic
speech.
In proposing the memorial project
Mr. Vincent said in part:
up yonder in the mountain fast-
nesses of Henderson, in lone grave
unmarked save by rough stone boul-
der. uninscribed, which by his Wish
is the only monument he desired, hes
all that is mortal of an adopted son
whose memory this state has neglect
ed to honor-one we are proud to claim
as of our craft-the lamented 'Biii
Nve It was his misfortune not tc
have been born in North Carolina-
Maine claims that distinction-but the
hest wears of his life were spent a.
beautiful Buck Shoals and the pes
work of his career done there. IL was
in the Carolina foothills that he gave
up the unequal struggle, and II
there that he is buried.
1--WE cannot more ornately mark nj
last resting place If we respect III
wishes but we can erect, in Henoer
sonville. or Asheville, or, If you VIII IL
the shadow of the capitol at Raleign
suitable and substantial memorial u
show TO the world that we know on
duty and have performed II. WIN
among us has not delighted MS SOU
with the Boomerang stories or droppe
q tear over the pathos of The Pas
that Came Too Late? The good Una
ne did i'm making the world brighte
by the music of his mirth cannot
measured in words, and he lelt
things upon which to reflect an
thoughts upon which to build, for our
selves future, that, let us hope ma
be rewarded by those who i've alte
ms better than we have rewarde
those who have gone before"
In seconding the movement to ere'
ceremonial to Bill Nye, James
Caine. of the Asheville Citizen, salu
I'm endorsing the Nye mohunlei
movement. believe | voice the Sent
ment not only of the press fraterhi'
or western North Carolina, put OF u
great majority of the citizehship
that section. who hold in loving men
ory the name of the man wro'e po'
now rests under the shadows OF tne
mountains. While the presen' NOV
ment found its inception WITHIN u
ranks of our state press associa'''
some wears ago, there has long eXis''
- feeling i'm the western section, al
especially in that community WIG
the illustrious Nye lived and move
that something more than nameie
stone should keep in mind the gem
spirit whose gospel was sunshine al
whose creed was good cheer.
True. the block of granite WIN
now does sentinel duty over NY
grave i'm the lonely country churc
ward at Arden mutely expresses
dying wishes of the great humori
but we would not be disregarding tho
wishes were we to erect, by means
popular subscription, a marble sh'
which would In some measure EXPIRE
the regard and veneration we feel
the man with whom all of us iaugn
and wept by turns.
TT Is fitting and proper that
movement to perpetuate the memory
Nye should find it's reincarnation ne
for he was one of us. The struggi
vicissitudes of his early Journahs
days could not dim the light of gen
which shone so brightly in later yea
We should not hesitate to go on rec'
here and now, representing the NO
Carolina Press association, as sett
on foot movement to erect at
state capital fitting monument
one OF the greatest and most gil
humorists the world has ever know