The gold leaf., 1910-10-06
FUNERAL OF DR. DIXON.
Last Tribute paid to 7emory OF the
Late State Auditor.

Street Methodist church, the cere-
monies being deeply impressive ana
attended by a great throng ofpeople
sorrowfully paying the last tribute
ofrespect to this distinguished citizen'
soldier and statesman.
All the forenoon and until the re-
mains we're removed for the funerai
ceremony, throngs OF people passed
through the corridors OF the State
Capitol to view the remains lying in
state in the rotunda. The scene was
beautiful, impressive The catafalque
was directly under the dome. The
casket was draped in United States
and North Carolina flags and the
well-worn and motheaten battle flag
of the 18th North Carolina Regiment,
Confederate Army, In which Major
Dixon served so valiantly, coming
out of the war with the rank of cap
tain. On the casket there was also
the Majors Masonic apron and laid
over the whole there was his sword
that he welded in the battles Of the
civil war and offered for service in the
Spanish war. Around the
walls of the rOtunda and corridors
were white and black mourning
draperies and placed with striking
taste were also lovely groupes OF
palms, ferns and other appropriate
plants. The floral decorations were
also extremely beautiful and numer-
Gus. There were special military
guards of honor from the old sol
diers OF the Soldiers Home and from
the local company of the North Caro-
| lima National Guard.
The pall-bearers were members OF
William c. Hill Lodge of MasOns and
the honorary pall-bearers we're the
State officers, including the judges Of
the Supreme Court, and also num-
bers OF prominent private citizens
who were close friends of the deceased.
GOVERNOR KITCHIN'S TRIBUTE.
At the services in Edenton Street
Methodist church Governor Kitchin
spoke eloquently and paid high
tribute, to his official associate and
close friend, saying:
Carolina mOurns the loss of a dis
tinguished son. The robust figure,
the handsome face, the genial pres
ence of our lamented friend, DR.. Ben
jamin Franklin Dixon will be seen no
more in our midst. The silver cord
has been loosed, the golden bowl has
been broken. We assemble to pay a
feeble tribute to his worth and char
acter. Feeble tribute we must pay,
for words cannot impart a friends
respect and love, and sense Of loss
when a cO-laborer of character, wis
dom, courage, ability and constant
usefulness goes hence to the great
Beyond
"With swelling heart and uncovered
head we stand in the presence of the
dead and hopelessly look around us,
knowing we'll that tens of thousands
OF our fellows have the same pent up
| feelings which human lips can never
utter. We see the beauty Of the
autumn and it's harvests, we hear the
raging storm, but our language can
not describe them. We join hands
with the strong man, the good, the
upright, the eloquent, the versatile;
we admire his noble conduct, we
cherish his friendship, we suffer the
pangs of sorrow when he falls pros
trate among us. But We seek in vain
to do justice to his life or to measure
to others our grief.
'Dr. Dixon's first public act was
when beardless boy he enlisted in
the cause of "the storm Graded
nation that FELL His last public ad-
| dress was before the Confederate vet
Grams at their recent reunion in Nor
folk. How appropriate it was that
around his bier in the Capitol OF the
State he has served so long and
faithfully his old comrades in the lost
cause to whose comforts he had ever
been so Loyalty diligent, should keep
the sad vigil amidst the flowers and
the fags-a loving service lovingly
rendered.
Cast in heroic mold, reared under
the shadow of the most heroic field
OF the Revolution, the patriotic cOur-
age he displayed on the battlefield,
the high performance Of every duty
in social and civil life, the donning of
the Federal uniform when the Re-
Public called for volunteers to estab-
lish new Republic, the high rank he
attained, the honorable record he
made as one of the States highest Of
ticials in the conduct of her affairs,
illustrate the hopeful, triumphant
character OF this progressive, active,
fearless personality. A wise cOun-
sellor, shirking no responsibility,
evading no issue, with firm convic-
tions and clear Judgment, for ten
years he was pillar of strength in
the State administration. | knew
him for more than twenty years, but
never intimately till the last two
years, during which time | learned to
love him as a man and officer, and
rejoice to know he was my friend. In
every matter he advocated, in every
circle he entered, to all with whom
he served he was a tower of strength
that stood fOur-square to all the
winds that blew.
"His smiling good nature, his
cleaning eye, his fund of anecdotes,
his sound logi., his extensive infor.
nation, his varied experience, his
candor, his zeal, his ability and elo,
quence made him the most popular
orator in the State, in my opinion
He was equally at home whether dis
cussingpOlitical, religious, education
al, fraternal, agricultural, veteran OF
purely patriotic matters. He was
bound to the people by every sympa
thetic tie That binds leader. Caro-
lima truly mOurns him today, anC
honors his character. His exem
plary conduct in all the matters o
citizenship and his admirable quail
ties as a man, a husband, father, sol
der, orator. statesman, have en-
riched the State, and will furnish in
splration to her progress and uplifr
for years to come.
lie did great work and did i
well. He fought the good fight and
t-N l. IL