The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-02-28
+ RCMENISCE >TLETTE2.


A Former Employe Of The Robe
sonian Tells OF His Connection
With the Paper and of His
Life Since.
To the Editor OF The Robesionian:
The founder of The Robesonian
was w. S. McDiarmid. While
my father was pastor Of the Bap-
fist church in Lumberton, Editor
McDiarmid employed me to work
in the office of The Robesonian.
Before l entered upon my duties
w. S. McDiarmid died-died by
drowning in Lumber river. His
brother, William Wallace Nc
Diarmid, took charge of the pa
per. He kept his brothers con-
tract with me. | entered the Of
flee and performed odd jobs and
set type. Within a year | could |
set a column of type without
making an error in spelling or
punctuation or otherwise. When
| had been in the Office two years,
w. w. McDiarmid made me fore
man of the office and gave me
the privilege of filling certain
days with work outside of the
office in securing subscriptions
and advertising. Iwould go to
Wilmington or Fayetteville. On
one trip to Wilmington l made in
one day twenty dollars. w. w.
McDiarmid was good to me. I
left his office to 20 to school at
Carolina Central Academy at
Ansonville. Again l left the OF
flee to go to Wake Forest College.
He was gracious enough to wish
me we'll. Somehow / always
made money in that Office. |
think that if he were alive |
could 60 to the Office in March
and get job. He sent the paper
to me as long as he lived. l am
not complaining at his successors.
I am going to Fairmont, near
Lumberton, on Thursday before
the second Sunday in March to
assist Pastor D. P. Bridges in
meetings with Ashpole church.
l feel as light on my feet as did
in 1875. Ny father, A. R. Pitt.
man, was pastor of Ashpole
church more than a quarter Of {
century. He was born and rear
ed in the neighborhood of the
church. My mother died on the
night of my birth. He tried t.
be mother and father to me. M!
sister is Mrs. A. E. Floyd, o:
Fairmont. My brother is A. Nc
A. Pittman, of Carlisle, S. c
We three have met OCCASIONAL,
since l left North Carolina il
u 1883. / have gone alone to Ash
IL pole to see the graves Of m
y dead. Once l took my wife t
the old home on Horn Camp
where was born. The year be
r. fore my father died at Rennert
8. l went twice to see him. On on
all of these visits l met my brothe
and sister by his bed.
= Who can escape journalism al
ter he has put his fingers in tn
ink, his writing in the column
and his heart in the purpose {
- meaningful paper? l preac
and l enjoy preaching, but l al
T an editor. Soor after I came
- Missouri | became associate ed
tor of a St. Louis paper. Iretail
ed that position in connectio
with a pastorate about eight (
'av nine years. | bought a paper
- a State Capital and edited
while l was pastor Of a gre
church. l lost money on TIL
paper. | have been on the ed
torial staff of The Word and w;
in Kansas City about six year
/ helped my brother, who f
/. seven years edited and publish
lies the South Carolina Baptist.
helped him from Missouri.
O ct wrote editorials tor him. He
lets a noble, brave, munificent ma
at One of his sons. J. R. Pittma
is making fortune in Los A
nb- geles, Cal.
: Throughout nv college da,
and for years afterwards, | wrt
articles on many subjects for T
1ers Robesonian. Many who VIZ
familiar with N. R. P. and
~ writings have passed away.
expect to spend ten or tive
days preaching at Baptist Al
eA7 pole'. l would be glad to
all my old friends there. /
rlor not sure that I'll have time
preach in Lumberton.