Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-04-29

mission OF the SnOWdens, VINO iouhaeu
and presided over the destinies OF the
paper for over century and decade
ceases, and the management passes IN
10 other hands. The editors OF the
Gazette have been Samuel SnoWoen'
founder, Edgar Snowden, Edgar SNOW
den, junior, DR.. Harold Snowden and
Huber, Snowden. Since its establish
ne. the Gazette has rarely been put
0 press without one member OF the
direct family Of the founder being pres
ent and exercising supervision. But
there is an end OF all things, and the
time has come when the last represent
alive of family Of Alexandria news
paper men finds it necessary 10 throw
aside the responsibilities incident to the
toll and care OF publishing daily news
paper in this history-lnaking age. 1t
is no easy matter, however, to break
M the habit of lifetime, notwith-
standing the heavy burdens OF the pro-
fession, for as the writer OF the obituary
Of Cowardin Of the Richmond Dispatch
very truthfully said: The sailor may
possibly forget the blue waves, the In
dian the hunting ground OF his youth,
woman her first love, but he who has
once been truly converted into the
Journalistic life can never throw off the
infatuation which possesses him. he
NAV wander awhile in strange pursuits
but. unless death suddenly overtakes
him, he is likely to come drifting back,
one way or another, to this profession
so full OF care, so racking on mind and
body, yet . full Of strange fascination :"
The Gazette, as is we'll known, is one
OF the few papers Of the country viii ch
came to the birth at the close of the
revolutionary war and passed through
the perils Of infancy into manhood and
mature and vigorous old age. Genera
tion of readers followed generation,
while the files of the Gazette have been
accommodating and the skein OF history
has successfully been taken up by rep
resentatives Of one family. The young,
active and enterprsing men who will
prepare the next issue Of the Gazette
will be continuing work commenced
bv others in the eighteenth century.
Captain Raphael Semmes in his
-Four Years Aroat," after an exciting
experience in the Confederate States
steamer Sumter, tells of being passen-
ger on British steamer. lie
alludes TO the fact that the respon-
sibiIity of navigating the ship
was in the hands of others, and ne
was thus enabled to enjoy rest and
sleep soundly while storms were raging.
The retiring editor, after today's issue
Of the paper, can enjoy the pleas
ure of reading the Gazette with
out being compelled to participate
in the tolls and anxieties incident to be-
ing its responsible head.
The Gazette during its career in three
centuries has been conservative Ill its
principles, and its publishers have ever
had the interests of Alexandria at heart
and labored for the advancement OF its
home city. During times that tried
mems souls and which required moral
courage to stand by ones guns, the
Gazette had to pay dearly for its loyalty
to the principles of the forefathers, and
the paper in passing from the hands OF
those who have presided over its des-
TIMES SO many years bears no tarnlsh
on it's escutcheon.
In Withdrawing from the Gazette,
which he does with deeper regret than
he can declare Ia these lines, the
editor and manager, who is about to
make place for others, expresses his
appreciation to the community OF tue
support and encouragement always eX-
tended him, which support and en-
couragement he earnestly trusts may
he continued TO his successors.
The: retiring editor and manager
expresses his sincere appreciation OF
the many kind expressions from news
papers in different sections OF the state,
as we'll as those rendered personally
and by letters by his many friends and
acouaintarces. He will treasure them,
knowing, as he does that they came from
the heartSand while he will no longer
be publicly directing the thought or
championing the interests of theclty OF
his birth, he @ili, of course, continue to
live and move in the community ever
dear 10 him and be as much interested
Ia old Alexandria as ever. Vale.
Mr.. William P. Mcknight, who for
over forty years has stood behind the
desk" aud faithfully and efficiently
filled the position OF business manager,
will also retire from this responsible