Henderson gold leaf., 1911-08-03
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

| A Urand and Glorious Region-ihe
Appalachian Country a Highly Fa.
vored Land-carolina & Northwes.
| tern Railway Builder. aud DeveI-
/ Oper-Lenoir and the North Caro-
Iina Press Association.
The more | GO into Western North
Carolina the more 1 am impressed with
the greatness and grandeur of that sec
ton OF this glorious old State of ours
its fine climate and beautiful scenery, its
wealth OF forests and fertile fields, it's
vast waterpowersa and mineral resources,
and its still greater wealth OF splendid
citizenship.
A recent visit to Lenoir on the occa-
sion OF the thirty-ninth annual conven-
tion Of the North Carolina Press Associa-
tion was another revelation to me. How
the town has grown and improved since
first knew it. And the country round
! about has kept pace with the general
progress.
Twenty-Five years ago the best meet
ing in the history OF the North Carolina
Press Association, according to the dec
laration of Josephus Daniels made in
his very happy address in response to
the welcoming speeches delivered by
Mayor Mccall and Lieutenant Governor
". c. Newland, met in Lenoir | had
the honor to preside over the delibera-
tions OF that meeting, having been elected
president the previous year at Morehead
City.
W. W. McDiarmid, OF blessed memory,
was elected president at the meeting in
Lenoir. Across the long stretch of years
that has intervened since methinks can
hear his Jolly laugh and see his happy
smile even now as he was escorted to
the rostrnm and assumed the duties of
rious and dignified, but failed in the at
tempt. Fact is there was precious little
dignity about that whole convention
the ''colts" ran wild and capered almost
to the verge of being corraled by the
sergeantat and falling under the
disfavor of T. B. Eldridge, the constitu-
ton and bylaws and the ''whip" of the
convention.
I That was a memorable meeting wheth-
er it was the best in the history Of the
Association or not. There were lot of
bright men in that COMMUNICATIONS
of infinite jest, the recalling of whose
names brings mingled feelings of pleas
ure and sadness-some dead, others
upon whom the hand of affiiction has
been sorely laid, and none of Us as young
and buOyant, as elastic of step and as
clear OF eye as we Were then.
The sessions of the convention were
held in the spacious auditorium of Da-
venpOrt College, as they were in 1889.
This is delightful location on one of
the highest elevations of the town and
most OF the editorial party were quar-
tered here, the college under the excellent
management of Rev. James Braxton
Craven, president, being converted into
a temporary hotel for the accommoda-
tion of the editors.
The people of Lenoir gave the editors
such welcome as only the Lenoir people
can and entertained them in hospitable
style during their two days stay The
convention was we'll attended and Sec
retary Sherril's promise that it would
be one OF the most pleasant and profita-
BILE meetings in years was in every way
| fulfilled. The sequel showed Ito those
who had not been there before) that q
wise choice was made when Lenoir was
selected as the place of meeting this
| year. Those Of US who had been there
before knew what to expect. Everybody
went away singing the praises of Lenoir
and the LenOir people. 1t was pleasure
to the writer to renew many pleasant
acquaintance formed on a previous
visit.
| was awakened early the first morn
ing by the chattering of a colony of
English sparrows near my window. AS
| listened to the plaintive totes of dove
in the distance and heard the familiar
voice OF a Bob White calling to his mate,
| thought
The dove COOS softer,
And the birds chirp otter,
In LenOir.
Then as | went out on the college
campus and enjoyed the pure fresh
breezes blown direct from the mountains
and cooled by shaded dells and spark
| ling streams, the further thought came
that
The grass grows greener,
And life is serener,
In Lenoir.
Health and happiness is the portion oI
these people and they are Justly proud oI
their goodly heritage.
The flowers grow sweeter,
And the ladies dress neater,
In LenOir
There are no hobble skirts here. This
style OF dress is not conducive to noun
tain climbing or getting in and out oil
vehicles on the off side of the hill
The skies are bluer,
And the ozone purer,
In Lenoir
| Later when we took the drive to
Hibriten and viewed the landscape DER