Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-03-11
HENDERSONBILLE
REMARKS OF MRS. GUDGER IN
PRESENTING WORKS OF o. HENRY

PRESENTING WORKS OF o. HENRY.
Following are the remarks of Mrs.
James M. Gudger. jr., recently on the
occasion of presenting the complete
works of o. Henry to the Woman's
Congressional Club library in Wash
layton, D. c.:
From out the galaxy OF Southern
: States North Carolina shines resplen-
dent-made famous in song and story
because of her historic setting, for was
il not within her borders Virginia
Dare, the first white child born to the
Western world, first saw the light of
day?
Was it not long before the famous
Tea: Party at Boston Harbor, that the
patriotic women of Edenton, North
Carolina, met and in defiance to the
crown Of England refused to use tea
during the tendency Of the English
Stamp act?~
Was not the first great battle of the
American Revolution fought on Caro-
lipa's soil, the battle of Alamance on
May is, III?
Did not the people of Mecklenburg
proclaim the Declaration of ~Indepen-'
dence in IT'S, m year before the con-
vention in Philadelphia 1776?
Ever conservative as a great state,
North Carolina, during the war be-
tween the States was the last to leave
the Union Inc join the Confederacy-
yet she furnished more soldiers than
she had voters, and left more men dead
on the battlefields than any other
Southern state. For bravery and her
ism her soldiers stand without a paral-
le1-frst at Bethel. farthest at Gettys-
J burg and last at ~Appomattox.
Years have passed-stin true to the
call of her country and worshipping at
the shrine of liberty, North Carolina
was again called upon to record his
: tory. She furnished the first soldier
to spill his blood and lose his life in
the war with Spain. Worth Bagley,
a brother of our beloved Mrs. Daniels,
wife of the secretary of the navy, gave
his young life-a sacrifice upon the
altar of his country.
To the literary world North Carolina
has contributed n of the greatest
| geniuses of the ago. Henry (Wil
| liam Sidney Porter), and linked as if
by some magic power, and strange
! destiny we find that Worth Bagley and
%. Henry-heroes and sword and pen
were close kinsmen. Worth Bagley.
! the grandson of Jonathan Worth and
William Sidney Porter, grandson of
sister Ruth, who had married Sidney
Porter of Connecticut.
This gifted son of the State was born
at Greensboro in the historic county of
4 Guilford, where he lived until hisstwen-
tieth year. In 1881 ne went to Texas
to live and in 1902 to New York where
he spent the last years of his life. until
1910.
Proud to honor her noble sons, 4
marble statue and bronze tablet have
been placed at Raleigh our States cap
ital-memorial tributes of a loving
people.
To-day, February the oath, 1915, Is
set apart as Book Day" and will mark
an epoch making period in the history
OF the Women's Congressional club. I
congratulate Mrs. Dick Morgan of Ok
lahoma, chairman of the book commit
tee, upon the splendid plan of collect
ing the best literary productions from
each State, and hOnoring the writers
by euIogy and contribution, which &C
IG4Oh L AoHOo OAOOA4S " IL
harmonic the future membership O..
the club.
To have been selected to represent
my beloved State on this occasion is
an hour l deeply appreciate, and in be
half of the North Carolina delegation
in Congress, together with the mem
bers of the club, Mrs. Page. Mrs. Small
and myself, we contribute the works
twelve volumes) of o. Henry (Wil-
liam Sidney Porter) than whom per-
haps no writer of the present age has
so touched and stirred the hearts OF
the American people. His wonderful
power of personal touch, his combina-
ton of the tragedieE and comedies of
real life, mingled with tenderness and
pathos is only capable of doing ex-
pressed by one who had felt, and real
lied the real meaning of life.
Almost at the beginning of a marvel
Gus career death claimed him for his
own, but the influences brought to bear
by his writings, and the precious
legacy he has left behind will live
through the~ages, and his stories will
touch the hearts of coming genera
lions and inspire them to higher aims
and nobler ambitions.
Fair Asheville, North Carolina, gem
of mountain cities, situated IN the
Land of the Sky, is the home of the
wife and talented daughter of this dis
tinguished author.