The Robesonian., 1918-06-20
HERE and THERE
Remarks by a Rambler-Crop
Conditions-The Late
r. r. Barnes.
10 the Editor of The Robesonian:

AS our work is in one respect al
least POSSIBLY more) like his satanic
naJesty's, in that it requires oul
rambling more or less ito and fro
over the earth, and gives US the or
portunlty of seeing and hearing, we
nave at least some little insight into
the crop conditions. We find then,
IN various localities even as varied as
the seasons. In some sections we
flnd good cotton, better cotton ard
sorry cotton. The best we've seen
| however, as to quantity and quality
is on the farm Of DR.. H. H. Hodg.n,
near Red Springs. He has about IS
acres which can certainly be placed
in class "a" However, all credit for
this is not due to the doctor, as his
right-hand man, Pete Stanton, is one
| Of Robeson's most up-to-date young
| farmers.
County Auditor McCallum is a very
close second to DR.. Hodgin, and the
thing that surprises US most with
these fellows is they have plenty Of
corn and other grain tog along with
the cotton.
A day or SO ago we visited the
Barnesville section, going down the
old Creek road by ''The Mount" as
Happy Jack" would say. We are
not very familiar with this section,
but to US as casual observer it looks
like one of Robeson's most thrifty
sections. Nice houses, small farms in
high state of cultivation; and this Sec
ton seems to be great tobacco belt.
Our only criticism would be the ab-
sence of grain. We remarked to the
gentleman who was with US that if
tobacco would help win this war {and
the boys chew and smoke), Long
Branch, Mt. Elm, and Barnesville
would certainly contribute their part.
These sections, however, have more
than tobacco: They have promising
crops of cotton and corn. We saw
very little wheat.
At Barnesyille there was a gloom
pervading, and we, with others who
have been there in by-gone days, miss
ed the familiar and congenial figure
Of R. R. Barnes, who for so many
years had been the central figure and
.nainstay Of this section. AS we sur
veyed the premises ever SO dear to
him, we could but think that he
wrought much, and in life as he pass
ed among his fellows how truly could
they exclaim, Behold man, an
Israelite indeed, in whom there is no
guile; and while the silent mound
is all that is now visible of this great
constructionist and philanthropist, vet
his memory will ever be fondly cher
ished as sweet aroma; and the in
fluence of his great, unselfish life will
be felt in the years to come Not
only will R. R. Barnes be missed at
Barnesville and by the poor, distressed
and needy, but Robson county, too,
has lost one of her central figures,
prominent in county affairs, prominent
in church, prominent in State. But
we are persuaded that he has entered
into a larger sphere of usefulness
and in every respect left an example
worthy of imitation. While the tired
worker, the noble veteran of the six
ties, has left his few remaining COM
rades here, he has answered the roll
call on the other side. His sudde7
going reminds us Of the ancient's de |
scription of death: "A group Of busy
men are assembled in a room actively
engaged in their work. A messenger
enters and with smile beckons to
the leader to follow. He lays asid i
his implements and follows. His COM
rades wait, and as he never returns
they term this DEATH" This describe
The going Of this busy man, and nc
doubt his last sentiments could h,I
thus expressed: 'Life, we've beenI
good friends through pleasant and
through cloudy weather. 'Tis hard t.
part where friends are dear, perhaps
twill cost sigh or tear. Then ask
me not to say goodnight, but in some
brighter cline bid me good morning y
B.
Lumberton, N. c., June Is, 1918.