The Lexington advertiser., 1950-10-26
THROUGH
HAZEL
EYES


ri press and one of Mississippi's
best known citizens.
Skipper" as he was fondly
called by thousands of friends, died
Thursday at the age of SO at the
Tallahatchie County Community
Hospital in Charleston following
a fall. He had lived quietly at his
home there following his retire
ment as publisher of the Missis-
sippi Sun in Charleston in l945.
Skipper, thus called because of
his long naval service, was best
known as the man who sscooped"
the world on the sinking of the
battleship Maine in Havana har-
Dor - an event which led to the
United States becoming embroiled
in war with Spain. At that time
he was head Of the New York Her
aid Bureau at Havana. Prior to
that time he had spent ten adven-
turous years in the u. S. Navy
from which he had resigned to
spend four years as member of
the staff of the New York Times -
specializing in Navy affairs, Mar
inc news and yachting - fields
in which he was especially adept.
But it was not his exploits in
national journalism that endeared
Skipper 10 his friends. 1t was his
lovable character and sweet dis
position. He was that rare person
Ia wonderful story teller. From
the wide range of His experiences
he had an anecdote or true story
for every occasion and they
were always entertaining.
/ shall never forget my first
trip to New York in company with
Skipper and his Mate, lovely Lily
Meriwether, his only survivor. We
sailed from New Orleans in May,
1888, aboard the IS Dixie and
what fun we had together. Never
shall forget how every passenger
aboard the ship was captivated by
the Mississippi newspaperman.
What fun it was in New York to
be entertained SO royalty by his
old cronies, some of the best known
newspapermen in the world! They
had all been young together in
New York and they all envied
Skipper and the good life he had
made for himself when he turned
his back on the New York rat
race and went back to his native
Charleston.
It seems incredible that it was
IA years ago appeared for the
first time on the program of the
Mississippi Press Association max
ing speech on: How 1t Feels To
BE Mississippi's Youngest Editor"
Skipper was right there to back
me up with a refrain on how it
feels to be Mississippps Oldest ed
itor. 1t seems only yesterday.
If there were more men like
Skipper in this world it would be
a much better place in which to
live and work and try to accom-
plish something. He was gen.
tleman of the old school yet
his spirit was eternally young and
always sympathetic. He had rare
good humor and was always able
to, see the bright side. His toler-
ance never failed.
I can't ever hope to live up to
the marvellous example he set
but / shall always remember and
love him.
For the first time in the history
of this state a national affairs for
um is going to be held in Jackson.
The forum will be in the Victory
Room at the Heidelberg Hotel on
Friday, November 3, at 200 pm.
Present will be all of the Mis-
sissippi members of the House OF
Representatives from Washing
ton and Senator Jim Eastland
They win come home to partici-
pate in a public discussion of the
nations affairs with the citizens
of their state.
The public is given cordial in
vitation to be present. There is nc
admission charge.
The event is being sponsored by
the Mississippi Economic Council
an organization of business men
in the state.
This will be a town hall meeting
on a big scale-and an excellent
opportunity for interested citizens
to find out what kind of represent
alton we have in Washington.
The idea is an excellent one =
the idea of having our lawmakers
come home to report to the grass
roots. Two similar forums have
already been held in Arkansas
Perhaps other states will follow
Taking a long range view the for.
ums might very well result in bet
ter government.
The American people could
stand that.
AS the old lady said: Il don't
know what this world is coming
to-"