Georgia Historic Newspapers

    Atlanta Semi-weekly Journal.
vol. IX.
WOMAN TRYING TO
ENTER TIR'S AUTO
IS HELD BY POLICE
Made Several Attempts Before
Detectives Restrained Her.
rPesident Celebrates Day in
Chicago
EXHORTS NEWSPAPER MEN
ON ETHICS OF CALLING
<Bv Associated Press '
CHICAGO. March 17 -Soon after Pies.
Went Taft had left the train, the proces
sion was halted for about five minutes-,
owing to repeated attempts of a wo
man. who gave her name as Jennie Mud.
to get into the automobile containing the
president and his party.
The woman struggled violently with de
tectives. who essayed to stop her. and oc
casioned considerable excitement among
the throng on both sides of the street.
The woman was finally subdued and
placed under arrest. No weapon of any
kind was found on her person.
Fairly buried in green emblems,
banners and bunting. Chicago to
day received President Taft as its
guest in one of the biggest St. Patrick s
day celebrations the city has ever known.
From the time he stepped iff his special
train at the 33rd street station of the
Pennsylvania railroad at 7:51 a. m. the
president saw hardly a building or an in
dividual that was not decorated in green.
Met at the station by a national guard
regiment and a large reception committee.
President Taft swung into the line of a St
Patrick's day parade, which marched
through Michigan avenue to the down
town district and escorted him to the La
Salle hotel.
GUEST OF THE IRISH.
The president came to Chicago as the
guest of the Irish Fellowship club and the
entire day until his departure for Roches
ter. N. T-. at U o'clock tonight was to be
crowded with events. After meeting the
local endowment committee of the Ameri
can Red Cross society. It was arranged
to have him attend a reception given by
the Chicago Newspaper club and then at
noon to visit the Traffic club.
A luncheon by the Irish Fellowship cluo
was scheduled for an hour later and a
brief rest was allowed the president to
prepare for his appearance at the audito
rium at 3 p. m. to deliver bis address on
•Conservation.' ’
The conservation meeting was arranged
by 18 Chicago clubs. /Two receptions in
the afternoon were planned to be follow
ed at 8 P- m- by the banquet of the Irish
Fellowship club. Fifty square feet of sod
brought from Ireland were put in the ban
quet halt
TO HAVE ORNATE CHAIR.
When President Taft sits down tonight
to the banquet to be given in his honor
by the Irish Fellowship club he will oc
cupy a chair almost as ornate as a king's
throne.
The chair Is the work of 12 joiners who
spent seven weeks on it under direction
of an architect.
A bit of thb blarney stone in front of
his plate, two long strands of ivy from
blarney castle trailing over a netting on
the table in front of him. and a large
square of sod from Ireland with bits of
shamrock growing among the grass on
display nearby, will form a part of the
decorations of the banquet hail
At the hotel the president chatted for a
moment with newspaper reporters.
He asked if the census prospects were
causing a boom in Chicago, and recalled
a time when Cincinnati considered her
self a rival of Chicago in point of rapid
growth.
"But we had to give up that idea and
find something else to brag about." he
added.
THE MOMENTOUS QUESTION.
After a few seconds of deep silence.
Illumined by the Taft smile, a reporter
voiced the query which was agitating
each bosom:
"About having a president?" he asked
timorously and then shrunk back.
“Oh. no.” came the laughing answer;
"about being older, you know. Cincin
nati is much older than Chicago."
The president said that he had found
no time to write tn advance either his
conservation speech or his “St. Patrick s
address, as he termed his scheduled ban
quet effort tonight.
“I h<Ve been trying so hard to get up a
St. Patrick's day speech that I ought not
to make a ®pee< h to this important as
sembly." said the president, addressing
the Chicago Newspaper club, impromptu.
“1 say important. I look around on this
handsome crowd, this charitable, bene
ficent. patriotic crowd; I value the oppor
tunity to speak to the men who do the
work on the Chicago papers and are not
responsible for their editorials.
RAPS THE EDITORIALS.
“I could not believe, knowing the edi
torials. that this was a representative
news crowd, because I have seen many
unsound arguments, and unjust conclu
sions, that they must come from some
other source than this distinguished and
Intelligent audience. The newspapers,
of course, are essential. We say we don't
read them. Well, we have to read them.
There is a distinguished member of one
of our tribunals in Washington who says
he never reads the newspapers. Whether
he gets his news through his wife or how
be acquiree the information as to the
progress of the world, I don't know. The
difficulty that I find is that I have to
read them.
"After a time one's skin grows thicker
and he is able to forget phrases of con
tempt and critictan. and what a newspa
per man ultimately learns, that, after all.
If we can only survive two or three days
of attack and assault and unfounded
statements, most people will forget it.
You never do. but most people do.
"Now, I don't know whether you num
ber among yourselves not only newspaper
men. but men who combine the profession
of the press with statesmanship, whether
you have among you the men who are re
formers down to the ground and at the
same time are engaged in handing out
their views and news, and news suited to
their views a»\ statesmen-correspondents.
If you haven't, you lack a distinguished
type of newspajer man. a distinguished
type, which I am bound to say, has not
contributed to the accuracy of the news
furnished the public for the reason that
a newspaper man who does his task right
ly is a man who furnishes the facts as
thei are without respect to whom they
may hurt or halo.
THE IDE.-L NEWSPAPER.
“But tire man who is preaching an
evangel or who is helping a cause, es
pecially one who takes seriously the worst
witness of events with respect to which
bis views reach is the worst that you
Continued on Page Three
“TEDDY” RAPS MEN WHO HOPED
LIONS WOULD DO THEIR DUTY
Also Takes a Shot at Prof. Starr, Who Said He Couldn’t
Make His African Trip
and Live
(By Associated Press.)
KHARTOUM. March 17.—After two days of sightseeing in the company of
Mrs. Roosevelt. Kermit and Miss Ethel, Colonel Roosevelt today returned to
I the work that lias been piling up before him and gave over the forenoon to
I writing. Answering his correspondence alone isc a task that might discourage
one less energetic, and in addition to th Is the finishing touches remained to be
put on several addresses, while there w as other work of a literary character to
be done. For several hours the former president labored away undisturbed.
In the afternoon, however. Colonel Roosevelt again joined his friends. At
( 1:30 o'clock he had the other members of the expedition with him at luncheon
in the sirdar's palace-
At 3 o’clock he attended a garden p arty at the Grand hotel, where a party of
natives danced to band music. The en tertalnment proved quite enjoyable to the
Americans. Later in the afternoon Col onel Roosevelt visited the Egyptian offi
cers' club.
The Roosevelts plan to leave here on a special train at 9 o’clock tonight.
BY JOHN CALLAM O'IsAUGHX,IB.
(Special Cable to the Chicago Tribune and The Atlanta Journal.)
(Copyright. 1910. by The Tribune Company.)
KHARTOUM. March 17. —Raving seen day before yesterday the bat
tlefield whereon the khalifa's power was broken. Colonel Roosevelt yesterday
«aw the results of British rule on the Nile In the prosperous, mud-walled
city of Omdurman across the river from Khartoum.
Twelve years ago it was a planless confusion of blind walls, gaping
I holes, shiftlessness and stupidity. It was contented with its filth and beast
liness. Today, while nothing to brag of arehltectually, since it is made up
entirely of native walled houses and baxars, there Is every evidence of
peace, contentment and growing prosperity.
Mr. Roosevelt was so struck with the contrasting conditions that he
made this the theme of two brief addresses which he delivered through an
interpreter, one to the boys of the government school, the other to a delega
tion of leading merchants from the bazars. To the boys he said: "i trust
you will grow up to do your duty and perpetuate ths present conditions.”
BAPS HIS CRITICS
wrv Boosevelt for the first ti me touched on American questions in
a speech delivered at a dinner at the Sudan club last night. The dinner
was given by Slaten Pasha in honor of the ex-president. Colonel
Hoosevelt said that when he left for Africa certain men in America, who
were able to dissemble their affection in a certain section of Wall street,
expressed th* hope that “every lion would do its duty.” Mr. Boosevelt re
ferred to Professor Starr, who conclusively proved it was impossible for
him to make the trip and live.
”X am delighted to report that the professor, as w, say in the vernac
ular, has to ‘guess again,’ ” he added-
Beferring to the work done on the Sudanese, he spoke of his own con
nection with the Panama canal
He eulogized the government of the Sudan, saying:
"I mean this government which Is giving so large a measure of peace,
justice and prosperity throughout thia region.”
The colonel’s manner, characteristically emphatic, caused great satis
faction to his British hosts, who expect his remarks will have an excellent
effect
Accompanied by his wife, his daughter and Kermit, along with his
British hosts, the colonel proceeded early this morning to Omdurman. The
shores were lined with native boats and the strangely garbed dwellers m
the Sudan.
As he left the launch he met stately sheiks of various tribes attired in
scarlet and purple robes carrying huge gold trimmed swords. He shook
hands with the shleks.
WOMEN UTTEI WAR GBY. *
Then the party, declining to ride camels, their previous sxperisncs ap
parently having been sufficiqnt, entered comfortable carts with neat, white
uniformed soldiers as ths footmen. Led by a quartet of camels riddsn by
Arabs in scarlst tunics, thsy dashed through lines of women beating tom
toms and uttering the shrill “Xk>o loo” cry used for ths reception of the
.distinguished visitors and to urgs warriors on to battle.
The whole scene was In brilliant col o’* as well staged as an extravaganza,
and as unique and striking in action a s the streets of Cairo seen during the
world's fair. Slaten Pasha was mounted on a mettlesome bay stallion as he led
the cavalcade through the open squar e-and winding streets of the old mud
built African village.
The whole population lined the streets. many persons mingling In the proces
i sion. The Roosevelt party thus bicam e the nucleus of a miscellaneous agglom
■ eration of humanity, mostly black.
The party drove to the residence of the civil inspector of Khartoum, where
they breakfasted. They were greeted here by a picturesque body-guard of
Darfurs garbed in scarlet and gold embroidered rooes.
EXAMINES BATTLE AXES.
Colonel Boossvelt was handed an ancient battle axe which he exam
ined. He also was shown some long swords which are wielded with both
hands. These weapons intsrssted Colonel Boosevelt greatly as being perfect
specimens of ths swords carried by the Crusaders. Ho also enjoyed the in
spection of the mahdi's treasury.
The party later proceeded to the large parade square, where a regiment, the
12th Sudanese, in khaki, was drawn up. flanked by a native band playing na
tive airs, which aroused expressions of interest from Mrs. Roosevelt. Here
again hundreds of native women stood along the street beating tom-toms and
i 100 loos.
Colonel Roosevelt reviewed the troops after saluting Hutchinson Bey, com
manding. Then the party returned to their vehicles and proceeded to visit the
baxars.
In the afternoon they attended a gymkhana on the race course outside
I the city.
The day ended with another visit to the bazars, where the colonel, his wife
and daughter purcuased numerous in-teresting specimens of native work in
1 silver, straw plaiting and red earthen ware.
Colonel Roosevelt stopped at a silversmith's, took out his pocketbook, selected
a filagree box for his wife, and throug h an interpreter, discovered that the
price was 60 piastres. He counted the money from his purse and remarked:
“This is the first time I have hand led money or made a purchase in many
months."
ROCKEFELLER IGNORES
MODEL LICENSE LEAGUE
Oil Magnate “Declines to Re
ceive” Letter Asking For
Support
(By Associated Press.)
LOUISVILLE, Ky.. March 17.—George
R. Washburn, secretary of the National
Model License league, today received, un
opened, a regsitered letter he sent John
D. Rockefeller several days ago, asking
the financier’s moral and financial sup
port of the Model License League.
Mr. Washburn’s letter referred to Mr.
Rockefeller’s contribution of $350,000 to the
Anti-saloon league, and after stating that
prohibition is almost a farce in many
states and noting the increasing consump
tion t>f liquors in every part of the United
States, gl\Ts the object of the Model Li
cense league as ’’the relieving of the re
tail dealer of the domination of political
bosses, and the giving of licenses to be
taken from a dealer only by vote of the
people or by violation of the law.”
Mr. Rockefeller was asked in the letter,
to look into the aims and purposes of the
league and "if you believe that Its work
will be really effective and If you believe
that the men behind it are arnst and hon
•t. then we ask you to give us both your
moral and financial support.”
Mr. Washburn says the letter was re
turned with the note "declined to re
ceive.”
NEGRO'S TACE TURNS
WHITE THROUGH FEAR
Kinky Hair Becomes Straight
As He Flees Through Snow
From Flames
RICHMOND, Ge.. March 17.—8 y a borrowing
adventure with fire and cold. Stephen Green’s
hair turned in a night from coal-black to enow
white. More than that, Qreen'a locks, once
kinky, as Is the characteristic of bis race, are
row straight as any white man's. Green and
a companion. while hunting in the woods, lay
down aud slept before tbelr camp fire.
Green awakened with bia clothing In flames.
He ran four miles through the snow for help,
tearing off hie burning garmenta aa her ram
When bo reached help ho was aUnoot uda
PLAN FARM STATION
IT FEDERAL PRISON
Wickersham Considers Experh
mental Work on Reservation
Under Experts
BY RALPH SMITH.
WASHINGTON, March 17,-After a con
ference with Congressman Livingston, O.
B. Ladow, superintendent of prisons of
the department of justice, has taken under
consideration the advisability of having’
an agricultural experiment station estab
lished at Atlanta in connection with the
federal prison. In the evept the plan
meets with the approval of Attorney Gen
eral Wickersham, to whom it will be sub
mitted, the department of agriculture will
be urged to make adequate provision for
the station.
It is believed that an experimental ag
ricultural station at the federal prison will
prove of inestimable value not only to the
United States government, but the farm
ers of Georgia. The plan contemplates
that the 300 acres of land In the prison en
closure shall be cultivated by the pris
oners, who are to be instructed by ex
perts detailed by the agricultural depart
ment.
There are 700 or more prisoners in the
Atlanta "pen,” and these men. backed
by the entire resources of the federal gov
ernment and directed by expert farmerJ
would, it is believed, convert the red clay
hills that surround the prison into a gar-
spot. Moreover, the study of the
soil and agricultural experiments would
be of benefit to the farmers of Geor
gia.
The fact that the department of jus-
I tlce contemplates an experiment station
at the prison arises from the fact that
thus far the 300 acres of land have not
been very productive. The farm work con •
nected with the institution has been a
failure up to date, and the authorities
have ben inclined to blame the failur'?
on the soil. -
Congressman? Livingston, in conference
with Prison Superintendent Ladow. re
sented the reflection on the soil, and in
sisted that it had not been properly cul
tivated. He claimed that the land could
be made to yield, under propor treatment,
quite as much as the land surrounding
the Leavenworth, Kan., prison.
It was practically decided that, with
the approval of the attorney general, the
agricultural department should be request
ed to establish an experiment station at
the prison.
ATLANTA. GEORGIA, FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1910.
> ’- ■’ i /
pNGLE j
j\L
BACK OKI THE JOB!
BOSSES. ON B
TO CITY. EXPECTED
TO STOP CAR STRIKE
James P. McNichol and W. S.
Vare Will, It Is Expected,
Add Force to the Peace
Movement
POLITICIANS ALLIED
WITH TROLLEY COMPANY
Stokes, the Broker, Who Pro
cured Meeting of Officials
and Strikers, Is Still Work
ing for an Aribtration
(By Associated Press. 1
PHILADELPHIA, March 17.—With the
arrival of State Senator James P. Mc-
Nichol and William S. Vare, recorder of
deeds of the county, the most potential
leaders of the dominant political party In
Philadelphia, It was expected added force
would today be given to the movement
to bring about peace between the Phil
adelphia Rapid Transit company and the
striking employes.
These two are now in iiWashington, en
route home.
Imedlately after the spring election,
McNichol and Vare, as their custom has
been, went to Florida, February 15. Sev
eral days later the strike began. Many
appeals for help were sent to the two
leaders In the south, but whatever word
they sent home was without effect. Now
that they are on the way home, however,
developments are looked for. Senator
Penrose, It was said today, might take a
hand in peace negotiations.
HIS PART IMPORTANT.
leading members of the Republican or
ganization are closely allied with certain
powerful interests in the transit com
pany. Accordingly the attitude Senator
McNichol will assume in the trouble was
awaited with interest. He is credited
with having brought about the end of
the car men’s strike last June.
Both branches of city council were ex
pected to meet late this afternoon, and
more resolutions urging arbitration and
other peace methods were scheduled to
be presented. It is believed that If
Mayor Reyburn had shown a desire to
enter arbitration proceedings he would
have been strongly backed up by the
council. The mayor has not changed
his attitude, however, and reiterates he
is only interested in maintaining the law.
Edward Lowber Stokes, the broker, who
procured a meeting between the strike
leaders and the car officials, is continuing
hia efforts to bring about some settlement
of the difficulty. It is said that he rep
resents powerful financial interests.
The labor leaders are still at work try
ing to spread the general strike. Presi
dent Greenwait, of the State Federation
of Labor, said today he has heard from
several towns that had voted to join the
movement.
TRAIN HTS BOYS,
SEATED ON TRACKS
One Boy Is Instantly Killed and
His Companion Is Fatally
Injured
DANVILLE, Va.. March 17.—Martin Hugbey,
aged 18 years, and son of A. T. Hughey, of
Schoolfield, a suburb, was instantly killed to
day, and Wiles, a 19-ycar-old boy, whose
home is said to be in Oreensboro, N. C.,
was fatally injured, as the result of being
■truck by n local southlxnind passenger train on
the Southern railway, near Pelham, eight miles
south of here.
The boy» were aeen sitting on the track
just before the train arrived and were either
asleep or so closely engaged in conversation
that they did not see it. Wiles had not re
gained consciousness tonight and bis people
have not been located. With the boys were
several other youths about the same age who
had run away from home.
COMMANDER PEARY FOUND
ATLANTA EVEN FROSTIER
THAN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
Peary doesn’t look like a liar.
He doesn’t talk like a braggart.
That he is a brave man he proved be
yond cavil Wednesday night by appear
ing at the auditorium-armory, for It is
doubtful if any dauntless explorer ever
encountered hardships in the cruel, fro
zen north half so heart-breaking or piti
ful as the reception accorded Commander
Peary In Atlanta.
Atlanta, the most hospitable city in the
south, deliberately shut her doors in fils
face. Peary hasn’t seen the real Atlanta
at all.
The small, undemonstrative, chilly
crowd huddled together in the center of
the desolate auditorium came there skep
tical and went away unconvinced.
Poor, pitiful Peary.
The lecture was advertised to begin
at 8:30 o’clock. When that hour ar
rived. a few hundred impatient people
were scattered among the vacant seats
of the vast amphitheatre, occasionally
stamping their feet and. clapping—to keep
themselves warm.
The minutes sped. The cold and im
patience increased. Have you ever seen
the brethren and sisters waiting for the
late parson at a Wednesday night prayer
meeting in a small town? That’s what
the scene suggested.
Then Commander Peary arose. At the
same Instant a couple of hundred people
arose in the galleries and stampeded for
the lower floor. They made more noise
than a small earthquake.
Mr. Peary stood his ground. However,
the demonstration was not hostile. It was
not a riot. The people were simply seek
ing better seats.
At length Commander Peary began to
speak. Before he had talked five min
utes he had convinced his hearers that
he had an interesting story to tell. His
JANNEY SUICIDE CAUSED BY
HIS WIFE’S GIFT TO OFFICRE
MANILA. March 17.—The military In
quest on the death of Lieut. Charles M.
Janney developed the fact that a silver
champagne cooler was the cause of the
Anal quarrel which led the lieutenant to
kill himself.
The champagne cooler originally be
longed to the suicide, and, according to
the testimony taken, was given by Mrs.
Janney to Lieut. Col. Robert F. Ames.
When the lieutenant and his wife dined
at the home of Ames last Saturday night,
Janney saw and recognized the cooler,
whereupon he upbraided his wife for
having given it to Ames. During the
verbal exchange that followed, the lieu
tenant called Mrs. Janney a liar, and
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hearers continued to doubt but ceased to
dislike the explorer.
Not one word did he say of Dr. Cook,
not one word of Governor Brown's criti
cism or Aiayor Maddox’s unwillingness to
welcome him. The spirit of rough, un
gentlemanly braggadocio which has been
attributed to him in more than one news
paper report was pleasantly lacking. He
jarred upon nobody.
Aftei; exhibiting two or three maps
showing, the location of the north pole
■with adjacent lands and icy seaas, he
plunged directly in medias res and told
the story of his latest and last expedi
tion in the frozen north. He was not ar
gumentative or melodramatic. A splen
did collection of Intensely interesting
photographs, poorly thrown upon the
screen, constituted the principal feature
Ot the evening. Practically everything
he said was in explanation of the pic
tures.
The only reference he made to the pop
ular doubt that he had reached the pole
was a short statement tending to refute
the objection that he had made more
speed after he left his supporting party
than he ever made with it. In the first
place, in all arctic exploration, said he.
the final dash was necessarily more rap
id. It was supposed to be. That was
why the last stage was always called the
"dash for the pole.” A regiment could
progress at a certain speed, said he. A
picked company from that regiment could
go still faster. A picked squad from that
company could make still better time, and
the crack sprinter of that squad could
go the fastest of all. The last dash,
he said, was made practically in that
way, with the Incumbrance of support
ing parties and heavy baggage left be
hind.
Commander Peary was heard with in
tense interest, but there was no enthu
siasm when he flashed upon the screen
his picture of the stars and stripes nailed
to the “top o’ the world,” and there was
no ovation after the lecture ended.
insisted that she apologize to him. The
wife apologized and the dinner was re
sumed, it being generally thought by
other guests Ehat the incident was closed.
A little later, however, Janney left the
house and returned with a revolver with
which, according to the coroner and a
military board of inquiry, he shot him
self in the presence of those at the table.
Mrs. Janney testified that her husband
and Lieutenant Colonel Ames were inti
mate friends.
In army circles It is believed that the
action of Maj. Gen. William H. Carter,
commanding the department of Luzon, in
returning the report of the board of in
quiry with a request that the other testi
mony be taken, means a courtmartial
will take place.
LAURENT OE GIVE
ATLANTA LANDMARK
DIES JT AGE OF 8J
Pioneer Atlanta Theatre Owner
and Belgium Consul Passes
Away at Cocoa, Fla., After
Long and Painful Illness
FUNERAL IN ATLANTA
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Laurent DeGive, one of Atlanta’s old
est pioneers, owner of the Grand op
era house, the Bijou theatre block, and
one of the best loved men in the city,
died at Cocoa, Fla., Thursday morning
after an illness of over a month. Newa
of his death came to The Journal in a
brief telegram from Henry DeGive, hia
elder son.
With him at the time of his death
were his daughter. Mrs. Edward no
rine, and his sons, Henry and Julius,
who were summoned to his bedside
some weeks ago when it was realized
that his condition was desperate. Sev
eral times during ids illness the aged
Atlantian rallied and hope was enter
tained for his recovery. However, his'
extreme age of 83 years was against
him.
Mrs. DeGive, his wife, is at present
ill at Robertsons sanitarium, where
she Is being treated for rheumatism..
Her condition Is not serious, but herj
friends are fearful the shock of her'
husband’s death may be too much for
her to bear.
Mr. DeGive’s uody will arrive In At
lanta Sunday thorning anu the funeral
will take place from the Sacred Heart
church. The services will ue conduct
ed by Rev. Father ounn. The inter
ment will probably be at \»est View
cemetery where the body of Paul De-
Give is burled. The pall-bearers will
be announced later.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
The death of Laurent marks tha
passing of one of the most remarkable
men in the city of Atlanta as well as one
of the most picturesque characters in
the theatrical life of this country.
For over half a century a resident of
the city of Atlanta and a prominent fac
tor in the industrial life of the city, h®
never was a citizen of the United States
and at the time of his death was Bel
gian consul for this city. Why he never
became a citizen of this country no one
knows. Possibly he himself could give no
reason. Certainly he did not. It wu not
because he expected some day to return
to Belgium and take up his residence,
for he w«s thoroughly In love with the
new world which had brought him wealth
and prominence and with the exception
of one trip to the land of his birth he
remained rooted to the soU of the United
States.
It is doubtful if there lived in Atlanta
a man of like prominence who was so
little known as Laurent DeGive. By
sight ne was known to a majority of
Atlanta’s older citizens, but those to
whom he gave his confidence, outside of
his immediate family, could be counted
on the fingers of one hand. Still, he was
not lacking in the gregarious instinct and
those who did receive his confidence and
friendship received it without
His close friends loved him with a sin
gular devotion that is vouchsafed to few
men and to those friends hia death will
orove a sad blow.
AVOIDED PUBLICITY.
Mr DeGive studiously avoided newspa
per publicity and while his attitude to
ward’ reporters was friendly he became
shy and timid when the subject of an
interview was broached Th
Some months ago a reporter foi ine
Journal chanced to find Mr. DeGive in
what for him was a communicative mood.
He talked of his early life and
ed how he chanced by merest accident
to become the foremost theatrical man ip
the south and one of the most CO "*’P‘ C “
ous in the county. The story was told in
a quaint old world fashion and Mr,
neGlve scarcely realized he was the sub
ject of an interview. Each time the re-
would furtively produce a pencil
to Jot down some fact the connection o
the narrative would be broken and it
was with the greatest difficulty that the
thread of the story was taken up where
it had been snapped. However, the spel
of memories was on the aged man and
he 7e”ly wanted to talk. The result
was a collection of facts which even
members of his own family were not
aware of. It was the first and last time
that he talked for publication^Pe^ a P«
the best way to present the facts is to
| reproduce his own words. Here is what he
had to say:
Mr. DEGIVE’S OWN STORY.
"I was born in the small town of De
r.ant, Belgium, In the Meuse and the
Lesse districts. Os the early years of
my life there is little to tell; I fancy it
was very like that of the average healthy
boy of my station. After a schooling
which extended over the years of boy
hood, I was destined for the law and
was sent to the university at Liege where
I studied and received my degree. After
graduating I practiced law at Namur and
was married. I made some success and
accumulated a small amount of money.
In 1858 the impending war between the
north and south in the United States wae
a topic of vital interest in Europe. The
south, seeing into the future, ttas ex
erting every effort to establish a lirect
trade with Europe and was gradually
withdrawing its trade from the north.
At this time, as every one knows, the
south was in a peculiarly dependent po
sition. She did not contain a single
manufacturing enterprise worthy the
name. Rich in land and cotton and
slaves the south was compelled to send
elsewhere for the simplest manufactured
article. Up to the time I speak of Euro
pean trade had been with the north,
which section afterward sold to the south.
Howell Cobb and other distinguished
southerners were sent to Europe in ISSB
to stimulate direct trade with the sotftL
Belgium was visited and considerable in
terest was manifested. The merchants
and manufacturers arranged to send a
large cargo of goods to Savannah. My.
health was not very good at the time
and I decided to come to America with
the cargo and arrange the details of its
Continued on page Three
No. 53.