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THOMAS DIXON, JR., YOUNGEST MEMBER OF TlfE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.that the same feverish age which has quickened their perception, and opened ft thousand new avenues to knowledge, is also hastening them last away, and leaves no time to wait for power from the laying on of hands of years.Of the young men who have to the frout within the last few years, in our own State, both because of their fitness nud because of a disposition iuthe public mind to recognize thatmerit, there is nowhere a more illustrious example than the subject of this sketch.Mr. Thomas Dixon, Jr., whose photograph appears in this issue, is a native of the State, having been born in Cleveland county, near the close of the late war, and is now in his twenty-second year, lie comes of good parentage on both sides and inherits a 1 large share of his character -;:d iztzl lect. His family, I believe, is of Scotch-Iriah blood, and belongs to that class of our population which has been a potent factor in determining the tone of our civilization. On his mother's side, there is a vein of poetry and eloquence, while his father is a man of sterling character and extraordinary good sense. The latter is a Baptist minister, and no man in that part ot the State is more highly respected lor his integrity and great wisdom. He is a man ot plain habits, and under him young Dixon was early taught the lessons of practical life by the requirements of a country home. The young man’s training be-£an on the farm, with such elementary instruction from time to time, as the country schools would afford. No effort or money was ever spared by the parents to render complete the education of their sons, of whom they have three, the eldest, well known in North Carolina, is now iu Baltimore, one of the ablest young preachers in thewhole South. The subject of this Isketch is the second. When the proj-er time arrived, he was placed iu the best school in the town of Shelby, to receive the elements of an education, preparatory to a high order of scholarship. While at the village academy, ha showed marks of extraordinary promise by carrying away all the honors over the heads of his competitors.In the lall of 1879, Mr. Dixon entered Wake Forest College, where he spent four year* and took the Muster’sdegree in ’83, going away after a noble, hard fought battle with his books with the most brilliant reputation that any student had ever f^wonattbat institution. Ilis college record was suggestive of the coming man in every way. There was the same bold, fearless, independent, aggressive mind which has subsequently become more conspicuous. He was a favorite with the entire institution, winning the affections of many and compelling the respect of all. T*he occasional sting of his sar-was soon healed by the influence of a magnetic personality.Leaving college in ’83, after a summer’s vacation, Mr. Dixon entered John Hopkins University, Baltimore, where ho spent one term in post-graduate work, that did much to broaden his views and develop his intellectual powers. He pursued a special course, preliminary to the study of law, embracing a must thorough training in history and political science. These branches pursued in a scientific wav with the facilities of that great American University, laid the 1 foundation for broad work in the future, either as a great lawyer or aworld aud felt every pulsation that humanity feels. He saw for the first time commingling races and varied j nationalities, acting the great drama I of human life on a stage that was not limited by ocean bounds. He was of a receptive mind, and in months he took in more of the struggling, pulsating world here than he had before learned by years of study. From New York he returned to North Carolina iu the Spring of *84, and remained at his home in Shelby, till other duties culled for him.When Mr. Dixon had .-returned to North Carolina, he became more favorably impressed with the opjwrtu-nitics and future outhnik of his native i State, and dropped back to his oMgi- i nal purpose to become a lawyer and 1 politician. The great gubernatorial , campaign was soon to open. It was I suggested to him to offer himself a ! candidate for the legislature from his I native county. This was a bold scheme for one so young, and so little known. Facts compel me to say that when he started out, lie did not have 50 votes in Cleveland county. He went before the people and soon convinced them what he was and what he represented. A few speeches told the whole story. No people were ever more enthusiastic over a candidate and none ever prouder of a man's election. They esteemed his success their own victory. Though his opponent was one of the best men in the county and a man of established reputation, yet Mr. Dixon overwhelmingly defeated him in the primary and at the general election carried his county by the full 1500 majority.This was done by no manipulation or trick of political machinery, but simply upon the merit of the candidate made known to an honest aud intelligent people.Mr. Dixon was the youngest member of the late General Assembly, yes, the youngest legislator in the United States. His work iu the Legislature speaks for itself. It is knownto the whole State. He has established himself with the best men of the Commonwealth, not only for his brilliancy aud eloquence, but also for his sound judgment. He is aggressive enough to believe that the world moves, and conservative enough to stay clear of dangerous and venturesome legislation. As a member of the Finance Committee in the House, his judgment has been appealed to in deciding many of the most importaut issues of the last session. In reference to Mr. Dixon as a man and as an orator, I quote from the judicious and gifted pen of Col. John D. Cameron, who wrote the following paragraph in a letter to the Asheville Citizen:Ju«t here I speak of the opposition to Mr. Thompson because it brought to his feet for the first lime in the House Mr. Dixon of Cleveland. Mr. Dixon i» a yoon* roan, just turned 21, tall and alendor— he is six feet, four—thin visage, narrow face dark eyes, high forehead, »ur mounted with a full hend of nearly black hair, altogether, a handsome man, looking the poet as well as the orator. As the member of the committee who made the report, upon him devolved the duty of sustaining the report. I hadheard tmich of Mr. Dixon. I was inclined to dispariage him. I had classed him with those who shine with sophomoric brilliancy. I confess my error. He is an orator. lie has brain; he has ideas; he has imagination; he has language; he has grace, and he has action; more than all as a taking speaker, while finished in his elocution, them is a naturalness about him that wins. There is none of that self-consciousness of superior excellence about him that offends bv its Affectation. Therefore he had the House and the galleries with him to an extent'of earnestness and fixedness I hayc not witnessed iu my long soryice,THOMAS DIXON.THE YOUNGEST LEGISLATOR IN the: country.Not Old Enough to Vote at the Election that Made Him Member of the N. C. Legislature from Cleveland County.For tht StntinsJ.Public recognition of the abilities and services or young men is a marked feature of our time; and this means no disposition to underrate the wisdom and public works of those who have addea age and experience to their natural gifts.- It simply means that in society and politics a young element has come to the surface and asserts its claim to recognition in shaping the policy of communities and States. This young clement holds the claim to be legitimate on the groundstatesman. It was while here that a ' half-concealed dramatic impulse became more manifest,' both to himselfand his friends, and a latent purpose to make a study of the drama was developed, not so much with a view to | acting .as to dramatic writing. Hia idea was first to acquaint himself with the tcchuique of the ttage in a practical light. To this end he went to NewYork. He took a thorough course of elocutionary training in \he highest schools of oratory in that city, and then for a time went behind the scenes.This trip to New York and sojournof four months was a potential factor in shaping Mr. Dixon’s future career. Its best results are not seen yet. liesaw more thau the playing of parts and the shifting of scenes on the actual stage. He was.brought for the first ' time close up to the great heart of the
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Western Sentinel
Winston, North Carolina, US
Thu, Apr 30, 1885
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