Announcement by M.L. Shipman
With this issue of the paper my holdings in the French Broad
Hustler, Inc., pass into the possession of Mr. N.M. Hollowell, secretary of the
corporation and second largest stockholder in the company. I regret the
apparent necessity for this action, for it seems like parting from my best
friend.
I have held a long time hoping that a capable newspaper man,
willing to accept permanent employment, might be secured to represent me at the
home base in the conduct of the business. Have been fortunate in securing from
time to time, but for brief periods, the services of some first-class newspaper
men, and for the past three months no paper anywhere has been more favored in
this respect than the Hustler. But the present arrangement is not permanent,
and I realize that frequent changes in the personnel of the office has become a
source of embarrassment. Prior to the call to service on foreign fields, newspaper
men were generally available; since that time it has been practically
impossible to locate a man worth while who could be interested in the business
for any considerable length of time.
The condition recited alone prompts the action I am taking,
which comes as a matter of necessity, rather than one of choice. For 12 years I
have been spending my Saturday afternoons and evenings here in the preparation
of the editorial and other matter for the paper, purely as a labor of love, and
would have gladly continued the service if I could have counted on the
cooperation of a competent man as a permanent fixture at the home office. But
more inviting fields of endeavor open to them have finally upset my
calculations and I feel impelled under the circumstances, to retire from the
newspaper field in Hendersonville, since no time is allowed me for its
development.
My successor needs no introduction to the readers of the Hustler. With the exception of two brief
intervals, he has been connected with the paper in some capacity since 1908.
Capable, reliable and energetic, he is well fitted for the task which he now
voluntarily assumes. With the facilities incident to the production of a
first-class newspaper at his command, he will doubtless meet the need for a
bigger and better paper for the good of the county of Henderson and the
progressive city of Hendersonville.
I bespeak for Mr. Hollowell the same generous support from
the enterprising business and professional men of Hendersonville that has been
accorded me during the 23 years of my connection with the Hustler. They all
love—and will support—a booster, and I have never found any good reason to
resort to any other practice since “opening shop” in the old State Bank of
Commerce building during the time Mr. Bryan was running for president of the
United States for the first time. I have a very high regard for the town and
its high-class citizenship and shall continue to find pleasure in watching the
rapid growth of the finest little city in North Carolina.
In conclusion, I want to say that this announcement need not
be considered as my swan-song. I am not bidding Hendersonville goodbye. It is
still my home and I am not ashamed to admit to the fact anywhere on earth. I
have had no experience in writing valedictories and do not want any. Should the
people of the State become indifferent to my services of a capable official the
loss to North Carolina is most likely to result in a distinct gain for
Hendersonville. Now, what d’ye think o’ that?
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