PERSONAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9172, 21 August 1908, Page 4

PERSONAL.

The funeral of the late Mr Thomas Jam?s Reid took place at the Clarevilla cemetery yesterday. The cortege was a lengthy one, and the Rev. L. Thompson, M.A., of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, conducted the service at the graveside. The death is announced at Atlanta* (United States) of Mr Joel Chandler Harris, the author of "Uncle Remus." He was regarded as the " Homer" of/the Southern negro, and' beloved of millions of English-speak-ing children. Mr Harris, who waa, as well known in England, as in, America for his stories in negroi dialect, was born in 1848 at Eatontoh,. Georgia. He was what is known America as a "self-made man." At the age of twelve he was apprenticed to a printer named Turner, a wealthy ., planter, who published the first plantation newspaper in the world. Turner owned a paper called the. "Countryman," - and at the age of sixteen young Harris was appointed! to the editorship. Later on Harris, went to Savannah, where he was employed on the editorial staff of the"Morning News." Going to Atlanta, he became one of the editors of the "Constitution." There he found a much wider scope to exercise his abilities, and his literaiy career really had its beginning in this jiurney. Millions have been both young and old—by; the„. humour and philosophy conveyed fflr the stories of "Brer Rabbit" and* "Brer Fox."