The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, June 02, 1909, Image 7
MSIM! KiaiS LEGEND.
MR. A. ft. KAI.LEY. JR., REPLIES
TO HOME OP HI8 CRITICS.
He Quote* Dr. Plnckttey'? "Life of
Gen. Thotrta? Ptackney" a* a Trust?
worthy Authority on the Storming
of Re beere Mottet Home, and De
eeare* That There U no Good Au
thortty for the Story of Marlon's
Sweet Potato Dinner.
To the Editor of The News and
Courier: Aa "kaep the record
straight" ia one of the principal bat?
tle ortee of The New? and Courler, I
will Quote your slogan on you. In
your editorial of Wednesday (for the
complimentary references therein
contained regarding myself I take this
occasion to thank you) you suggest
that 1 have been "unnecessarily annoy
%d by the erttlolsms a hlch have been
aimed at" me by th? "various wrlt
tra gad poetaatere In recent num
lora*' of The Mews and Courier. As
t wrote my reply to those critics who
liad their flings previously to last Sun
fay. I did not answer the shots from
IdrsT Rebecca Motte's bow and arrows
<*hleh Mr. George S. Holmes deliver?
ed last Sunday, the Cooglerlan verses
with which "A. Z." overwhelmed me
Tueeday and. the "dreama of fiction *
which Mr. J. 8 Hansell, of Cheraw.
sarcastically wafted at ans Wednes
dn r.
rnat Mr. Holmes did not fully un
d retand the point I made In my let
t r published May 2 Is attested by the
fact that he has tried to correct me
n a phase of the Motte incident that
i did not discuss therein. The same
? narge to applicable to "A. Z. * That
! Ir. Holmes' memory Is not so good ar
? naming conversations on historical
injects as at retaining spring poetry
( ad Latin maxima, Is shown by sev
al evidences. Mrs. Motte was not
I ?e grandmother of the late Rev.
hartes Cotssworth Plnckney. but the
Oat-grandmother, and she could not
ave "often told him of the setting
1 re of her house with arrows shot
Tom a bow furnished by herself," be
ause, according to the mural tablet
Id Orsce Church to Dr. Plnckney. he
wae born July tl. '112, and, accord
Hg to that which formerly stood fh
st Philip s to Mrs. Motts (see Dal
ho t Church History.) she died Jan
ary 10. IIIS. ?I ubmlt that a boy of
wo years, five months and tsn days.
owever precocious ha might be,
< gold hardly carry on many animated
ggweraattons on historical matters,
tut sfhy depend upon a recollection
.#s conversation that nece**arhy
galt plgee-ever ten years ogol Df
Inckney has left In print In hU own
?jOgk tos? version of the uicideui of
T4m Motts and the arrows. It ac
< aria perfecetly with everything that
1 nave written or spoken ^>n the sub
'egt I believe It to be substantially
correct; therefore I repeat that with
P of the evidence to show that Mrs.
Motte's house was not burned, U is
? itlatlng history to engravs a picture
< tat tells the world that tho house was
urned. Here Is what Dr. Plnckney
ild on page 81 of his "Lite of Oen.
Thomas Plnckney."
-Reluctantly they Informed Mrs
? otte of the necessity of destroying
er home. Her patriotism was equal
I i the emergency. 9hs not only gave
cordial consent to the sacrifice, but
I trnished the means of e'Tectlng It.
I he had with her a quiver of East In
tan arrows which Ignited on percus
on. Armed with these novel weap
g* the two commanders returned to
?elr work. The arrows were fir-ad
i om a rifle, and set the roof on fire.
he garrison endeavored to put out
tne flainee. but th* American riflemen
i tested off every nan who ventured on
' le root. The powder magazine was
- nder the house, and as the fire was
?? sluing way. then- wss no alternative
ut destruction or surrender.
"The white flag was hung out; the
\ '.ctore rushed In and united with the
arrteon In the grateful task of saving
? to house. Hut history has done Jus
> ce to Mre. Motte's generous purpose.
id accorded to the intentional sacrl
I oa the full credit of an accomplished
iget."
To Mr. Hartsell let me say In the
.indllest spirit that he Is sltogether
nletaken. Gen. Peter Horry did not
rrite the eo-called life of Marlon
eborela Mr. Hattsell read the sweet
?otato story. Let nie quote the little
tage t" the first edition of that lit
?rary curiosity
?The life of Men. Francis Marlon, a
clebrated partisan officer In the Re* -
dutlonary war, against the British
ind Tories. In Sooth Carolina and
leorgla. From documents furnish** I
?y hla brother In arms. Brig. Oen. P.
( and by his nephew, the Mot .
?tobert Marlon. Esq.. of Congress.
On Vernon's chief, why lavish all our
lays?
v-me, honest Muse, and sing grsat
Marlon ? praise.
??Philadelphia PuHi-hed by Mat?
thew Carey. 1809."
(I don't think much of the otklrnil
?oetry. but I think It as god as the
->est that "A. Z." can write.)
The fUUoWtSfl extracts from the
orrespondence between Weems and
Oen. Harry, which followed the pub
Ucatk n of the book, will thro a
enough additional light on the sub?
ject to satisfy any truth-seeker:
Weems opened it as follows:
"It gives me great pleasure to be
able to Inform you by our mutual
frlenfl, Dr. Mythe, that your ever
honored and beloved Marlon lives In
history. In other words, the history
of the great Marlon, from the docu
menu you were so good as to gl re me,
Is finished. How it will take God only
knows, but If I may he permitted Ic
hope by the success which has crown?
ed the life of Washington, I would
bone very much in its favor. You
have, no doubt, constantly kept in
memory, that I told you I must writ*
It my own way. and knowing the pas?
sion of the times for novels, I have
end^nvored to throw your ldeis and
(acts about Marlon Into the garb and
dura of a military romance."
Gen. Horry waa angry at Weems'
trickery, and said so, and allo wed no
one to oorrect his English. Weems
heaid of It and wrote to him
"I have lately heard, with infinite
astonishment, that you are displeased
with the Life of Marlon. Though I
have so heard, yet I can hardly be?
lieve It. What! Is It possible that
you can be displeased with a book
I whl:h places both yourself aid your
I belc ved Marlon In so conspicuous and
I exalted a light? A book that contains
I every fact that you yourself gave me:
la liook that everywhere meets with
I unbounded applause; of which I have
I orders for ninety copies In ore single
I County in Georgia; which has, in fact,
changed^the County of Wilklr son into
I that of Marlon; a book, which, in
I short, sell/- better even than the Life
I of Washington? Now that you should
I be displeased with such a book is to
I mt very astonishing!"
Doesn't that sound like tbl prof el
I sional book agent? Well, thorough
I Investigation by a most scholarly
I clergyman of the Episcopal Church
I hss shown that that was about all
I thit Weems ever was. He wrote books
I and then sold his own wares. His ln
I veracity was proverbial. Suppose Mr.
I Hurtzell Investigates the matter to
I sea If the story about Wilkinson or
I Marlon County Is true?
I In a letter, dated at Georgetown,
I February 4. 1811, Gen. Horry said to
I Weems: 1 ?
"A former letter of youj*s to me
I says: 'You have, no doubt, constantly
I kept In memory that I told, you I
I must write the history in my own
I fvay.' This I do not reoolVtct, but T
I well recollect that I repeatodly men
I timed to you 'not to alter the sense
I of meaning of my work. le*t when it
I cume out l might not know It. and
I perverted It m?ght convey a very dlf
I firent meaning from the truth." That
I o fleers were alive that well knew Ma*
I rion's history and would say as (per
I haps they have aald) I wrote what
I was not true. I requested you would
I (If necessary) so far alter the work
I ai to make It read grammatically, and
I I gave you leave to embellish the
I work, but entertained not the least
I l lea of what has happened; though
I several of my friends were under such
I apprehensions, which caused my be
I tng urgent on you not to altar as
I i.bove mentioned. Do you not recol
I lect my sitting on the ground with
I you near the Georgetown printing of
I lice, and urging you again on the sub
I ;ect of no alterations to the work?
I '.hat you replied (seemingly out of
lumor) that: 'When the work came
I out you engaged I would be satisfied.'
Jreplied: 'That is enough;' and I re
I collect nothing farther i assed be
I tween us afterwards on the subject.
I How great was my surprise on read?
ing these words In your letter: 'Know
I Ing the passion of the times for nov
j els. I have endeavored to throw your
Ideas and facts about Gen. Marlon
Into the garb and dress of a military
romance!' A history of realities turn?
ed into a romance. The idea alone
militates against the work. The one
a^ a history of real performance,
would be always read with pleasure.
The other, as a fictitious Invention of
the brain, once read would suffice.
Therefore I think you Injured your?
self, notwithstanding the quick gglfs
of your book. Nor have the public
received the real history of Gen. Ma?
rlon. You have carved and mutilated
It with so many erroneous statments.
your embellishments, observations
and remarks must necessarily be er?
roneous as proceeding from false'
grounds. Mo??t certainly 'ils not my
hlKtory, but your romanc ?. Jon say
the book sells better than Washing?
ton! The price of the one Is much
less than the other?Is tht reason )'??
side*, ptfgogjg unacquainted with the
reg] history buy and rea l your bo?.u
as authentic. When known to be
otherwise, win lie mouldering on ths
shelves and no in ore purchaser?" bs
obtained. You have my work; com?
pare with yours, and the difference
II ill 'appear. Yours Is greatly abridged
and the letters containe I In mine
(which I thought much of) are ? \
eluded from yours. You nay *yotl art
surprised1 t" hear that i gm dtaplegggd
with your book, partlcu'arly as it
pl;o es Marlon and myself In SO con?
spicuous and aaalted i iiuht. Can you
suppose I can be pleaded with partic?
ulars (though SVSr so elevated by
yog) of Marlon and myself when I
know such never existed? Your book
is out. My dissatisfaction of it is no
ways material. You say you want to
mo to procure some additional
anecdotes for your second edition, and
that, if I can point cut any errors or
places where improvement be made,
that you will cheerfully attend to any
instructions. Could such improve?
ment be made, I fear for its fate?
to be disregarded as my first perform?
ances were. A second edition would
add to your emoluments. I cannot
think I can amend my former work
in your hands. Much time and de?
liberation were used to form, correct
and perfect the same. To attempt
further I fear at this distant day
would detriment, rather than benefit.
After having compared my work?
which I call history, and which you
call documents?with your book, I
wish you would send it to me, in or?
der that I may also compare it. I
before wrote you for this, but receiv?
ed no answer."
Gen. Horry finally got his manu?
script history back from Weems, and
it was long in possession of a neph?
ew of his wife. Some day I hope to
put it into print for the benefit of the
students of our truthful history, but
I fear that It will not prove the seller
that Meems* romance has been. Tha'
book has probably been through more
editions and more copies of It have been
sold than of any other book that has
ever been written about South Caro?
lina. Gen. Horry annotated a copy of
the first edition and I have examined
I that copy, which is in the hands of a
I relative of mine, whose aunt married
I Gen. Horry. The notes show that
I Weems made Marion the hero of
I many incidents that Horry had writ
I ten of in connection with others, and
I that Marlon was not even present on
I those occasions. Gen. Horry makes
I use of such expressions as "the fruit
I ful Invention of the brain of Mr.
I Weems." "Mr. Weems inventions are
I great," etc., in his notes. The second
I edition of the book was issued in 1814,
I after Gen. Horry's death, and the title
I page boldly claims that It was "By
I Brigadier General P. Horry." New
I matter was also put in. In subsequent
I editions Weems and Horry are put
I down as Joint authors.
James* History.
In 1821 Judge William Doblen
I James, author of Marion's soldiers,
I published his history of Marlon's bri
j gade. In the preface he says: "I
I hear that the late Gen. Peter Horry
I had preserved copies of Gen Marlon's
I corespondence with Gen. Green and
I other officers; and I applied to the
I executor, Mr. James Guignard, who
I very politely placed five duodecimo
I volumes in my hands, closely written
I by the general. The originals were
I left by Gen. Horry with the Rev. M.
I L. Weems, but It appears he made no
I use of them in his Life of Marion."
I said at the outset of the contro
I versy that the story of the sweet po
I tato dinner could not be authenticat
I ed. If it can be found in Horry's
I manuscript history, In James' history,
I or In any letter, diary or Journal of
I any of Marion's soldlers, I will not
I only admit that It is authenticated,
I but will subscribe to a fund to pur?
chase a bronse tablet commemorating
I the Incident, to be erected in the State
I House or in some other conspicuous
I place, but as long as It is to be found
I only In story books, which can be dls
I credited on almost every historical
I matter which they undertake to dis
I cusa, I will refuse to accept its authen
I ticity and will exert what little in
I rtuenee I possess with students of our
I history to have them take the same
I stand.
A. S. Sally, Jr.
Columbia, S. C. May 21, 1909.
Why He Wanted the Dime.
A fine specimen of the genus hr>bo
approached a prosperous and busy
r.ppearlng man in Franklin Square
and solicited financial aid, say3 The
Philadelphia Times.
"I want a drink, governor," ho said.
"I ll be honest about it. Gimme a
nickel and I can buy a beer and itOW
away a free lunch."
The busy one admired his frark
ness and handed him the ? o\eted
nickel. He had not proceeded tar
when he felt some one touch him en
the arm. Turning he saw the hobo.
"Boss," said the latter, " 'acute me.
'but I want t<> ask a favor."
^"Well. what is It?"
He drew two nickels from hll pock?
et.
' Will you give me a dime for
them?" he n^ked.
"Yes." said the other, "if you will
give me a good reason for it."
"Well, V"ii ICO, boss." replied thO
tramp, "if i go into a saloon and pay
a nickel for a beer the barkeeper will
think It's all I have and thr >\v me
out. Hut If I hand him a dime I'll get
ohange. Then I can work on the
lunch counter as long as i like, for
he'll let mc stay so that he can get
the other nickel.
Ho goi the dime.
P'-yond all wealth, honor, or even
health la the attachment we form to
noble souls, because to beoomt one
with the good) generous and true !?
t ? become in i measure good, gener
OUI and true ourselves.?Thomas Ar
, nold,
SWEAKIXGEX PLANS CAMPAIGN.
Month of August Set Aside by the
Committee for Educational Meet?
ing.
Columbia, May 26.?The month of
August has been set aside by the
South Carolina educational committee
for a vigorous campaign for school
improvement. District, county and
State issues will receive attention, and
the committee hopes to secure the
active cooperation of teachers, trus?
tees and patrom-.
The legislature did not provide for
summer schools during 1909, but
school Questions will not, on that ac?
count, be allowed to remain in the
background. Several county board?
are anxious to provide a summer
school for teachers, but the law does
not give them this authority. The last
State summer school was held in
1906, and since then nothing better
than a two weeks' summer school has
been offered to teachers desiring bet?
ter training. Economy is necessary
in public affairs, but the schools are
the last field that should be made to
pay for retrenchment.
Each county superintendent has
been asked to suggest the peculiar
needs of his county, and to invite
three representative citizens of his
I county to assist in their presentation.
I The committee desires to hold a great
educational rally in each county and
j to secure particularly from the trus
I tees a clear presentation of school
j needs and school problems. To inter
I est these 6,000 trustees will be one of
I the main objects of the August cam
I palgn.
j The following letter has been sent
I out by Mr. J. E. Swearlngen, the State
I superintendent of education and sec
I retary of the committee:
J ' The educational campaign com
I mittee wishes to hold an educational
mass meeting in each county during
j the month of August. Trustees, teach
I ers and patrons will be invited to at
I tend, and to join in a discussion of
j school needs, and plans for school lm
I provement. Three representative
J citizens of each county will be asked
I to discuss local educational problems,
J and two speakers from a distance will
J represent the committee. In order
l.that there may be no conflicting ap
I potntments, each county superintend
I ent is requested to select the place
I and to allow the committee to set the
I date.
I ?
"A folder dealing with some of our
I pressing educational needs will be
I "daced in the hands of each speaker,
I \nd suggestions as to your county will
I prove helpful to the committee. Local
I taxation, consolidation, more comfort
I able buildings, better attendance, la*
I creased salaries, trained teachers, ex
I pert supervision, high schools and re
I vision of the school law are some of
I the topics demanding attention. The
I campaign Is in no sense political, but
I seeks only to> emphasize the opportu
I nltles and responsibilities of the pres
I ent. Your cooperation will be abso
I lutely essential in your county.
"An early reply with a full expres
I sion of opinion will be appreciated."
Lexington Sheriff Improving.
Lexington, May 21.?Sheriff Corley.
who was shot by the negro Ed Bynum
on Wednesday morning, is improving
satisfactorily. His assailant Is still at
large, the posses being unable to find
any trace of him up to the present.
Every means known to the officer.! is.
being used to run down the culprit.
The excitement which has been so
prevalent all over the country since
the shooting has somewhat abated.
Parties are circulating a petition
asking that an election be held on
the question of establising a dispen?
sary In this county. We understand
the petition Is receiving some signa?
tures. We hope It will not receive
enough to warrant the calling of an
election.?Gaffney Ledger.
The dispensary auditor reports that
the sales of liquor are falling off. It
\i a question whether this means that
the people are becoming more tem?
perate or that the blind tigers are
getting their share of the traffic.?
Spartanburg Journal.
Porto Rico is the only possession of
the United States not visited at one
time or another by President Taft.
This, say the Porto Ricans, explains
everything.?Louisville Courier-Jour?
nal.
A Connecticut rooster is said to
have wreokad a $ 10,000 automobile.
The owm r of the hen that laid the
egg from which the rooster wai
hatc hed can get $100 a dozen lor her
eggs, Address Heavenly Houston.
Ctand Old Texas. ? Houston Post.
Legislative Note?Speaker Cannon
appeared in a white suit and a pink
tie.?New York American.
An Allentown. Pa., man stole a
monument from the cemetery and
was pr.edlng to cut it down to a
imalh sisc and place a new In?
scription thereon when arrested.
Speaking of grave offenses, that ap?
peals to bt the limit.?Hes Molnes
Tribune.
TILE I
I art of
of Loose I
doors, sash i
our products
they are, plai
but all at pL.i. ^..crs. rur state,
top and bottom look at our lath, liuie,
cement, brick, hair, plaster, sewer
and drain pipes, etc., etc. The kind
of building materials you're looking
for, the qnick delivery you waul
here.
THE SUMTER DOOR, SASH AND
BLIND FACTORY.
J. W. McKeiver,
Proprietor
Our Treatment
To our patrons is just a
little better than necessary.
WHY?
Because it don't cost any?
thing and there is good profit
in it
?See Us?
A. A. Strauss & Co.
It often depends upon how hard you try as to how well
you succeed.
?? FARMERS' BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
Spares no effort to pVs?* fr:~rrK It' |
ronage is -in evidence of this fact.
Volume of Business. April 28fh l*Mk. - $138,662.47
The same day 1909 - - - $4^5,002.94
S The First National Bank, *
? - o_x_ ?
?
m
m
?
?
?
?
of Sumter.
A. 1. CHINA, Pre?. NEIL O0ONNEIL. Vic. Pr*?.
i. L. McCALLUM, C.hl.t.
We invite you to open an account with us, believing
this Bank, organized under the National Banking Laws of
the United States and under its supervision, offtrs the best
possible security to its patrons.
IMI1IMHIHIH1KIIIHIIIIIHKI1
?
?
?
?
?
' at JEs
The Man With a Checking Account Can
Tell You of Its Many Ltokgn,
It is estimated that ninety-five percent, of the bus?
iness of our country is transacted by means of
checks and drafts. UndeY no other system could
we reach the high standard of development attain?
ed in the last fifty years.
A checking account with this bar.k will simplify
the transaction you are now doing cn a cash basis.
M Bank of Sumter.
The outcome of the Whitla case
?hould cau.?e a sharp slump in the
kidnapping business.?Boston Jour- ,
nal.
I H&.VE NOW
In charge of my Optical Parlor?
j .st fitted up. Have Dr. Z. F,
liighsmith's instruments and pre?
scriptions. We are now in a po?
sition to examine your eyes and
fit you properly to glasses, or fill
your eye glass prescriptions.
All work guaranteed to give
entire satisfaction.
I LI
Jeweler and Optician,
PI one 333. 6 S. Main St.
PATENTS
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rawing ?>r photcfor expert Maren and nw report.
Free adVic \ bow to obtain patent* trade marks,
Copyright? et?., |N ALL COUNTRIES.
Business iirect vith Washington saies time,
money and often the patent.
Patent a id Infringement Practice Exclusively.
Write or come to us at
628 Ktatt Itrert, epp. ?altsd ItaUs Fassat Ottc?.
washington. D C.
&
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60 YEARS'
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Anrone sending s sketch and description may
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tent fron. Oldest agency tor securing patents.
Patsntl taken through Munn a Co. rvculvt
iptcUti notice, without charge, in the
Scientific American.
A hanisomelT Minstrated weekly. I,arre?t nr.
dilation of any p lemldc ]<>urnaL Terms, f 'i a
old by all
tr^r: f'nir n.
newsdealers.
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