Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-08-31
Ned Brace.

We have referred our readers on several
occasions to the <e-appearanee OF Ned
Brace in the story of William Mitten,"
which is now in publication in the Southern
Field and Fireside. Concerning the sequel
of this character Prof. LaBorde gives an Incl.
dent in the history of the South Carolina Col
lege, which is thus quoted and introduced by
the Yorksille Enquirer:
DR.. LaBorde, in his noble History OF the
College, (of which, by the way, we shall have
somewhat to say hereafter,) gives US capital
anecdote Of Brace at home. The Doctor IS
drawing s. mastery sketch of the venerable
DR.. Maxcy, and runs off into an episode, in
style which, although the Ned Brace portion
is absent, of itself cannot but provoke hearty
burst of laughter. Boswell was never more
true 10 johnson than our mirth loving friend
is to Ned Brace. He surely tells it we'll, thus I:
Let others think as they may, but ! am
bold enough to declare the opinion that there
never w,ls an amiable man tcho could not
laugh. Whether DR.. Maxcy indulged IN Wit
or 6umor, OF story telling, I cannot say: but
he could laugh heartily. In illustration give,
the following incident: In the summer OF
1919 he visited the village Of Edge6eld, where
resided. At that time certain EGmuna
Bacon lived in the place. He was lawyer
by profession, and nature was liberal to hlm
in the gifts of o commanding person and high
in,elle ctual sndowments. Superadded to this
was humor rarely possessed by man. / may
be pardoaed for saying that he is the Ned
Brace" of the " Georgia Scenes" He aboun'
ded in stories and anecdotes and dealt them
out with marvellouslv comic effect. He was,
indeed, resistless He "would move wild
laughter in the throat of death" He was the
prince of hospitality, and no man of note ever
visited the village without being invited to his
table. DIR. Maxcy was of course invited. Al
ter dinner, the guests being yet at the table
Mr.. Bacon began with his stories, and his
inimitab!e representations As he had before
him an extraordinary man, and critic o.
rare acu;eness, he put forth his highest powers
and was more than himself. The Doctor va:
not slow to perceive his wonderful genius and
] soon an overwhelming influence was passing
over him. Story after story was told IN sue
cession sll that is comic, all that is grotesque
all that is ridiculous in human nature, was
presented with the force of living reality. The
| Doctor laughed, and as the great actor con
tinued his representations, the pleasant emo.
tious gradually increased in intensity, until
he lost all control. But it did not stop here
He laughed until every muscle was convulsed
and until he produced acute pain in his sides
and sensation of langour and exhaustion
His health, as the reader knows, was delicate
Mr.. B. was still going on. The company be
came alarmed the Doctor s condition was
now serious. 1t was apprehended that, like
another Philemon, he might die of laughter
Mr.. B. was asked to desist. The Doctor was
carried from the house to recover from the
effect. lie was heard afterwards to speak ot
Mr.. Bacon as the most wonderful man he had
ever met, and far surprising oil the comic
actors of ancient or modern times.
Let US add to the above that ne we'll re
member hearing one whose guest the Doctor
was at the time) narrate this very incident
with the addition that he repestedly calculated
between the dying sobs Of laughter as he re
tured from the dinner, GA very Garrick,-s
very Garrick PED. ADV.