The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-10-28
WHO Is NED BRACE.

WHO lS NED BRACE
Until the appearance Of Master Mtten,
tue story by B. Longstreet, which has
adorned the first page Of The Southern Field
and Fireside, from its first number to the
present, it was very GENERALLY believe that
distinguished citizen Of South Carolina,
Mr.. Edmund Bacon, was the original Ned
Brace; that striking character SO graphic
ally deineated as The Native Georgian in
ecrmer ~os5 Of Judge Loogstrccts, the
widely-read 'Geosyia Scenes But upon
rc-appearance of '.Ned Brace in Master
Mittcn, as stSdcat Of Doctor WaddeIs
School at Wellington, the friends and
admirers Of Ned and the Judge, were taken
all aback. The scenes at Wilmington arc
described as occurring about the year sOG :;
but, as was remembered by many, and
known to all, Edmund Bacon was at that
date, married man, and practlcing at
torney. The question then, WHO was Ned
Brace?' REQUIRED with increased interest many
insisting still that it was Bacon, only the
Judgewas taking poetic license with dates ::
others contended that the character of The
Native Georgian was not drawn from Mr.. Ba
con but from another gentleman of our own
more Immediate vicinage, and we'll remem-
bered by many of us, Mr.. Dred Pace, who
was, we believe, pnpil of Doctor WadIel
at Wilmington, within the historic times of
Master Mitten.' Mr.. Bacon, we think, was
not. Both these names have been cited
recently in the publick prints as the type Of
Ned Brace -.-
We are fortunately enable to settle er
cathedro, this mooted question. Perhaps
it will be found that both the gentlemen
above named are entitled to share the
Immortality TO which Ned Brace is dcs-
tined,
The youth who was really at school in
Wellington, and who has re.appeared as
Ned Brace in Master Mitten' was, as we
are told, great admirer, and as far as lie
could be, of Edmund Bacon. He initiated
BIN every thing but his literary attain
ments-not that Pace was at all wanting in
native talents, through, in this respect, he
was far below his model. It was the stu.
dent Pace whom Judge Lopgstreet had in
his eye, when he commenced his sketch of
THE Character of Native Georgian !; and
he had proceeded about one.haIf through
the sketch, and sent what lie had written
ninety miles from his residence, to the press,
when it occurred to him that the interest
OF the sketch would be much enhanced by
the substitution of the original for the i'm
itator. He determined, therefore, to make
the change-the more readily because what
had been written was not very much out
of character with Bacon. The consequence
OF this change was that The Character of
n Native Georgian does not suit exactly
either Bacon or Pace, while there is no fea.
ture of it, nor Incident, which doe. not suit,
pretty nearly, one or the other. Brace
OF The Georgia Scenes, i, described as
very large man 60 the youth at school in
wellington, the Brace Of Mas.er Mittea
Pace, grew up to be. But Bacog, though
aaporsly man, was not Of remarkable stlt
ufe. Bacon was msn of more polished
manners aud,o more .reflemsnt, ihssp lis
Youthful innitator every proved ttosbe.;
Judge Lopgstreet believes u bss MI, Aason
was pot q native Georgian, :hongb he must !!
have come To- the State st'syey ssarly age.
Atscbool, BE was yosthnf very brillisus
ptomise., In l7e1. shea Re- W. W. of Tender
age, be delivered an addssss 70 Gem. Wash,
insten,d sso@aipo ~ u, 1sAse BIisss, /, atts.
sasesissd seasd msiieas syssyb ybsdy ! 'saSa sss a
dslisbted ths n sib { u thas + AZ q Aass sgHs
Ssasbsd' 'MSsnttV Vernon, he assnt. .te yaana a 4
Bssop p beautiful ss e J. benpdr COPY OF CiSssSs5
0ndonAoy The Addfssso Wa spab spaiJs ' in
o1ss III .tas Maesssines ,sfS tbsasy. sTks
psssidns III s .asj;s -
aas1astds dealss atsI;sa,a a /. !, = J .s,.ss ],
As q mere dselAimer, tbe 'RiaM, ,a ne,