Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-05-13
Fol. tho Advertiser.
The Eloge Of Arthur Simkins.

exhibited on tho mourpfnlL %ucraslon OIL tne lnteIr
nent Of. the mortal rcmails of the la'c ARTHUR
e,uxlss. I, seemed as if iha common sentiment
Of the people was expressly of the severance OF
old and familiar ties rudeiy snapped blythe fiat
of inexorable death andtlsaf the breaking Of the
last link in the chain which had bound tho pre-
ont with the pleasant msr$Sries of the past sor-
row was not couhued to- The chamber OF death,
nor to the sanctuary Of tho affections nlone' out
it penetrated the hearts otsthe citizens generally
as they silently followcd,tqth grave, the 'shr"ud-
cd corpse Of the la~menteasasad sia'y and car
uestly tho conviction .Rsas felt. chat the melancholy
duty was then being paid % Tho lifeless remains
of tho last representatives f thotype Of the an-
cisnt social regime of Edgeisld and inourntu'ly
they retired from the sieufprccinct Of the NEGRO
polls. where thoy had laid in its eternal .repose
IN. incarnation Of noble impulses and generous
affections. Scarcely did Tic hand that now pens
tsis mournful tribute to hii1l memory, and which,
but a few days before his death, had been eiu.cn-
ed in the grasp of warm ma sympathetic friend
ship, Imagine, that cre the change Of another
moan. it would be v sayiag . ahaplot for his tomb
Co. s,yx1ss WIS fashisdsd not in the ordinary
mou,t of common men. His nature had IN 1t
nothing of the littlcneS Of humanity, What be
would highly, that would be holily, was not with
out ambition, but without 1the illness should at
tend it" His aspiratisps we're loftyThis imPui-
ss noble-his ufectiohslargo and imperial. In
n different sphere, and hinder other circumstances,
he would have lef, a proud name to his country
men. nssociatcd with huinanizipg influences, aud
ulti,itarian advancement. In the limited area Of
his ambition, his character and influence we're
strongly felt, and few priystO %citizona have pro-
ducod so decided oil impression upon the social
ambition of their communities. Born and rais'a
in competence, he had,nut the stimulus to exer'
ton necessary to develop the full complement
IF tho intellectual faculties. .Yet he was no lag
gard in the eshibiti3Ss afAnontal energy when
called or for its manifestation in the public scr
vice. The ease with which he understood, and
demonstrated the problems Of civil and political
life, requiring protractellab6 in others, sati' fed
him of his ability to cope successfully, with the
antagonists with whom; he was thrown in contact,
and induced . disregard of tho laborious nppli-
auces by which men ordinarily rise to success.
His mind was chpacious and active, it scorned
meanness and duplicity of every sort, and was too
proud to seek place or, power by the cunning ar
tihces of the dcmagogue and parasite. 1t wa
noble in its aspirations, because the orientalism
of it, character, had tingcd its conceptions with
tho hue, of eastern romance, and had peopled its
realms with the creationsFof beautiful imaginings
1t WIS delicate and refined in its perceptions be-
cause it was attuned to the key of exquisite har'
monies. 1t was suggestive id it's activity from
the exuberant fertility Of largo and brilliant
fancy. In the garden of polite knowledge i
extracted from every flower its peculiar essence
to unfold in social converse the combined AM
charmed treasures Of its industry.
His heart was largo, warm, generous and con
y 6ding. 1t anticipated no treachery, because i
harborod no deceit. 1t VAS gushing, and over
: flowing in its tendcrness,f and reflected, as in
; polished mirror, every shtgge, Ssal 81 iansisds i
and friendship he valued. It was keenly alive tt
t the a~ttrition of the coarse spirits; With which
f was forced to mingle; and like the leaf of tn
r sensitive plant, it shrank from the touch Of rud
and uncongenial intercourse. 1t beat with n
selfish thrpb. It forgave quickly the wounds
which harsh, incousiderate, and unchsritable criti
cism inflicted on its ~fervidity, and its frankness
and preferred to live in peace with m unappre
c~iative society. rather than DO tossed on the wuv'
of angry pickering md contestation.' It o~'er!capet
oftentimes the bounds of q narrow conventional
ism to embody some enlarged and favorite idei
of social enjoyment. and progress; and its spiri
was never SO chafed and dispirited, as when cant
ing hypocrisy, and e%nvicus pseudo morality, e1
cspted to the peculiar exhibition of its zeal fo
the Improvement of the social circle. 1t seemed
truly, us if in him, the early characteristic @
the past socialistic features of Edgefeld s%ocie.,
were converged, Is the lust representative of III
most brilliant epoch.
In the cause Of education, he was o diligen'
and earnest advocate. In the cultivation Of the
amenities of life, he was IN enthusiast. In th'
production and develupeinent of n refined taste
be gave tho whole weight Of his character, coun'
rel, and example. In the extension Of the cour
tesies and hopilalitics of life, there were few who
caualled him in the gracefalless. of the one, none
certainly who surpassed him in the fullness ard
penuinenoss of the other. Thore was q whole
souled welcome, exhibited in the reception Of hi,
friends, which: brsathed in every linsament of his
glndsomo, and speaking countenancc, and perme'
ated tue worry atm osphere of the temple Of home
In tho contest of his country for the achieve
ment @: her Independence, no felt the 'undying
love of the unself.h friend and devoted patriot
Her honor and her salvation were the subjects OF
his continued labors, and the themes of his most
anxious reflections. To those brave, gallant, and
heroic men, who represent her cause on the bloody
battle field of the revolution, his heart yearnod
in sympathy rOrtheir toilssand trials, and beat
in unison with their patriotic sacrifices and devo-
ton. lie looked forward with abiding hope to
tho joyful period of theit return to their homes,
when the dusty, but honored t~rnppings of tho
camp and the field, would be exchanged for tho
garb of the citizen, and amid the general JOY &C.
casioned by the recognition of our independence;
each bronzed, and SCARED veteran, would receive