Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-01-22

when that same venerated clergyman is
f" tackled in argument by one who has
mastered system after system of philoso-
ply who opposes tenets of theology and
religious truths with glittering sophistry
more beautiful than the truth, who, if he
was never elevated by faith, never failed in
logic, and if he never bowed to conscience,
never sighted reason. Error looks very
different under different teachers, an,i the
most dangerous things carry the hidden
weapon, not the flaming sword. The Re-
views seized Reade's work, Jealousy"
on it's appearance and punished it merci.
lessly-and they were right. But l, who
declare this n0u, read the book and the
criticisms together ; / threw the criticisms
in the fire in rage. and Rugged ''Jaalousy''
to my heart. And while l read Dolores
/ thought Of s. jealousy -; the two authors
are alike IN originality of expression, in
8 yle @hlch Is very pleasing but bizarre, in
the same contempt for the beaten track in
both writing and feeling. The author of
Dolores brings forward his inidel, makes
him the hero OF his story, pits him against
priest and layman, and brings him out in
triumph at the close, with nerve and a
persistent consistency in what he has start
ed to do, which we must admire for it's
steadiness, while we condemn it for its eff
feet upon the reader. II this grave OBJ
lection doomed up grandly SO that it's
shadow hid the beauties and stified the
charms Of the fiction, there would be no
need for the critic to attack, for the fabric
would fall of itself but when it is added
that the story is iaultiess il plot, capital in
imagery, finished in its delineation OF
character powerful in its appeals to every
emotion of the heart, and is at its climax
when it follows the passion of love, then,
ID tNNtI
many who read it vii! read it without fully
realizing the extent to which they will be
ha=arding their prec0nce we'd doctrines and
ideas.
The duty which have to perform in
closing my letter is one OF great sadness to
me, and Will cause pain TO your readers in
this State. Hon. Jesse G. Shepherd died
ut his residence in this vicinity on We'd
nesday. 18th Instant, at 5 o'clock, 4. NJ
For months past Judge Shepherds health
had been falling, and his rapid decline,
recognized too surely by his friends, be-
came matter Of deep concern and SYM
patty throughout the community. HIS
diseas3 Consumption necessitated, in q
great measure, withdrawal from public
life, and since the war Judge Shepherd
had invariably declined every proposal
from his people and his party. to elevate
we'll adorn but it WAS nevertheless as
tonishiog how long he regularly and reso-
Iutelg performed the duties of life to which
he had exclusively devoted the last few
years Of his life, rising at the bar to adj
dress the Judge upon the bench in that
penetrating. clear voice which even the
fingers OF waiting death could not stihe; in
voking the blessings OF God before his altar
with pure heartand unsuilied conscience,
which not even the sight of the grave
could disQuiet meeting his friends upon
the street and in the social asseLlbIage
with that polish and courtesy which rot
even disease could Weaken-lOng after it
was felt by all, that legal, church and So
cial duties were soon to loose their claims
upon him forever,
Judge Shepherd was between forty-seven
and forty eight years of age-born June
23d, 1921. He received his collegiate edu-
cation at the University of orth Carolina,
graduating with distinction at that institu-
ton, and while there winning an enviable
reputation for his mental requirements
and his high moral qualities. In 1912 he
married sister of the late Hon. j. G.. Dob
BIN, Secretary OF the Navy under the ad
ministration of Franklin Pierce, and for
years copartnershio in law existed be-
tween him and Mr.. Dobbin. He was
appointed Jadge upon the Superior Court
bench by Governor Bragg, in 1857, which
position he filled with honor and dignity to
himself and to the satisfaction of the peo-
pie for three years, when he rendered his
resignation Of the office and turned his at
tention tG his legal practice, with marked
success, until every calling was so serious
II interrupted by the changes incident to
the war. Although there is no doubt that
Ntap hovn ha
nomination for any office in the gift of the
people, be had, for the past three years,
avoided any farther participation in poll
tics than his duty as a citizen required.
He served on several State Democratic
Committees, acted as delegate to two or
three District and State Conventions, and
addressed the people of this and surround
ing counties upon the great political issues
which have recently been decided. In
every utterance he showed himself q far
seeing statesman and an infexible patriot,
and III the Legislature OF the State, where
he repeatedly served us, was always the
able politician and the incorruptible pub
lie official.
As a lawyer he was. rs members Of the
profession who knew him intimately de-
clare, one Of the best read men in the State.
His legal information apparently had no
IuutI HIS IiHEtCiy Was SSitCul DIT ifttEIt, tuu
8 lone course Of study had rendered him
able 30 use powerfully all that he had &C.
quired. n his practice he was laborious
and diligent, scrupulous to fault, and
perhaps Oyer-cautioUs. Although an adj
vocate of 10 ordinary ability, his strength
lay rather in the preparation anl direction
Of a cause. than in appeals TO the jury.
Very correct in language and precise IN
expression, be came to exact it Of others,
and the witness who left the stand without
having given the whole truth, after an ex-
animation nv Jad2o Shepherd, was GER
tain!y man Of uncommon mould.
AS q chsistian-bUt / leave his standing
in this to higher verdict tAan that given
by the tongue of man. I seek not, for my
Judgment. to evoke one resp onsive whisper
from the conscience Of him who has gone
out from among men. ask not to read
one line in the heart, now stilled, Of him
who is hurrying to ningle his dust with
the " insensate clod which the rude swain
treads upon" ! desire to know nothing
of the articles Of his religious faith or of
his elevation in the chnrch T OnIv know