The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-13
WIN. GILMORE SIMMS.
DEATH OFTHE GREAT SOUTH CAR.
OLINA NOVELIST.
His Life, Character and Writings.

The Hon. VIM Gilmore Simms, D. c. L.,
died at the residence of his son-a-law, Mr. Ed.
Roach, In this city, at about o'clock on Satur-
day afternoon Mr.. Simms had been in deli
cate health for some time, but only week be-
fore his death was we'll enough to join in an
excursion down the harbor. His strength,
however, rapidly failed him, and on Thursday
night there was no hope Of his recovery. He
remained conscious to the end, his last words
being, stNot longn The bells of st. Michaefs
tolled yesterday-the solemn notes conveying
to the whole city the mournful tidings of the
death of him who was the ornament and the
pride of the State he loved so well.
VIM. Gilmore Simms was born in this city on
April II, 1906 His father was OF Scoto-lrish
descent, and his mother, Harriet Ann Augusta
Singleton, was of Virginia family which came
early to South Carolina While yet child, he
was left an orphan, and was thrown upon his
own resources. For this reason his regular
education derived small aid from the pecuniary
| means of his family, and he had little classical
training but he acquired knowledge with an
astonishing celerity, and was soon the posses
sor of a vast fund of miscellaneous iuforma-
ton. Ateight he wrote verses, and at eighteen
his self-acquired scholarship was already re-
markable. No professor or college did Tor
him one hundredth part OF what he did for
himself.
Mr.. Simms was originally destined to the
study of medicine. This pursuit jumped not
with his tastes, and he chose the law by pref
erence, being admitted to the bar at the age
of twenty-one. Law, however, was too te-
dious for the acutely active mind ofMr. Simms,
all whose inclinatlons lay in the direction Of
the pleasant paths of literature. His first ac-
tive literary engagement was in the editorship
of the Charleston City Gazette, paper which
opposed the doctrine of notification. The
Gazette was failure, and Mr.. Simms, its pro-
prietor as well as editor was heavy loser.
The effect was not unhealthy, for it caused Mr..
Slmms to devote himself, in earnest, to litera-
ture as profession.
The literary debut of Mr.. Slmms was made In
1925, when he published a Aonody on General
Charles Cotesrorth Pinckney. A volume Of
his poems followed In 1927, and Early Lays
was published In the same year. The warm
reception given to his first efforts was highly
gratifying to the young author, who thence
forward, for more than forty years, applied
himself to those pursuits in which he won fame
for himself and honor for his native State.
The publication of Atalantis in 1882, intro
duced Mr.. Simms to the literary circles of
New York. The next year the Harpers' pub
lshed his first tale, Martin Faber, the Story of
Criminal, which at once attracted public at
tention.
From thistime, so uniform was his career,
that a few words will sum up the incidents of
his history. A second marriage, to the daught-
er of Mr. Roach, of Barnwell, his first wife
having died soon after their union; O seat in
the State General Assembly, where he made
his mark; the reception Of the Doctorate of
Laws from the University Of Alabama; his sum-
mer residence in Charleston and his winter
home at Woodlands; these, up to the beginning
of the war, are the few external Incidents of
career, whose events must be sought In the
achievements of hands and brazil. The elegant
residence OF Mr.. Simms at Woodlands man.
sion with equal wings and fine front-was
burned down by Sherman's raiders in 1865.
At the same time an extensive library was
wholly destroyed. But Mr.. Simms returned
to his general literary work with his old
energy, and was in harness almost TO the
day of his death. The long roll of his lit
erary works is the noblest tribute that can
be paid to the memory Of him who Is aptly
styled s'the Walter Scott of the South" and we
copy from The Living Writer'S Of the South,
by James Wood Davidson, the following re-
cord of the writings of Mr.. Simms:
/. Lyrical aud other Poems. A debut volume,
written previous to the authors twentieth year,
and published in Charleston, 1927.
2, Early Lays. 1927.
1899. ' '
4. The Tricolor. or Three Days OF Blood In Paris.
A celebration In verse OF the French Revolution
OF 1880, published in that year.
S. Atalaaris: A Story or The Sea. narrative
poem Of life among the Nereids, OF submarine
magic and human sympathy; published by the
Harpers OF New York In 1882
O. Martin Faber: The Story OF Criminal.
striking fiction or intense interest and power,
published In New York In 1888.
Z. The Book Of My Lady. A nlelange;; publish
ed In 1888.
8. The Cosmopolitan: An Occasional, No. l. An
alienation of tales and conversations; the nrst
OF q series that never went beyond No. l.
o. The Partisan. 1885.
10. Melllchampe.
II. Katherine Walton, or the Rebel Of Dorches-
ter This and, the two preceding constitute
q trllogy, delineatlng life In South Carolina,
centralized in Charleston during the revoln-
tionary period; covering the varied for
tunes OF that soul-trying crisis, including |
the parts taken by Marion. Sumter, Moultrie,
Pickens, Hsyne, and Horny. This is perhaps |
the authors most SUCCESSFUL series OF pure |
hctions
IT, Southern Passages aud Pictures. volume |
Of poems. lyrical, sentimental and descriptive, |
published In New York, 1889.
Is. Donna Florida, q Tale. narrative poem, |
conceived and written under the influence Of Don
Juan; the express aim being poem In the style
Of Byron's reckless heroic 1t was dropped In
midway, and remains q fragment, which Is not
much to be regretted. Published In charleston.
ii. Castle Dismal, or the Bachelors Christmas.
A domestic legend; South Carolina ghost story.
1874.
Is. Grouped Thoughts and Scattered Fancies.
A collection OF sonnets.
l6. Areysos, or Songs OF the South. MtScei-
laneous poems, published In 1916.
II. Lays OF the Palmetto. Lyrics and Dallads
OF the exploits OF the Palmetto
South 0arollnai regiment In the Mexican war OF
S4s.
Is, The Eye and the Wing. collection OF
poems. New York; 1S4S.
19. Poems Chiefly Imaginative Another volu me |
OF miscellaneous verse.
e. The Cassique OF Accabee, Tale or Ashley |
River, with other pieces, the leader being mar J
rative poem, legend OF Indian life and love 10
the lang-Syne OF aboriginal days; published IN !
New York. 1919.
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