The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-12
THE SAD END OF HENRY I9AROL.

Letter from Paul II. Hayne, I'm Reply to
the Statement OF ga Columbia Lady"
TO TIE EDITORS OF TIE NEWS
You have recently published an article, pur'
porting 10 come from the pen o" "A Columbia
Lady," and originally addressed to the edlter
OF the Boston Daily Advertiser. This oommu-
nlcatlon attributes the Impression, widely
prevalent at the North, that Timrod was ne
elected by his own people, to ''garbled
truths" and ''unfair statements" In regard to
the events of the poets life. Now, II by such
language the writer would imply that the
biographical sketch attached to Tmrods
poems contains anywhere "garbled truthS
and ''unfair Statements" have only to reply
that as every assertion Of importance In that
narrative touching the poets wants and con.
dtIon Is derived from bis own or his sisters
written evidence, this charge IL derogatoryto
the character OF the dead alonei ssaj
The lady correspondent Of 1.-THE Advertiser"
elsewhere in The pome article, speaks OF s'tne
veil having been ruthlessly Torn aside rom
the sacred scenes of the lreside and deatn-DsA
OF the sweet singer OF the South" TO nave
ignored In any life Of Tmrod pretending -
fulness and accuracy, his domestic cifcun-
stances and domestic trials, was clearly an In
possibility. That there is anything .'ruthless"
| In the manner of unveiling these appears 70
be discovery for which the fair correspou-
dent of the Boston paper can claim the e1-
elusive credit. The circumstances themselves
we're hardly OF nature 70 be detailed In rose
wafer for Ink, upon ''rose-leaf page"
| AS for the dealh.bei scene, 1t is from arst to
last described 10 letter from the poets favor
lite sister, the publication of which she en-
phalically sanclioned.* Probably no account
Of the sort can be found In EDglish literature
more tender, more pathetic, more eloquent.
To apply the term ''ruthlssa," were 1t but BY
implication, to such narrative, for rather to
ils publicstlon,) is, with due respect TO tho
writer's eek, an example of perverse taste and
feeling difficult 10 comprehend. ..., II
The anecdote of General Wade Hampton's
dellcate.minded mnniaoence towards Tmr0d
Is characteristic of the Generals cordial and
sympathetic spirit. Yet, even here. inadvef-
tently, no doubt, q wrong impression, has
been produced. According to the writer this
help came to Tlmrod in the autumn Of 1857.
"Thencefor,h," che remarks. "he was never In
want again. On the contrary, the remainder
of hIs life was sustained and sootbed BY
every comfort that friendship could DEVISE"
Strangers to the truth, reading this pars-
graph might naturally suppose that "the ne
malnder of hls (Timrod's) life" embraced a
considerable period; period ofmonlhs, II not
years. But, as he died early in October. 1857,
the time which elapsed between the occur
1 renee of the incident mentioned and hls DE-
cease, could scarcely have been more than q
few weeks at furlhest. .......,.4 ~. 8,
In conclusion, let me say that my duty Ga
Tlmrod's biographer was plain, simple, I'M
perative. l was bound to present the un-
doubted facts Of his career, however sad and
painful. Any attempt hereafter on anothers
part to conceal the harsh features Of his late,
to deny or materially modify the statements
of bis biography, resting upon such demon
stration as exists therein, can result ID notn-
Ing but failure. Bill, while recording the
facts of bis melancholy experience, have
not presumed to blame either Individuals or
communities. PAUL d. hAxss.
Copse Hill, Ga. Cen. B. B., March 9th, 1879.
This sister, Mrs. George Goodwin, lived just
loIg enough to examine ALL the PROOF sneete o.
her brothers. biography. she expresaed N tno
warmest way her approx al OF the sketcn, eo1V
toord OF a1hfch she Jttlv 1ndorseds