The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-03
TIMROD'S LAST DAYS.
DID THE POET PERISH FROM STARTA-
TON 9-THE PLAIN TRUTH.
A Touching Narrative-The Timely In
ferventfon OF General Wade Hampton
), Gratifying Success Of Timrod's Poems
Mt the North.

:, -Gratifying Success OF Timrod's Poems
at the North.
We find the following deeply interesting let
ter 10 the Boston Advertiser:
COLUMBIA, S. c., February 20, 1873.
To the Editors Of the Boston Daily ADVERTISER:
have been greatly panied by observing that
arxong the notices Of the poems OF the late
Henry Tmred, emanating from the Northern
press, there have been few, If any, which have
not touched with peculiar emphasis upon the
mournlul fact that this gifted son OF genius
should have died In want, some, Indeed, hav.
Ing gone 80 far as to state that re died Of
starvation, and the exceptions have been very
few where some ungenerous taunt has no,
been thrown upon the stricken land where
Henry Timrod lived, wrote and died, and the
crushed State which he loyed 80 we'll. Beltev-
Ing that garbed truths ano unfair statements
must have caused the impression which seems
80 generally to prevail In regard TO this mat.
ter, and as the veil has already been ruthlessly
torn aside from the sacred scenes of the fire.
side and the death.bed OF this sweet singer Of
the South, venture to ask you 10 publish a
few facts in connection with his history, which
are directly within my own knowledge.
Inlss7 there was famine In South Carolina,
and the utmost horrors which that word can
conyey 1t was then our fate 10 know. / will
not trespass upon your columns for space
enough 10 relate the causes which Induced
this calamity; suffice 1t 10 say 1t was here In
our very midst.
One cold, raw afternoon, the snow falling
fofh n oil ynno n n fha haI n
dist Episcopal Church South. had just returned
from visit To family, once one OF the
wealthest In the Stale, the mother OF which
had burned her cradle 10 make light and heat
by which to watch her dyin: child. when Gem
eral Wade Hampton called 10 see him and the
following conversation took place:
IL have Just heard" said the general, THAT
among the most necessltous cases In the COM
m4nlIy ia Timrod's; he is sick and unable 10
work, and the only man 10 housefnl of de-
pendent women. II is very delicate case,
but something must BIZ done for his relief
You, my dear sir, in virtue OF your holy Office,
can best undertake IL, 80 have brought you
sum of money 10 be appropriated for his
comfort as you may think BEST"
My father replied, ~ will go 10 see him at
once, and what / can will do most gladly,
but all his surroundings make 1t most en-
barrassing mission. However, when. he
knows, ,lhe motives which prompt me he can.
not be offended"
Immediately he set out for the visit and re-
turned In about an hour. Accustomed as he,
an old and experienced minister, was To
scenes oil suffering, he appeared completely
unnamed. N have had most distressing
interview" he began, II found The poor iel-
low looking very sick, but up. He caino into
The parlo. 10 meet me, and showed some sur
prise at my visit. Alter talking few min,
utes on different subjects, asked alter the
health OF the family. de told me there were
several members Of II sick. Then said I in
these trying times and In your feeble health
you must ma the burden OF their support
very heavy, and some Of your friends desire
you will accept the inclosed sum- The dark
blood mounted TO bis forehead, and the hectic
burned fsIcely oa his cheek as he exclaimed,
Il cannot think OF acceptiDgi II. shall be quite
well again In day or TWO und able to WORK Tor
myself aad family Come, come, answered,
don't feel badly abont it; you know We Con-
federates have nothing 10 oe ashamed OF In
our poverty, Bnd al least take 1t as loan until
you are able to work again, and Then yon can
pay 1t back to some OF Gods poor. Never
shall I forget the look with which, catching
both my hands, he In broken voice excaim-
ed, On, sir, will tell you the truth! GOO
himself must have sent you here, and Will
take the money as from him, for without IL ,
do not know what would have become oil u.s.
Shaking his hand heartily, / replied: wen,
Iake it then, as from the Master, and remem-
ber IL Is only loan, and you are 10 pay II
bSck to him double when you finish that great
poem you are going to write, and become
rich man."
Naturally, after such beginning my father
was acquainted with all Timrod's circumstan-
ces. and that he was never 10 want bgain Is q
mater beyond doubt. On the contrary, the
remainder OF his lie was sustained and
soo,hed BY every care and comfort that kind
ness and friendship could devise. That he
was In want at all was the misfortune OF inc
people among whom his lot was cast. he had
staked all and lost all but honor for cause
which was dearer TO them and TO him than all
on earth besides. and whose sorrows one
might think are heavy enough to satisfy the
vengeance Of their deadiest enemy.
Ihave only 10 add that these iacts were
kept strictly private In my fathers family
circle, and would never have been made puo-
lie but for the frequent aspersions upon the
benevoieDce and public spirit OF the people OF
the South, and because those 10 whom the
publication Of the tacts would cause pain are
most Of them safe
"Ir the great cloister's stiffness and secusloo."
Respectfully, ).
The Advertiser in printing the above letter,
editorially says:
..sThe letter printed In another column from
lady In Columbia, South Carolina, concern
the last days OF The poet, Henry Timrod, Will
afford degree of pleasure to all who have
become interested In this poets verses and
his sorrowiul fate. That there was time
when he really suffered for lack OF common
comforts there can be no question. It Is some
satisfaction to be assured that this suffering
was relieved by apprecatlng friends before
he himself yielded up his hope fliving to DO
nobler things than be had yet done. The edi-
ton of Tlmrod's poems Is, We hear, already
exhausted by the unexpected demand in the
Northern States. 1t is TO be hoped another
v,li be Issued, including the Charleston Gem
etery ode, which was unfortunately omitted
from the last. We should be glad if the
sKatIe,' to whose praise he gave such charm
Ing voice, and who, we understand, re-
ceiyes needed benefit from the profits of the
sale of the work, might have such tokens OF
: the respect of the Northern people for her
lamented husbands talent as would show her
and all iu the South who loved him how little
political opinions affect our appreciation oil
real merit"
THE CIR HOOK MURDERER.
Nrw YopE March I