The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-03-26
Beautiful Present EIOqueRtly Pre-.
scented.

L SchNtu.
| When in the course of human events f
| becomes necessary for an editor to speak o
| himself, he should not be charged with un,
| due vanity or self-cOnceit. Last Tuesday
| night, about the hour when Jim Haynes
rings the bell for candles to he put out, wo.
| men and children to go to bed, negroes to
| go home, and young men to go to billiard
| saloons, the Columbia HeIicon Silver Band
came to the front OF the HERALD AND MAIL
office, and played one or two pieces in a
most exquiesite nanner-the very identical
pieces played in the dark days of the war
by the splendid First Tennessee Band; thus
| revivtng memories of a sweetye moUrnful
nature. Shortly thereafter these recollec-
lions werN quickened by the appearance at
tie head of the steps of the noble presence
of Capt. w. j. WhitthOrnH, one of the most
gallant spirits of the First Tennessee. Then
Others came up, and among them Col. John
V. Wright, the silver-Jongued orator of Ten
neSsee, who was the most eioqCelt orator of
his age in the Halls of the L. =. Congress-
and afterwards of the Confederate Congress.
Next came the band, and when order was
restored, Col. Wright announced to the
writer of this that he was here to perform n
duty that had been given him by friend.
He held in his hand a knife of exquisite
workmanship, which Capt. James IL. An
drews had requested him to present to \. $.
HOrsley. 1t is i'm possible for us TO quote
correctly the eloquent and f1attering re-
marks ofCOl Wright, but we will be par
dOned for publishing the following card ac-
companying the knife, written by the gen.
erOus donor:
ToA. HERALD HoRsI.EY, ESQ. Columbia
TennesSee:-The enclosed is presented a
very slight testimonial of the high estima-
ton in which you are held by the donor,
and as he sincerely believes, by the entire
community, which has been benefited by
your laborS as an editor. The gift, though
a small one, is thought by the giver to be a
fit and suitable one. eThe article is a finely
polished and handsome one, which aptly
illustrates the person and manners of the
recipient 1t is composed of the finest steel
and Ornamented with the purest silver,
which is intended to show the firmneSS and
courage OF the editor as well as his shining
qualities. The edge of the instrument is
LeeaIy sharp, which is a fit representation (in
the mind of the donor OF that peculiarly
sharp and cutting wit which from time to
time charactcrizes the columns of the HER
AID AND MAIL The donor presents the gift
with the wish earnestly entertained, that
you may long live to enlighten and amuSe
your numerous and apnreciatiVe readers.
j. HfLARioUs ANDREws.
When Col. " right had finished, the band
struck up familiar air, after which the
humble individual who was the unmeriting
and uneXpecting recipient of all this honor,
got sufficient courage to arise to his feet,
and replied, in substance (dad IN part that
speaking was not his forte; some one in the
crowd cried out "Gen. Grant" which set
the crowd to laughingl-that he was no ora
tor like BrutuS and Wright; that he was a
plain, proSaic ink-sIinger; that he deserved
none OF the 1attering things said about him
all he could say under the embarrassing
circumstances, was to thank the generous
donor for his beautiful gift, and none the
less appreciated, though unmerited words
both the donor and the distinguished and
gifted person who had presented the gift. |
After this hating speech, which we have
improved in reporting, Capt. WhitthOrne
delivered happy speech, in his own bright
and felicitOuS manner, which few can equal
and none surpass. This speech was highly
conn limentary to tho unmarried, ard
therefore Junior editor of this paper, and
hence we cannot print it, hut it will be
cherished as one of the most valuable
things which man can work and live for
the good opinion Of one who has known him
since he has reached mans estate, who has
been with him on the tented field, in the
starving camp, the fatiguing march, the
storm of battle, and the no less trying scenes
of civil life-the good opinion OF one who is
htmslf a high-tOned, chivalrOus Southern
gentleman. Capt. Andrews took the band
up town, where he had basket or two of
champagne. The knife has these words en-
graved on it's back: \. Herald HoTSley,"
which latter individual says he intends to
keep as an heirloom in his family for cen
turtles. The whole thing-the beautiful
gift, the eloquent speeches OF presentation,
the big crowd, the band, and the surprise
is highly characteristic of this handsome
and genPrOus-hearteds son of Erin. May he
ever look as young and handsome AS he
now is; loved and cOurted by the ladies; al
ways have plenty money; always looked
upon by the young boys, bad and good, as
their king; and afterwards receive the re-
ward of one who has always been generous
TO his friends, kind to every one and I'M
Kind to none.