The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-05-14
LETTER FROM WILLIAM.
A. Y. HARPER.
CENTRAL TEXAS, April 20, 1879


EDITORS CLARION: "Let no man dare writ,
my epitaph" was spoken by great man, un
der very peculiar circumstances and the prac
tice of writing up a man during his life Is o
questionable taste, and to be permissible, mus
have some consideration Of good involved. A
school-master was at large in East Mssissip-
pi Tor years, and wrote his recolections o
men and things, embracing outline sketches Of
such persons he met and deemed out of the
usual order of men for talents, public service
or well defined traits Of character, that would
interest the public This manuscript was
placed in the hands of Mr.. Jones, who frs
thought he would print it in a book; but the
poor school-master left the country, and Mr.
Jones selects few sketches, aud then, anc
sends them to me for The CLARION. A mum
Der of papers-some magazines-were anxious
to print the entire manuscript, but Mr.. Jone.
had made up his mind and there is no turn
ing him. Should the poor school-master ever
come to light and have money enough to pub
fish his book he what is the usc
OF waiting for that? The poor fellow is some
where, "toiling on, F." and has not money enough
give him a bold look in company. Poor
sacrifices, or considers your poverty? In the
great arcana of the gods will be developed fol
you a reward, to cover all your sorrows.
The following is extract:
.'Of course | took an interest in the Uni
versitv of the State and watched the annua
announcements with some solicitude, and hac
no small concern about the first honor mer
of the various years. / have heard some say
that first honor men are larger the day they
deliver their commencement addresses than al
any subsequent period. | thought | would
watch events, and test the matter by expert
ence Among the first honor men Of the
University, / selected Alfred Marlborough
Harper, on occouut of the eciot with which he
finished his course and received his degree, ano
determined to observe him | had never seeI
him, nor did |, at the time, hear of anything
except Of his brilliant graduation. In the
first place then, my object was to note th'
history Of first honor man. Soon ate
graduation and while attending the Law
Department of the University, Mr.. Harpe
married gifted lady, Miss Mary Moore, o
Oxford the equal Of her husband in intellect
and little inferior in culture. The first bust
teach at Garlandsville, in Jasper county. ii,
had large school, and managed it mos
admirably After he closed this engagement
he resumed his legal studies, admitted t.
the bar, and located in Brandon. He soor
acquired good practice, and at the breakin!
out of the war was chosen Major of Thornton
9th Mississippi Regiment, of which Gen
Robert Lowry was the first Lieutenant Colonel
Subsequently Mr.. Harper became Colonel o
the regiment and won for himself and for hi
command a distinguished reputation He serv
ed through the entire war, and resumed tn
practice of his profession the return o
peace He moved to Forest, in Scott county
and was elected District Attorney. In this ca
paeity he made his reputation as a lawyer o
research and as a speaker. The Jackson ba
was in his district, and he encountered Fulto1
Anderson. VIM Yerger, Wiley p. Harris, Geo
J.. Potter. T. J. Wharton and others, and eac
and all of them deemed him a foeman worth
of their steel i met him about this time, no
however, until after he had established hi
reputation. | shall not soon forget my mrs
impressions of this man. had heard OF HI
pecuIiariiies and listened to many stories abou
his child-like credulity. | was on the tran
passing Forest, and when ii stopped ther
came on board a small man, with rather
pleasing countenanee bald head, dark com
plexion. black eyes, and rather a shutiin
gait He had his hat in his hand, and passe'
through the coach wearing broad smile, bu
speaking TO no one He seemed to be lookln
for some one, whom he did not find. lie ha
had hardly shut the door behind him when
heard half dozen voices says that Is All
Harper " | went to the window OF the coac
10 look for him, and saw him on the plat
form with hat still in hand, gesticula
ting rather freely and talking IN
rather hurried vet not excited manner
observed his dress was not at all peculiar
being A suit OF genteel black, proper for
gentleman OF his age and profession. The onl
thing remarked rs being at all peculiar was
that he wore no crayat; and L can't say "h
1t is, but, when l see gentleman, otherwls
well dressed. not wearing a cravat, feel tina
1t is in order to explain the absence OF Una
article of a gentleman's wardrobe. l couI
not hear what Col. Harper said, but coul
catch the pitch of his voice, ana us gene l'
intonations His voice was rather shrill. an
he seemed to laugh with much RELISH
train moved on and l saw no more 81 tlhl
for some time but during that year and snose
quently l met him number OF times. Iher
was a something about the man that ore" m
towards him, but nothing very special, unit
once / saw him listening to a story OF Wfons
from an humble citizen. knew mol IN
character of the conversation. 1t was slm pa
story, as he repeated it to me afterwards, an,
shed a tear, when he told me. AFTER Ool
Harper moved to Okolona | saw hlm NOR
frequently than before, and learned 10 loN
him more. While be has pecuiiarltles' IN the e
are magniied by common report Inc:
detract nothing from his manhood, but ma
cate the tenderness of child, the emotions Z
a woman, and the heroism of man. Noi
Harper is not generally known. | have hear
those who claim to know him misFepresen
him most. have heard it said that Harpe
is improvident, and takes things as they come
There could be no greater mistake. he lore
casts all his actions and natures all his Plaiss
He is represented as being credulous 70 !
degree bordering on folly. The truth OF TIM
statement is mixed with error. IL Col. mar
per has faith in man or proposition, 1t is IN
result q study and thought, and he is wllllnl
TO risk anything, everything until he u con
winced that be IL wrong. Then he Is utterly
fncredul0ue- From this factor in his organlza
6ioa arises one element of his strength as q
advocate-eaTnestness Earnest men rule To
world. He ID represented as simple IN al