The Portland daily press., 1880-11-12
Characters of a Fools Errand."
NEW York Iimes1


ga FOOLS ErraAd" is, as has often been as
serted, record for the most part of actual oc-
currences in the South, especially of the expe-
riences of the author, Judge Tourgee. The
places and characters are but thinly disguised,
and we're easily recognized by Tourgee's
friends. Verdenton, which is SO prominent
In the book, is Greensboro, q handsome little
town of 1900 inhabitants, in Guilford county,
n. c. 1t was called after Gen. Greene of rev.
olutionary fame, and is only five or six miles
from the battlefield of Guilford court house.
Greensboro looks more Northern than South
ern, the houses being we'll built, with grounds
enclosed, and the streets broad and shaded
with large oaks and elms. About dozen
Northern families live there and are promi-
nent in diverse professions and industries.
Colonel Thomas B. Keogh, a Wisconsin soldier
during the civil war, went into the field a
Democrat, but came out stanch Republican.
He was Republican candidate for Congress
at the late election, and is publisher of the
North State newspaper. In Tourgee's story
he appears as COL Tom Kelley The Bennett
College, built by benevolent Trojan Of this
State, and dedicated to the colored people, is
the "nigger college" as the Southerners style
1t. II is sustained by contributions from the
Methodist church north, and is Low under the
management of Rev. MIR. Thayer and bis wife,
of Boston, and several other New Erglanders.
In one of the rooms of the college rourgee
wrote the greatest part OF "a Fools Errand,"
Summer before last, and wrote it in a very
short time, as he was overhowing with his
subject, and had difficulty in determining
what TO omit. The author offered it for $1,000
to New York newspaper to be published as a
serial for political effect. The manuscript
was declined, and then Tourgee would have
taken $500 for it. The John Burleson of the
book is DIR. Benlow, editor of the North State
He was four years in the rebel army; and was
afterward member of the kuklux, but re-
pented and is now doing excellent service in
is Ezekial JONES' and is at present living in
Virginia. The shocking account of the mur-
der of John Walters, which readers of the vol
ume will remember, is declared to be strictly
true. His real name was John w. Stevens;
he lived and was killed at Yanceyville, Cas-
well county; A prominent lawyer OF Hills
boro, recently talking of the crime, said that
Stevens was native who had become the
worst sort of radical, ana that his death gave
"great satisfaction" to the people of that re-
gion. He said that Stevens melted the negroes
to burn the dwellings of their political ene-
mics. He was arrested and tried ON this
charge, but as the trial was in TouIgee's court,
the Yancey villains thought that he would not
be convicted. Consequently they resolved to
put him out OF the way, and he was assassi-
mated in broad daylight in one of the rooms of
the court house, while 200 persons, black and
white, we're in the building. The murder was
nevertheless veied in mystery, and is still.
around "Verdenton," and though many of the
Carolinians affect to despise him, they really
esteem him as a most courageous, capable,
conscientious man.