National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-19
BESSIE PAsCHAL WRIGHT
Engages Ready Pen in Defense OF Her
Fathers Honor.

The Atlanta Constitution of Tuesday
contains the following: Colonel Sparks, in his
last article of a series titled, "reminiscences OF
Georgia. makes readable and sensational story,
but, like many such, deals more in fancy than III
fact Colonel William H. Sparks asserts that
George w. Paschal went to Arkansas with MS
brother in 1896 married Miss Ridge, and prac-
ticed law there. Depending on biblical dates MI
Paschal was born in Green County, Georgia, IN
1872, making him in 1876 according to Mr. SparksJ
married man and a lawyer at the tender age OF
fourteen George W. Pasehal was admitted to the
bar in 1882. In 1896 he was lieutenant under Cen
eral Wool who was consigned TO the duty OF con-
dueting the Cherokees to the West. Mr.. PaSchal
married Miss Ridge the daughter of John Ridge,
in this year, and migrated to Arkansas, where an
especial law was passed for him to hold the once
of supreme judge, being under age at the time In
1S4S he removed to Texas with his wife and chill
dren not deserting them as Colonel Sports or
Sparks states. If his sons were at hand and pos
sessed Indian procliyities they would certainly
scalp any man who so wantonly attacked the
memory of their dead father father so unselflsh,
so devoted, so helpful theirs. II this saVors OF
warmth or bitterness, it can be pardoned when
the fact is known that the article Is Wrltten
by his youngest daughter, who has no de-
fense save her pen, and can only hope IN this
instance in its being mightier than the SWORD.
MI A. U flluule, D1StTlCt-i1ttOihCy vi
ton, d. c., in his speech at the meeting OF the
Washington bar, in commemoration of the death
of the Hon. G. W. Paschal said at its close: He
lived and died man. Every inch, fibre, instinct
was pure, manly, strong, brave, gentle tender,
loving True TO his generation, true to his kind,
true to his country, TO his God true husband.
true father, true counselor, true friend What
more can be said {? The eager, friendless youth,
point him to the example of Paschafs early life.
To the timd doubling. hesitating citizen, in
hours of peril and darkness, offer the example OF
his ripper years; to the lawyer, old or young, his
whole career. His life has been blameless, his
country had his best exertions. He leaves his
name and memory to his children the result of his
example, the lesson of his life, to all children.
Mrs. Myra Clark Gaines, whose lawyer he was for
many years, has said: He was the only man l
every knew who never did a mean thing, never
said mean thing never thought mean thing.
But after all it is only those knowing that noble,
generous, gracious inner life who have right to
speak. To me he was father, mother conlrade,
counselor friend. And although. Colonel William
Sparks assertion Is q fy-speck on a great pane
of impid glass, it is worth while to remove it; and
my heart and voice must cry out at even word of
injustice against my fathers beautiful, fair, and
unsullied name Colonel Sparks tropical imagina
ton has run even greater riot where my uncle is
concerned. 1t reads like a French romance; but
his widow and sons survive him. and to them
leave the task of clearing the memory of their be-
loved and lamented dead.
BESSIE PASCHAL WRIGHT"