Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-12
"'Tis but hut which I am quitting,
IT'S a cage from which at last,
1 lie a hawk my soul hath passed y

Like hawk my soul hath passed"
Yes, that pure soul is resting under the
shade of paradise; but the spirit, the genius
of the man, abides with us still, and beams
upon us from the many pages OF his literary
works.
But can Georgians ever cease to remember
how much they owe to him for the preser-
walton of those faithful pictures Of rural
life, those dewdrops OF purity so beautifully
crystallized IN the "Chronicles of Pineville'
and "Major Jones' Courtsh1p, f" those charm
ing views on the bright side Of things as
they appeared to our fathers, when honest
simplicity laid the foundation for the future
glory Of our grand old commonwealth AS
a prose pastoral carried to success, mas
terpiece sui qeneris In the field OF humorous
literature, the writings Of "Msjor Jones"
will hold their place as long as Christmas
bells are rung-so long as there are loving
hearts and merry faces to gather around the
old fireplace at home. But to Georgian
they are the embodiment of something more
than this-to us they are the history of the
times and manners OF our people In the
good old days Of simplicity, now fast pass
ing away before the onward progress Of
business activity, educational facilities and
electrical movements.
To those who are familiar with that phase
of Georgia society as It existed during the
period Of which he treats, "Pineville" may
have existed under a different name; but
we know the place, we remember the
"musters" and the ''Msior" in his new
regimentals, "Miss Mary" and "old Miss
Stsllins," and "Cousin Pete"-theY are not
the fictitious creatures of gifted genius, but
rather he has left us pen pictures OF the
friends we used to know In the auld lang
sYne.
Had Colonel Thompson's labor ceased
even here there is enough in his literary
career to have endeared him to every Geor-
pian. but his life and services TO his people
are stamped upon every page OF Georgia's
political history during the past forty years.
His life was devoted to the benefit Of the
public. When the desolation OF war had
left our people In despair, and ere
construction" fell like dark cloud over
conquered people, threatening to extinguish
the last spark Of hope, he was the foremost
among those who rekinded the fires of
patriotism on the affairs of our country, and,
thanks to an unfsltering press, -
beneath the rule of men entirely great
The pen proved mighter than the sword,
And Georgia was redeemed.
You will pardon me, Messrs. Editors, for
dwelling so long on the services OF one
whose life is so familiar to your readers, but
1t is because we all revere and honor his
memory that I feel that | will be excused
for saying so much as prelude to making
a suggestion, and that is the propriety OF
taking some active steps at this time that
viii give his friends throughout the State
an opportunity of manifesting their appre-
citation of his life and services by contribut-
ing something towards monument that
will mark the last resting place OF this, one
Of Georgia's most illustrious sons.
The Georgia Press Association last May
adopted unanimously resolution appro-
priating one hundred dollars toward
Thompson monumental fund, but as far as
l can learn no committees were appointed
looking to the opening OF subscription Tor