The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-03-15

~ nis elements. He could devote him
seit sell 70 his beloved books and thus he did
WIN an asslduity that has rarely been
equaied. lie graduated as the host
SEhoiar sS and the best debater in his class
throughout his long life, Mr.. Stephens
was accustomed to refer to the davs snen,
AZ thens with his college associates ~
!he happiest of his life. His unessum.
ing simplicity, coupled with his genius
Ihadc him general favorite with aver
Dody, from the faculty down 10 tho doca
, i.ach and all found in him some claimant
OF congeniality, some rare trait of char.
acter, some special gift Of mind These
were indeed his halcyon days.
A QUESTION OF VOCATION.
mere was one disturbing element
however. Should he carry out the wish.
es OF those who had given him the oppor.
tuhity OF entering college? Should he
ehter the ministry? He made this mat.
.er the su4jec: OF long and deep refec.
t!on, ana finally came to the conclusion
,nat lie was untitled for the pulpit. He
nau no inclination in that direction. He
leiG that he had received no call to preach.
;hiiIiuding to this particular period of his
ne Mr. Stephens says: "My whole
thirst was for books. for science, and for
learning: Money had no further care
or thought for than just to meet my little
necessary contingencies"
Immediately after his graduation he
!nok charge OF Il school in the town of
Madison, and here for four months. nc.
coEding to his own account, he was the
most miserable of mortals. The desolate
grinding, exasperating monotony of the
school-room did not suit the aspirations
OF the future statesman. His sold revolt
eu, his whole nature, his desires, his in
cllnations, his instincts, rose up in arms
against such an environment. The only
break In this monotony was upon the
occasion of n revolt of some of his Older
pupils, who imagined that they could
frlghten the frail, youthful looking teach.
er. Upon these unruly young men Mr..
Stephens used the rod, to good purpose
One little episode of his experience in
hadison, most romantic one, Mr.. Ste
phens never breathed to a mortal until
long years afterward. With one of his pu.
piis, girl lovely in mind and in person.
the young teacher fell deeply in love |;
but he bravely put this passion aside
marriage was not for the poor student,
with no prospect of worldly advance
lnent, to the invalid who looked forward
to an early death, and so he condemned his
affection 10 hopelessness and silence.
From Madison Mr.. Stephens went to
Liberty county to teach the children of
two gentlemen. Other children, whose
parents were too poor to pay, were taken
into the school, and taught without re.
muneration, and in this way the poor
young man who owed his own education
to the generosity of others, begun to
manifest that remarkable generosity and
benevolence which will blossom around
his memory forever.
IN LAW AT CRAwFoRDvILLE.
In 1884 Mr.. Stephens, who was then
twenty.fou years old, gave up teaching
altogether, and returned to the up coun.
try to prepare himself for the bar. He
had an opportunity to enter the office of
MIR. Gray A. Chandler, successful law
yer in Warren county, but after tour on
horseback in the western portion of the
State, for purposes Of health and recrea
tion, he elected to return to MS own
neigiiborhood, purchase the necessary
books, and pursue his studies alone. He
began his studies at Crawfordville and
this village he made his permanent home,
and erected here long afterwards his
Liberty Hall, famous for its hospitality
the world over.
1t is said that Mr.. Stephenss appearance
at this time was surprising. Colonel
Richard M. Johnston, his biographer,
who was then q child had seen him for
the first time, the previous year, and sup.
posing him TO be boy Of fourteen or
fifteen was astonished to learn that he
was an adult man. His form was remark
ably frail and slender. His thin chest.
nut hair was brushed sway from thin and
bloodless cheeks.
The experience of Mr.. Stephens was
that Of almost young lawyers. Admission
to the bar did not bring clients. He had
serious fits of despondency, which were
varied by close application to his studies
and an interest i'll budding debating
society.
HIS FIRST FEE.
The leading lawyer in the county
where Mr.. Stephens cane to the bar was
Swepston G. Jefiries. This gentleman
had determined to move' Columbus, Ga.
Mr. Jeffries proposed i. Mr.. Stephens
to accompany him and become his part.
ner Mr.. Stephens declined, preferring
to remain among his friends rather than
70 to new country with hattering pros
poets of better success. The week after
his admission to the bar court was held
in Wilkes county. He attended this
court, leaving home on foot because he
had no horse. At this court he received
his first fee, or rather note for it. He
was employed by iIezekiah Ellington,
noted character in the neighborhood, to
regulate his papers, for which he receiv-
ed Ellington's note for $25, The first
case he ever had where he had to argue
the case before the court was in favor OF
James Farmer before the Ordinary Of
Taliafcrro, for which he received two
dollars in silver. Very soon after this he
was employed by James Hilsman in q
suit before the court Of ordinary for the
guardianship of child. Hilsman, an
intemperate man, married widow Bat.
tie. with one child. The relatives of
the childs father desired to take the child
and procure letters of guardianship, and
we're going to take the child from the
custody Of It's mother. The case created
great excitement. The Battles were a
Wealthy and influential family, and EN-
ployed the best counsel, and really had
good case. Hilsman only had Mr..
Stephens, a young lawyer whose services
he had procured for twenty dollars. Mr..
Stephens made great reputation in the
argument of this case. The eloquent
picture he drew Of the poor mother anu
her right to her offspring made every one
| f.o;t,soo of Moor HiIsman and