The Washington critic., 1886-05-19
FORREST AFTER THE WAR.
How lie Sought to Overcome His
Lack of Education.

LACK OF EuucuttOn.
EUiTon Critic: Your little anecdote OF
General Forrest and his proverbial defiance
OF the rules OF English grammar, as told
by Colonel McIuro, appointment clerk for
the Postofllce Department. remind me that
while in Memphis shortly after the war and
for several years | was brought into fire.
quent association with General Forrest and
knew him well. lie was good citizen and
true man. Not soldier In the Coufed-
er0cy ever accepted the results Of the war
With greater honesty aud manliness. lie
looked upon the new order of things as he
would have looked upon q new revelation,
and he seemed to feel genuine pride in the
thought that as citizen OF the restored
Union II lay In his power to do something,
however humble 1t might be, towards re-
building that which had been DESTROYED by
the shock Of war and contributing of his
own energy and industry to the common
prosperity of the country. Hence he was al
ways found conservator OF the peace,
always on the alert to keep his old com
pauions In arms on their good behavior,
and always furnishing in his own conduct
an example that they might safely follow.
In this way Buford Forrest exerted wide
and beniicent influence ameng a class OF
men whom no other man In West Tennessee
could so nearly approach. What Forrest
said was law and gospel to many men who
were prone to unruly resentments.
II was now that he began to feel very
keenly the want OF education. lie had the
universal confidence OF the business com
munity aud had been elected president OF
the Planters Insurance Company, posi-
tion which afforded him an ample salary,
at the same time that his personal popularity
aud military celebrity made his selection
for this important trust advantageous to
Ia ppt m Rtit I'm 30,
consider the place an honorary snecurc.
lie conscientiously felt that being the
chief officer OF the company, 1t was his
duty to labor In all ways for its interests
and to enlarge its business And here be-
gan his real and only schooling. lie not
only devoted himself to a careful stu ly of
the principles Of insurance and the details
of its methods, often coming to the office
Of your correspondent with inquiries for in-
formation and having no hesitation In ask
ing even the commanest questions, but he
also took mp the rudlmentary English stu.
dies grammar, arithmetic and geography
that he might better equip himself for the
duties before him. He realized the disad-
vantgges at which an ignorant man was
placed, and, though well along in years.
worked hard and faithfully as any school
hoy ever did to overcome them. | was
much impressed with the mans earnestness
and zeal, and learned to admire his excel
lent qualities Of head and heart. He threw
all his antecedents behind him and looked
only to the future. He was as man new
born, brave as lion, yet supplemented as
child. The rugged uncouthness Of his
nature, so terrible in war, gradually melted
away in the benigner atmosphere OF peace.
Whatever he may have been, was the result
rather Of circumstances than choice For
rest was undoubtedly the making of an lln-
common man. Had his life been spared he
would have demonstrated it conspicuously
to the country. ~ d. s.
WASHINGTON, May 19.