The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-27
Death of William Pinckncy Starke.

When the rich or great depart. there are
long obituaries and mauSolcums, but the
death Of those who have not been fortunate,
and happen to be pcnnilcss and homeless,
scarcely raise Il ripple upon the surface Of
busy society.
Mr. Starlle was horn in the "Flatwoods' OF
this county. He was reared here. His father
W. W. Starkc, was in the Legislature repre-
scnting this people, when he was elected pres
idrmt of the New Bank then chartered ut
Ncwbrrry, which caused his removal to that
place.
Mr. Starlic to ,k the first honorS Of his class
i'm the South Carolina College in the year lSl2
or Il, and being wealthy, he then went abroad
travelling for several years over Egypt and
the far East. lie travelled with view of i'll
forming himself, and was ore Of the few
among us who was not only "trarelled' but
learned.
The war made him pcnnilcSs, and yet after
that great change in his condition, he never
pinned nor irctted, but was rs simple, hearty
and free from bitterness as guilclcss child.
IIc was never married. but lived and died
"aloue in the world as it were stranger In
Il strange land. We have often thought lie
had made mp his account, and was waiting for
the message 10 depart but he never intruded
his inncrmost sentiments upon the world. His
contemporaries who knew him we'll, were all
his devoted friends and will drop a tear to his
memory. The sudden and unexpected an
nounccmcnt of his death, just as the leaves OF
autumn began to fall, recalled the touching
lament:
$50 soon may follow
When friendships decay.
And from loves shining circle
The gems drop away!
Where true hearts lie withcred
And fond ones are flown,
Oh! who would inhabit
This bleak world ALONG?
The Register has the following true and ap-
propriatc remarks:
William Pinckney Starke died few days
ago whilst ON Il visit to Fort HILL the former
home of John G. Calhoun. and where he was
collecting such personal incidents in connec.
ton with the home life OF the great states
man MS might be used in the life of Calhoun
which The deceased had been for some time
engaged in writing.
The deceased. in late years known only to
his intimate te friends, in ante bcifum days was
one of the wCalthicSt young men OF the state,
n man of wide travel, and widely known
throughout the country as gentleman Ol
leisure and rare cultivation he was remaria,
bic wherever known for his brilliant, social
gifts, aS Il rcconteur unrivallcd.
In latter years the deceased charmed all
who net him by his wit and infinite humor
whilst lie aStonishcd even men Of learning by
his profound knowledge OF the Bible and his
rare scholarship, Like Swcdenbnr5 In his
day he would ''rusile the gowns Of an whole
university" even in this age uf bUnstcd cul-
turn.
The deceased was over sixty years Of age at
the tine OF his death, and had lived all the
weary years since the war rs simply as her
nit, loving the world only for the SAKE OF his
dear friends, whilst he lonsel for the beyond:
TO him the pale viSitant was welcome, and
the lot OF common humanity an opening OF
the Pcarly Gates. 49,
".\laS, poor Icrrlck I knew him Well. We
nc or shalt look upon his like aSain!'