The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-05-09
THE LOST CAUSE.
Tho Rev. DR.. Lafferty's aon Lack Of Luck
with. Lee. YEEssS5 Are,.
Columbia Register, May 1

saWlIn. aLee' 2EstSaV I.rr,
Columbia Register, May1.
The audience which assembled at tn
Opera House last night on the occasion
of the second lecture in Columbiav of th
Rev. John +. Laferty",. BOTH in number
and quality was fine one and exceed
ingly complimentary to the lecturer
DR.. Laferty, who is the editor Of th'
Richmond Advocate, is gentleman o
fine presence, fluent and graceful deliy
cry and evidences by his platform utter
ances the possession Of a wonderful store
of knowledge and 8 peculiar. aptness il
imparting it to others in most pleasant
and entertaining manner.
The lecturer was introduced in happy
manner by the Rev. Marion Dargan, ane
his subject was "The Lack of Luckiwitt
Lee."
DIR. Daferty opened his address. by
saying that the annals of human affairs
prove that no nation, no individual, nc
cause.h ever succeeded without Be-
ries of lucky events. In the career o.
every great man would be found some
where fortuitous circumstance which
had turned his course toward greatness
In illustration the lecturer related in
peculiarly happy manner anecdotes Of
Murat and Lincoln, and at some length
reviewed the life of General Grant as 8
series of lucky accidents.
Grant, he said, had never heard oj
West Point until neighbours SOD, who
had been recommended for an appoint.
ment there, was rejected on account Of
having six toes, and Grants father se'
cured the appointment for young Ulysses,
who had the proper complement ofpedal
diguits and no more. at the beginning
of the war Grant sought an appointment
of General McClellan's staff, but missed
finding him at his headquarters in Gin
cinnati on three separate visits. Had he
found him he would certainly have been
appointed, and the lecturer believed
would never have been heard from.
Enlisting as q Captain; being the
senior among tho captains he became
Colonel, and being the senior among the
Colonels he became a Brigadier General.
He did not achieve special prominence,
and as matter of fact was about to be
removed to subordinate command under
General Banks, just before he undertook
the Vicksburg campaign. Banks was
not very brilliant in war, but was mighty
on foot race. especially in Virginia.
To get out of reach of the expected order
Grant cut off from his connections and
the order which was actually sent, did
not arrive until twenty.four hours after
he had gone. Before he received it he
had won victories which made him
man too big to think it necessary to obey
it.
The Vicksburg campaign gave him
the chance of Chattanooga, and as q
matter of fact the battle of Missionary
Ridge was an accident. Grant sent three
separate messengers after the fight started
to stop it, and Sheridan it was who
claims to have brought iton. A lucky
fog settled down on the heights, enab-
ling the Federals to come up and remove
the Confederate guns and victory was
won that made Grant famous.
Again the receipt of telegram by his
wife prevented Grant from attending the
theatre where Lincoln was killed, and
where he had intended to be. Take the
contract for the publishing of his menu
oirs. Grant was about to sign contract
with the Century Company to give them
the MSS. for $40, 900, when Mr.. Webster,
of the publishing firm that finally print.
ed them, called. Before he left con.
tract WAS arranged that has already netted
Mrs. Grant 100000.
But not only had Grant luck, but i'm
mense courage, to take advantage oft
He, the lecturer, knew of no geater il.
lustration of courage than that displayed
by Grant in his struggle against grim
death while engaged in the compilation
of his last literary work, undertaken to
preserve a roof and competency for his
family.
As further illustrations of the power.
full influence ofluck, DR.. Laferty related
the circumstances attending the discovery
of the "silver King" the richest silver
mine in Arizona, by prospector throw.
ing piece of rock at q mule. The rock
was broken and showed signs of silver.
The lecturer thought this the first in
stance ofluck out of lazy mule.
Continuing he showed how Napoleon
really lost the battle of Waterloo by eat
ing lamb and onions, which gave him
indigestion, causing sick headache
which necessitated q fatal delay until he
recovered.
Against tue arguments of modern logi.
clans against the theory that luck amount
ed to anything he would set the sayings
of Solomon, who was himself an example
of luck, for he was married 300 times.
Man believes in luck, and was q
natural gambler. The belief in luck is
morticed into human nature. There are
proverbs illustrating this among all ma
tions. It is better to be born lucky than
rich, for instance, also, "a fool for luck, "
and the ungallant German had one to the
effect that Fortune and women favored
FOOLS" There can be but very little
doubt, said the lecturer, that the leverage
of luck has often lifted individuals above
their merit.
The Confederate put on lustre to all
bravery, but be lacked luck. He was q
synonym for courage, but be lacked luck,
The gray jacket covered grit, but nos
luck. Grit is heroism crystalized. Spunk
don't express it. Spunk is courage a!