The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-19
NEWBERRY, S. C,
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 80, 1889.
SUNSET cox.

We take the following from the
Charleston World of recent date. 1t
nav be matter of interest to our read
ers to: know why S. S. Cox was called
Sunset Cox. And we suppose the state
nnent of the World in regard to the
matter is correct: ~
M It may not be generally known, but
s is nevertheless fact that ex-Con-
ressman Samuel Sullivan Cox, whose
heath occurred few days ago, earned
he sobriquet OF "Sunset" by the fol-
Iowing beautiful piece of word-painting
ia the Statesman, May 10, 1858:
8 ssWhat stormful sunset was that Of
last night. How glorious the storm,
Sand how splendid the setting OF the
SUM- We do not remember ever to
have seen the like on our round globe.
The scene opened in the West with a
whole horizon full of gold interpene-
tratipg lustre, which colored the foll-
age and frightened every object in its
own rich dies. The colors grew deeper
and richer, until the golden lustre was
transformed into a storm-cloud, full of
finest lightning, which leaped in daz-
cling zigzags all around and over the
city. The wind arose with fury, the
slender shrubs and giant trees made
obeisance to its majesty. Some even
snapped before its force. The straw
berry beds and grass plots turned up
their whites" to see Zephyrus march
by. AS the rain came, and the pools
formed, and the cutters hurried away,
thunder roared grandly, and the fire
bells caught the excitement and rang
out with hearty chorus. The South and
East received the copious showers, and
the West all at once frightened up IN
q long, polished belt Of azure, worthy
of a Sicilian sky. Presently a cloud
appeared the azure belt, in the form OF
eastellated city. It became more
vivid, revealing strange forms of peer
less fanes and alaoaster temples, and
glories rare and grand in this mundane
sphere. It reminds us of Wordsworth S
splendid verse in his Excursion:
The appearance instantaneous]y dis
closed
Was CT mighty city, boldly say
- wilderness of building, sinking far
And self withdrawn into a wondrous
- depth, :,
Far sinking into splendor without end!
But the city vanished only to give
place to another isle, where the most
RsesutifuI forms of foliage appeared,
fmaging Paradise in the distant and
purified air. The SUM-. wearied of the
elemental commotion, sank behind the
green plains of the west. The ''great
eye. in heaven" however, went not
down without q dark brow hanging
overits departing light. The rich flush
OF the unearthly light had passed, and
the rain had ceased; when the solemn
church bells pealed, the laughter of
children out and joyous after the storm,
Z IS heard with the carol of birds; while
the farked and purple weapon Of the
skies stiil darted illumination around
Staring College, trying to rival its
angles and leap into its dark windows.
Candles are lighted The piano strikes
up. We feel that it is good to have a
home to be on the earth where
such revelations of beauty and power
may be made. And as we cannot re-
frain from reminding our readers OF
wonderful in our city, we
haSg ssgun and ended our feeble etch-
ing of a sunset which comes so rarely
that its glory should be committed to
immortal type.