The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-15
Pen Picture of Benjamin Il. Tillman.
"A. +. Williams, in Greenville News.

"A. +. Williams, in Greenvllie News.
ANDERSON, May lo.-The first time
| saw Ben Tiillnan Was on that mo-
mentous day in the fall of 1876 when
the t,dyetieid and Laurens delegations
to the House of Representatives were
stopped at the door of the State House
bv Federal troops. 1t was just after the
Most serious crisis this country has
known since Fort Sumter was flred
on-lhat tremendous fifteen minutes
during which mass Of luturlated
South Carolinians were WaVerlnS De-
tween obedience to the desperate lnl-
pulse that moved them to advance
thirty PAGES and storm the door OF the
State House over the small group of
blue clad men representing the Federal
government, and the pleadings OF rea-
son and patriotism expressed by Wade
Hampton standing upon the steps halt
way between the opposing parties.
The danger was over for Il time; that
shot that would have snapped the
strained bonds that held the people OF
the two parties throughout the country
had not been fired. Ben Tillman was
lust inside the door of the State House
leaning against one Of the big !uteu
pillars there. His breeches were IN his
boots and his dress in no way differed
from that of hundreds of men who were
there that day from the farms OF every
part of the State. He was noticeable
because he was apparently lost IN
thought Of something far OFT while
everybody else was watching with
painful eagerness the events llnmeol-
;ltely passing and because there was
about his mouth a cynical and hall
mocking expression as if he dlsap..
proved all that was being said and
done. Somebody said it was Ben Iill-
man. | do not remember seeing MIN
again until yesterday and did not near
of him again in eight years. Yet there
was something in his personality thaC
impressed me without the speaking OF
word or the movement Of a limb.
On all the many occasions IN recent
times when I have heard or read OF
Ben Tillmau he has come to my mem-
| Ory as he was then.
Close and curious study OF his form
and face since we met on the train
bound here yesterday does not enllgh--
ten me It's to why this man has remained
in my memory while thousands OF
Others whom l have seen and talked
with and been in many places and ways
thrown with since then have faded
| from it. He is not a large man-just a
little above medium height. He is
slenderly but compactly built-not a
model III Guild or carriage or mould OF
limb, and not noticeably awkward. He
dresses neatly. wearing apparently tor
this campaign a black diagonal suit.
| Probably the noticeable feature Of his
face is his mouth. He has, as Carlyle
said of Daniel Webster, an "angry''
shut mouth. 1t is inclined to droop
lust at the corners after running straight
across his face. 1t is shaded by rather
short and scanty moustache of reddish
shade. The nose is we'll cut, prominent
and shapely. Mr.. Tillman's one remain
ING eve Is dark hazel, full, clear and
brirht-decidedly fine eye and i'm
pressing one with the idea that he lost
his best feature when the other was
unfortunately destroyed. His hair Is
dark and without gray, his forehead is
| Seallleu Will ooi'IS 1iiiSo VI Sh"'soIS ~
care, he is forty-tour years old and
doesn't quite look it. That is the man
as nearlyas words can photograph him
as he appears in repose. ,,
, He is rather demonstrative-a little
boisterous perhaps-in unrestrained asso-
citation with his friends. He has curl
Gus habit when amused Of doubling up
suddenly at the waist and enjoying
his laugh, to which he seems easily
moved, almost in silence. He talks
easily and clearly ending a SEN
tence now and then with some
what fiat drawl and pulling those
depressed corners of his mouth down
a trick OF voice and feature shared by
his elder brother, "Uncle George" he
is not a handsome man and not an
ugly one; his face is a strong one and
there is something in it that impresses
itself on the memory. He is not an
illiterate man and only occasionally
drops into the misuse of bad grammar,
which is habit many Southern public
men have in speaking to mixed audi
ence. He doesn't use tobacco, doesn' I
drink and says he has nearly broken
himself of swearing and has good
leading voice which he likes to use IN
singing old fashion hymn tunes.