The Greenville times., 1891-01-24
"A VANISHING RLCE.s
oh, he times before the war
Like q bright illusion shines.
Al, the times before the war

Ike bright illusion shines.
Al, the times before the war
Like a glorious sun declines.n
The following eloquent and feelius
sketch is re-published because of IL
merits of composition, of its recall O
"reminiscences which will touch III,
hearts of many. And because th,
Editor Of the TINES would share il
the tribute to one, the late Gen1 w. L
brandon, whom he held-win il
memory ever hOld-in the warmes
affection and highest esteem. He wa
the highest type Of gentleman that th,
vanishing race" held within all it
membership; the courtliest, the gen
tiest, the bravest. All Mississippianl
who possess pride of State-whC
would teach their children love Of
nobility of soul aud purity of aims
should hold this grand figure of msn,
hood in honor aud devotion.
When the clash Of arms drew hin
from the secluded section in which he
dwelt Gen. Brandon was already
quite advanced in life-was probably
the Oldest man of his regiment. But
love of country and heroic srdor
thrilled and lit up no higher, brighter
flame in the young spirits, among
whom were his sons and ncphews,
who surrounded him, than burned in
his breast.
That Gen. Brandon's strong and
well poised character, his attractive
personality, his eminently social tcm-
permanent did not win him wider fame
was owing to his extremely isolated
locality and bis love of home. In his
home and neighborhood-southwest
ern Wilkinson county-the halo ofthe
old regime shone with its purest light.
Though its warmth aud glories, the
associates who could recall with him
their memories, his war comrades, the
graves of some of whom dot every
Virginia battle-feld-he long outlived :
IN. q. States.1
A short time since the Birmingham
News referred in fitting and eloquent
words to the old-time Southern plant
ers who were famous for their chival-
ry, their lordly manners and princely
liberality; and, indulging in some per-
sonal reminiscenct S, our contemporary
said:
"The st. Charles Hotel In New Or
leans, was the capital of peculiar civ
ilization. Men and women who dined
there loved the soft winds and deli
cious wines that made life worth living.
Its dreams were invested with aspira-
tions as bright as the sunshine and de-
licious as the breadth of this Southern
Egean that almost laved the skirts of
the then epicurean city. The st.
Charles is a monumental hotel, telling
of an extinct race as unlike modern
adventures, the Warmoths and Quays
and Wanamakers aud the new nobility
that sprang from the womb of war
and speculation, as gods were unlike
meu. The 81. Charles Is monumental,
and its history is the history of an ex-
tinct civilization, the noblest and truest
aud bravest and most generous, whose
deeds and morals have adorned the
pages of books or live In laws and
government
The eloquent and true description
OF the men of the old Southern regime,
Is forcibly recalled to mind, by the re-
ceipt of the Woodville, Mississippi Re-
publican, of some months ago, contain
ing an eloquent Grafton delivered by
our old time friend Judge II. s. Van
Eaton, OH the life of the late Gen. w.
l.. Brandon, of Wilkinson county, one
of the finest types of the old Southern
planters, and who died last summer at
the advanced age of 90 at the home
where he was born and where he had
lived all his long life.
A very few brief years more,
and the last of these venerable men
will have disappeared from these
earthly scores. Truly, in the words of
the News, they were "a race as unlike
modern adventures, the Warmoths,
the Quays and Wansmakers and the
new nobility that sprang from the
womb of war and speculation, as gods
were unlike men, Whatever faults
they may have had, 1t must be conced-
cd, that neither meanness, nor coward
ice, nor cruelty were amongst them
while IL just as true that their virtues
we're those that best at aud adorn the
highest manhood That they were
proud, somewhat disposed 10 be over
bearing and dictatorial, no one can
deny; but that honor was their rule
of life; that they were generous, that
their courtesy gave sweetness, aud
grace. and beauty TO seclety, that their
hospitality was open-handed and un-
bounded, and that they were brave,
loyal aud true, oil who know anything
of Southern life before the war VIII
testify.
That society was not, as has been
alleged. an aristocracy of slave holders,
or an aristocracy of wealth. 1t was
All aristocracy of race. or more prop
crly speaking of free men, founded on
the institution of slavery. Professor
MahaGy, in his admirable work on
4social Life in Greece" attributes
largely the high and noble spirit OF
that people, who sustained so glorious
a republic, and so grand a civilization,
TO the influence of slavery upon the
national character. The Greeks were
masters. "The poorest citizen was, in
some sepse, an aristocrat. lie had
something to be proud Off Liberty
was the privilege of his race or class,
and It was therefore infinitely more
precious to its possessors than to those
who enjoy 1t in common with every
race aud every menial.
And the same is true of the Roman
Republic. Slavery was the basis OF
society. The Roman citizen was also
/. master; be belonged to privileged
order bis spirit was high aud proud
and naughty; and liberty, to him, was
something TO be loved, to be fought