Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-01-14

But Mr.. Hand, relying on his OWL
oft-repeated belief, that Villains
is honest . always declared himself
so sure, of an honorable adjustment
that he would not even suggest it,
Eleven years ago, however, when the
shadows of his old age were deepen
ing, he yielded to the advice Of his
legal counsel, Judge Morris, of this
city. A letter soon brought Mr.,
Williams Northward, and then fol
lowed and adjustment, some of the
striking details Of which, given to
me by Judge Morris himself, now
probably appear for the first time in
print.
It was disclosed at this interview
with Mr.. Williams that for years he
had kept ngidly the accounts for the
$4,000 representing Mr.. Hands
interest in the Charleston business at
the outbreak Of the war. Againt
this original sum Mr.. Williams had
set his own services for twenty years
as manager, treating Mr.. Hand
throughout as though he were an
active partner. Profits, interest and
losses had been computed carefully,
and figured up year after year to a
cent; and the set Of accounts at the
time of presentation was absolutely
complete, and was accepted by Mr..
Hand without question. It showed
that Mr.. Williams owed his actually
retired but quasiactive partner $685.
600, for which the former. gave
six notes for $4,000 each and one
for s7S,o00-one note being payable
each year until 1888. These were
accepted by Mr.. Hand without
security. With interest added to
them, as. well as with the annual
interest on the whole remaining debt
at 5 per cent, they were paid by Mr..
Williams, usually before maturity,
and the last note for $4,000 was met
one year in advance. The sturdy
integrity of the southern creditor
may be better appreciated from the
fact that by law only small frac-
tion, at most, of the whole amount
could have been recovered and the
magnitude of the sum (s648,00O)
finally paid up was equally a sur
prise to Mr.. Hand and his lawyer.
1t is significant, too, that throughout
the transaction Mr.. Williams added
gratitude to his princely payments,
ever referring to Mr.. Hand as his
benefactor and the originator Of his
fortune.
The after history Of that great
fund derived from Southern honesty
has already been told. How, in
October, 1888, after it had grown, by
iudicious investments, TO more than
81 600 Aa0 81 ,2oa. was given
by Mr.. Ha5i to the American Mis-
sionary Association to be a fund for
educating the Southern negroes. To
this great sum, the largest up to
that time ever given to benevolence
by living American, is now added
by Mr.. Hands death some 100000
Immediately, and 100000 in reyer-
sion after the death of family lega-
tees. Out of the whole property of
Mr.. Hand, estimated at s1,600,O0o,
more than seven-eighths have thus
far gone for the noble purpose Of
educating the Southern freedmen.
But even more impressive, in these
days of fiscal distrust, than the mag
nitude of the gift is the story that
goes with it: The anti-slayery mer-
chant returning to the South the
fortune made in the slave States ;
that fortune preserved and increased
by the exc Confederate partner; and
both Northman and the Southron,
the Yankee Puritan and the ardent
Secessionist, eherishing sacredly
through diverse political ereeds and
the widest mutations Of affairs, their
common affection and their bedrock
honesties. Here, surely, is a truss
tale from real life more picturesque
and stimulating than the fancies OF
idealized romance.
A few words remain for the
two actors in the story. One, now
living, is prosperous banker at
Charleston, active il good works, a
.ferYent Methodist. The other, just
gone to his rewsrd at the age Of 80
years, was tail and erect in stature,
sinewy in frame, Intellectual in cast
Of face, dressing elegantly and more
like a statesman or q preacher (for
whom he was often mistaken than
the typical Yankee bred on the farm
he was a plain, even absteminous,
liver, never spending more than his
few thousands year. Mentally and
IN temper he was of the most positive