Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-06-17

done anything to entitle me to any such
place-such recognition"
There, there, judge, we know all
about that; we know what you have
done and what you haven't done, sir;
we know your record, You must under
stand that this is your duty, sir; to your
family and to posterity, to see that the
hard lessons acquired are not allowed
to float by on the whirling stream of
time; we must transiX them, sir make
them an enduring monument to your
Inherent aOOrth. What you are to-day,
sir land Smith felt it acaS something
more than he was yesterday, is due to
your own unaided efforts; and your biog-
raphy, embelished by one of our fine
art steel engravings, will be one Of the
greatest boons you could confer upon
your children and the world. You
have children, l believe, judge?"
Eight of them" answered Smith.
Very we'll; now want to commence
at your birth. and take you right down
to the present, through your early
struggles and triumphs, your law
studies and practice, incidents and de-
tails of your professional engagements,
and your Identification with state and
national politics We must have your
mental and material characteristics.
You know Carlyle says; "A we'll
written life is almost as rare as we'll
spent one,' and we want to write your
life we'll"
The associate editor proved to be a
magician. He secured a rich treat fol
posterity, by Transforming Smith from
a spiritless failure into a distinguished
lawyer with burdcnsome practice
who had won his way to success against
strong opposition; an able and forcefu
pleader; man of lofty motives anC
high ambition; a man who had re
peatedly refused political preferment
and, finally, a man whose marvellous
success in every department of life lef
wanting only a gifted and conscientious
biographer to crown it with a fitting
memorial.
The associate editor terminated the
interview by obtaining Smiths care
fully-written autograph to be in
serted under Smith'selegant, steel
engraved portrait. For the sake o
convenience, the autograph was writ
ten under printed promise t.
pay one hundred and fifty dollars to thu
editor of the American Biographical
Magazine for the engraved plate, N
charge whatever was made for TIN
biography,
Smith remained at his desk, Will
the dusk, gathering around him, hit
the haggard interior of the room S
that he could mentally surround him
self with the rightful appurtcnances o
the apotheosized Smith whom posterit
should know.
Twelve hours sleep and mcditatio
aroused Smith to the possibility of hi
biographical pretensions being deride
by those who would detect their bal
fallac;es. He knew a number of sue
discerning people in New Hampder
But, could he inform the associate &c
itor that he had been misled? Furthe
thought convinced him that the assoc
ate editor had not been misled. II
now remembered that gentleman's il
sidious promptings; and, notwithstanC
ing his vehement disavowal of venalit,
he decided that his enthusiasm was j
some manner contingent upon the SUI
to he paid for the engraving
There awakened in him a long do
mant instinct of combativeness, VIII;
right had the people of New Hampdc
, to assume that he could not have bee
all his biography should paint him? 4
first this feeling was vague and pu
poselcss. AS his mind dwelt upon IL
injustice of judging man by resul
rather than by potentialities, the ide
of proving his worth gradually toe
shape. He ascertained that the pu
=, LEGATION would not appear for thrC
= months. He delivered to tie associa
> editor a photograph from which Il
> engraving should be made pilot
II graph made ten years before, when Ii
had not broken so many of its pror
L Uses.
He then set about his work with {
= abundance of energy He determine
that nothing in his biography should
;, incompatible with that fidelity to tru
s. which should always Undue the hi
= torian.
His office was renovated and the lie
. tering on his door touched up. |
= rented the adjoining room and nail'
= the tin legend Private" upon the co
" Meeting door. He installed one of h
= sons as Office boy. One having busine
with him was obliged to send his nan
into the inner office, where Smi
!, busted himself with the papers of Ion
:, forgotten suits. He awol1e to the ia