The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-21
a STORY OF LAMAR.
Little Anderson Discovered That He
Was "OnIy a Man." After All.

Was "OnIy a Man." After All.
Correspondence New Orleans Picayune.
Seeing the report from your Jackson
correspondent. stating that Hon. Edward
Mayes. was writing the biography of
Colonel Lamar. recalls an interesting in
cident that transpired in Prof. Mayes'
office at oxford. in September. 1871. 1t
was the opening of the university. and
many of the students were returning and
entering. On the train going up was
General E. c. walthall. Quite a crowd
of boys gathered about him, and he SEEM
ed greatly delighted by their presence,
and chatted with them in the most agree
able manner. When the whistle sounded
for oxford and the boystbegan to prepare
to disembark from the train, he said:
Young gentlemen, i am here to-day to
see Colonel Lamar, in my judgment one
of the greatest living men. If you will
call at Prof. Ed. Mayes' law Office at IL
o'clock, l will be glad to introduce those
of you that have never met him" The
boys promised to be on hand, and left
the train greatly pleased with having met
General Walthall, and wondering if it
were possible to find Colonel Lamar more
pleasant and sociable than the Magnetic
Walthall." They all knew him by this
appellation then as we'll as now.
At the appointed hour about dozen of
the young men appeared and were cour-
teously presented to the silver-tongued
orator of the south" William Anderson,
then of Vests, Holmes county, was among
them, He was about fifteen years old
small physique. rather nervous and quick
witted. He was one of the last intro
duced, and watched the reception as it
progressed, and listened Interestingly tc
the colonels words Of kindness, cheer
and hope to each young American as
he was presented. When his time came
he looked rather physically up into the old
statesman's face, and shaking his hand
said:' And this is Colonel Lamar?"
The shake the queer look and queerer
remark, made in a significant tone OF
voice, seemed to have electrified Mr.. La
mar, for he Strengthened up a little and
his piercing eyes fairly cleaned as he
looked down on the young
man, whom he discovered was about to
lengthen his remark, and seemed to be
rapidly wondering what he would say
and how he should be answered. Contin-
Jung with the same significant infection
Anderson said: after all nothing but
man, and would have passed on but the
colonel held his hand, and with a quick
steady shake of his head that made his
long hair tremble, and with an emphasis
that trilled and thrilled the soul of each
student present, as If by instantaneous
impulse, he seized the opportunity to
teach the young man q great moral truth
and at the same time be entirely respect
full to Anderson. Looking him squarely in
the face he said: MY young friend, it is
great thing to be a man." YES" re-
sponded Anderson. especially to be one
like Col. Lamar, honored and loved by all
the south, and admired by all the world >"
This agreeable and unexpected reply from
the young fellow broke the spell, and Gen.
Walthall and the other students Who had
been watching the tableau drew a breath
of relief Half an hour was spent in a
conversation that was edifying to the
students, and that the distinguished gen
tlemen seemed to greatly enjoy.
That has been more than seven
teen years ago, Anderson is busy
in his adopted state, Arkansas, solv-
ing the problem of life, as are the other
boys, who have grown up and scattered
TO the four winds of the earth, and Col.
Lamar sleeps in the bosom of the sunny
south, whose cause, whatever that cause
might be, he loved as he did his own
soul; but see now standing before me.
as have seen 1t a thousand times over
again. the panoramic view of Col. Lamar
and Little Anderson" as we called him.
forming an unusually interesting picture.
and hear now, as l have heard a thou
sand times over again, great statesman
teaching young men that it is a great
thing to be a. man." The phantom view
and the mysterious whisperings of a voice
less voice go and come ever and anon.
but the important truth ever remains
and II grows grander and greater, more
supremacy significant and sublime with
each recurring year.