Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-11
WITH THE CHAUTAUQUANS
Boy Life in Dixie," by Dr. R. B.
 Garrett. .~-,-@
MISS PRINTUP AND VIOLIN
Hon. H. W. J. Ham Delivers His InimitabIe Lecture on "The Georgia Cracker"
 Programme for Sunday.

Talladega, July 10.-(Special)- )-Thurs- day afternoon at o'clock Grambs' or chestra entertained the audience at the Chautauqua assembly hall with some very delightful music. After the concert at 4:30 pr. R. B. Garrett of Chattanooga, Tenn, was introduced and proceeded to delived his lecture, Boy Life in Dixie Before the War" By this and his pre- vious lecture, "A Chapter of Unwritten History Dr. Garrett has only added fresh laurels to his crown. He is Vir- ginian to the manor born, and his Boy Life in Dixie" is but series of touching "reminiscences of the old life in the south In his own words: What does life hold sweeter than the recollection of the days that are no more?" To him they are not death in life," but the pleasantest of all memories.
 At the beginning of his lecture he spoke in burning words of the heroes who wore the gray, of our southern wo- men of '61 and the old-time slaves the faithful guardians of our defenseless homes. But he declared that there was one character who had played a promi- nent part in the great struggle, and yet was unknown to the public-the south ern boy of 61. He described with won 
 his trials his sports, his joys, his sor- rows. He spoke of the not very palata- ble menu to which the boys in Dixie were treated every day, and declared that the Southern Confectionery made one great mistake-"if they had only au- thorized the free and unlimited coinage of biscuits, 16 to l. we could have whipped the world" The lecture con- tained many bright flashes of humor and rare bits of infinite pathos, and re- minded one forcibly of the familiar quo tation:
 There not a chord attuned to mirth But hath it's note of melancholy
 At 8 D. m. Miss Adela Printup of Rome, Ga, gave, by request, number of violin solos,. with piano accompan1- ment by Prof. Fred L, Grambs. It has truly been said that the violin is the sweetest of all musical instruments be- cause 1t most nearly resembles the hu- man voice. and Miss Printup is indeed mistress of her art. She completely fas- cinated her hearers by her beauty, her grace and her exquisite music.
 At 8:30 one of Georgia's most distin- guished sons-"one who gives reputation and fame not only to his native state, but to our entire southland"-Hon. H. w. J. Ham, was presented, and deliv- cred his we'll known lecture "The Geor- gia Cracker" Who has not heard this delightful little classic of humor from the lips of it's author is to be envied for the pleasure life yet holds for him. But surely the great humoriSt needs no laudatory words in his native Dixie where his name in more senses than one Is household word. He spoke in The be- ginning as one who knew that which he affirmed As to the Georgia cracker he boldly asserted 'Im him-one of the race of men who love their country be- cause it is their own, and scorn to give another reason. What is the origin of Y@II ries: Because they had a peculiar way of cracking their corn, because they often attached crackers to their whips and, lastly, because whenever Georgian cracked his rifle then Britisher bit the dust. .F.so-,-
 He spoke of the erroneous ideas af1oat gathered from caricatures by northern Deople of the Georgia cracker His graphic picture of him was very different "a man so honorable that it was actual ly considered reflection on a mans hon. or for creditor to ask for a note of hand in a business transactions; so hospftable that a rank stranger passing through the country would find his doors open wide for months, kind to his family, true to his country, hearty free, healthy and happy. Such @ lovable, noble character could have no better exponent than Col onel Ham, because, as he quaintly re- marks I'm him." The lecture abound ed in the daintiest and most delicate hu- moroua sketches and the most exquisite ly pathetic pictures.
 A number of the old plantation songs, such as Uncle Remus'' or "ole black mammy" used to sing to all the children, were rendered., When he sang in a full, tender voice that heavenly melody, I'm Gwine Back to Dixie," many. an eye in the vast audience was dim with unshed tears -7r aeg. <.f
 Concluding, he spoke of the product of this civilization-the result of the min- gling of the commoner and the cavalier. "It produced a race whose culture and refinement Greece and Rome in their palmiest days never saw, and which We in this money-grabbing age, God help us-will never see again." He then gave some notable instances.
 Would you behold a great statesman? Come with me and look at him, feeble and worn in body, gigantic in intellect and unwavering in purpose, protesting against secession, yet so'loyal to his na- tive state that he joined in her struggle and rose to the second place in the realm. See the product of this civilization in Alexander H. Stevens a
 Would you behold the great ecclesias- tic and teacher-a man of matchless elo- quence and wonderful magnetism? There is George F. Pierce.
 Would you behold great juror? One courageous in fighting the wrong; the purest and most patriotic of states men?-L. o. c. Lamar.
 Would you behold a great soldier? One who led the last forlorn hope of the lost cause on Atlanta's gory field-the Chevalier Bayard of the southern army who, like Henry of Navarro, was al- ways in the thickest of the fray? Gen. John B. Gordon.
 'Would you behold a great orator? One in whom all tender looks did so unite