The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-06-22


OF color, and in the midst of them
) serene, unafraid might be seen oc
caSionally a dainty; high-brcd cir
picking her leisurely way. 1t made /
possible for me to realize as never be
fore the ante -bellum life OF the Stat,
OF Georgia, for it is only in an oc
caslonal slow-moving town like thi
that one can see distinct survivals o
all that classes OF the old-time South
My Inquiry for the general brought
out the grateful fact that his towns
men held him in high regard. wa.
assured that he was very fine ole
gentleman, and one man recalled with
pleasure that, at the Atlanta exposi
tion, General Longstreet rode horse
at the head Of the procession and that
the people cheered to see him pass
erect and soldicrly. He lives on q
farm just on the edge Of town." my in
iormant said, and, taking his direc
tIon, angled away, along the
straight road toward the suburbs. [,
was November, and little darkies were
raking and burning leaves, and the
smell was wonderfully fine and pun
gent.
| looked for u large, old-fashioned
Southern place, with pillars and wide
hall. Instead, the house was an ordi-
nary story and a half farmhouse, such
as Northern carpenter might build.
I board nailed to u tree of cred wine
Tor sale at Il very low price, and | saw
an extensive vineyard across the road.
n lean, farmer-lil1e person told me tn at
General Longstrcet was in his vine
yard, and there | came upon him,
scissors in hand, busily pruning his
vines. He is big ola man, STOPPING d
| little now, and slow at gait. He wears
| long white whlskcrs, cut away from
the chin. His hair is white as wool,
but his skin il ruddy as though sleep
and good digestion were still his TO
command.
We talked for a time about his gar.
den and vineyard. get out every
afternoon" he said land work about.
find the sun add air does me good"
One OF his arms is a little disabled,
and he is quite deaf in one ear. He
could not hear very well in the open
air and at his suggestion we returned
to the house.
live with my tenant. He is a
veteran OF the Northern army" he said
at the door, and there was u slight
smile oout his eyes.
The house was small and plainly
furnished and out OF it the genera. re-
tains but q single small room in which
he sleeps and smokes and writes.
AS we sat together and talked of the
war and Of the great union commander
his old comrade at West Point, | be-
came aware that was in the presence
of very remarkable personality, not
merely great soldier, according TO the
estimate OF Grant and others competent
TO Judge, but also thinker of unusual
originality, and a brave, high-minded
citizen. He was great enough and
mdgnanlmous enough to utter the
finest eulogium of General Grant ever
spoken by SOntherner and one eX-
cclled in its real comprehension OF the
man and soldier by q few from any lips
whatever | refer to the address AT
Boston last summer.
He talked Of Grant with affection
and with clear-sighted knowledge Of
his whole career. He was highly
honorable man as we'll as great man
~ man singu!arly free from vulgarity
and profanity. His life was uniformly
good and tIu: and kind from the time
he went to West Point unCll he died"
was his Judgment.
Grant on his part admired Long
street and loved him for own sake as
well as for his close relation to his life.
General i Lbngstrect was kinsman of
the Dents and was present at Grants
marriage indeed, "best man
w III Y,
Jefferson barracks in ~, in Louisiana
in 10, and then for three years in
Mexico and they met once in ST. Louis
alter Grant mad resigned from the
army. They met neXtat Appomattox.
After the first fOrmalties were over
Grant stepped uD to Longstreet and
hooking his arm in his and calling him
by his old West Point nickname, said
in voice filled with emotion Pete,
let S see II we can't return to the happy
old days by playing game Of 'brag.
Great Cod exclaimed Longstreet,
beneath his breath. "Why will men
fight who ought to be brothers ?"
What could big, liberal. inded.
honorable man like LOngstreet do but
join hands with his magnanimous con-
qucror and lifelong friend and say
sam, III do my part to reconstruct
our torn and dismembcred nation"
This he has done. He left the war be-
hind and set his face to the future. He
fought, and fought hard, but when the
fighting was done he was done fight
ing. He steadily upheld every measure
which in his judgment would restore
the union and peace and harmony
soonest, no matter what his critics
might say.
1T does not appear in General Long.
SIreeJ . Idlk IndI nc nous any Dltter-
ness towards his detractors. He talk
ed like a philosopher, u getlenman and
u lover OF the whole of America. He
made most powerful impression upon
me. First OF all it was " shock to find
so great a figure living in such cramp-
ed conditions. lt'made me understand
that was in the land OF the conquered.
His homo was burned some years ago
during his absence, and all his books,
papers and pictures were destroyed.
His wife is dead. and his sons and
daughters live far distant from him {;
therefore he sits alone in his little
room and smokes his pipe and dreams
of the epic days of the war.
! He has no pension, as the victorious
| generals have, though be carries a
| wound in his throat which makes his
| speaking difficult. | could not think
of aman Of his rank in the Northern
army left so utterly one side. This
man, who set the first flag on the re-
! doubt back of the bishops palace at
Monterey, fifty years ago; who saw
! Grant win his promotion at Molino del
R"yi who was present at b is marriage;
who entered the SoutherI army just in
! the fullness OF his power and who won
! his way by leaps and bounds to fore
most place in the battle line OF 1868,
and position second to none in patrio-
tism when the war was over--is now
"a