New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-13
JtRiST, WIT AND POET.
SOME SAYINGS OF JUDGE FAIIIGANT. or THE
BENCH OF BYGONE DAYS.

BENCH OF BYGONE DAYS.
spondence Of The Chicago Inter Ocean.
one Of the oldtimc judges Of the South is still
living. Judge Robert Fdlligant wit orator.
jurst and kindhearted. is known in every
Southern state He presides in the Eastern Ju-
dcial Circuit Of this state. His sayings are
quoted in every home in Georgia.
The story that has carried his name further
than any other is that IN which he astonshed
his hearers by saying that he had rather be a
fiddler on TIE coast Of Georgia than harpist
in heaven. 1t was at banquet. The Judge
was down to respond to the toast Savannah"
IL surprised when asked to respond. But
what could he do? The nature Of the toast
the sentiment Of loyalty to his home city. made
it impossible for him to re.rtat. quick as a
flash he on his feet with not a single pre-
moditated suggestion to offer. BY the time he
was completely warmed up he could not find ex
preston IN mere prose. He leaped to poetry
and Byron at that. When he rounded off the
climax like an actor the applause was deafening
and the Judge grew more fervent. This was
not enough. lie wanted to express his loyalty
TO his home in grander phraseoogy. He wanted
To say that he would rather DE the smallest
creature on the coast Of Georgia than the king
lest Of kings. and ne suddenly thought of the
little spderike crabs on the sands known as
bidders" why" said he. Il had rather be a
fiddler on the coast Of Georgia than"-and the
anithesis came quickly to his ready mind-'a
harpist in the kingdom Of heaven
Applause and laughter prevented further
speech, and the meeting broke up.
Judge Falligant in his younger days was quite
clever at verse. In lSjJ he wrote the we'll
known poem. which became "A popular song after
the war. OF with Your Gray Suits Boys
The verses were suggested by an incident Of
the times. Major Carroll Thomas came into Au-
guSta from his Burke County plantation one day
deckcd out in his full Confederate uniform. The
war was over, ana perhaps the reason the Major
wore his "regmentalS' was because he had no
other clothes to wear. He was confronted by an
officer of the Federal forces at Augusta who de-
manded that he take off his Confederate gear
II will not" said the Major land what is more.
would like to see YOU take them off" Judge
Fagant was in Augusta, and hearing of the
incident put it in verse. After he had written
what he thought would suit he came down next
day and read it over to an elderly relative before
breakfast. asking that he serve him as critic
The poet read the poem as follows:
of with your gray suits boys:
OF with your rebel gear:
They smack to3 much Of the cannon's peal.
The lightning fash Of your deadly steel
The terror of your war.
Their color Is like the smoke
That curled on your battles line;
II calls to mind the yell that woke
When the bastard columns before you broke
And their dead were your fatal sgr
OF with the starry wreath.
Ye who have led van
When followed you over the CORY heath
And whipped them man to man,
Down with the cross Of stars,
Too long has ii waved high
It's covered all over with battle sears.
But it's eleam the negro banner mars
'Tis time to lay it by
Down with the vows we've made,
Down with each memory
Down with the thoughts OF our noble dead
Down. down To the dust where their forms ire laid
And down with liberty
Winding off the last verse with so many
Downs the poet rccited the lines in his own
tragic way and turned eagerly to his aged rela-
tive with an expression Of triumph on his face
well. Bob" said the relative to the aspiring
poet, IF you have finished with your downs
let's down TO breakfast"