Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-05-26

and re ioiced in his prosperity through
| life-if this is not enough, he may know,
! that he has inflicted a wound on paren-
tai affection that never will be healed
until memory is no more.-in short, he
has done an act which would glut the
revenge of a ruthless savage, whose chief
delight still is in shedding human gore.
! If he has a spark of decency left, re.
morse, like the ghost of Banquo will
| haunt him TO the grave and the
stings of conscience torment him, so
| long as he exists Under these impress
| sions. with wishing him no i'll, | leave
him to his fate.
pray you again to look for brighter
! things. Our duties demand that such be
the case. | should have Immediately
returned but ever being in the habit Of
presenting an opposing front to misfor-
tune. reflection told me | was better
away. My presence could afford no com
| fort, for alas from whence could com
fort flow where comfort did not exist.
know our friends around you will zeal
ously contribute their Sympathzing aid.
Nv head has been almost discovered with
anguish. partially attend the Hall, 10
arouse my mind TO other things
have endeavored to write to my
| friends. but if view not blood upon my
! hands like the wife of Macbeth, still |
behold il upon the hands of the man,
who has 50 wantonly shed it upon the
earth.
pray you to caution Augustine to be
! quiet even as 10 speech. When better
Informed | will write him. After some
| time | shall return home. Give my bene-
! dIction to the mourners of the house
and receive every assurance of my SYM
pathy and perfectly atfectionate regard.
JOHN SMITH.
have much other data from which |
could quote but have already occupied
too much space. In regard to the game
of cards. might add that it was not a
matter that was considered in the same
light at that time IS it would be now.
one other fact in regard to General
Smith will, think, prove interesting.
Several years ago | visited New Orleans
and at my Cousins found a large crayon
portrait Of General Smith done by 81.
Memin, from life about 1902, from which
copper plate was engraved, many i'm
pressions Of which are still in the pos
session of members of the family. de-
sired to have the portrait photographed
but before doing so went toa noted cray
on artist to get him to touch over a
| small place that had been damaged In
the picture As entered the door and
set the crayon up in front of the artist,
| hIs eye caught sight Of it and he paid no
| attention whatever TO me. After study
| ing the portrait for ten or fifteen min
utes he said, Where did you get that
| | thought | had seen all the different
! schools before but never saw that one.
| explained to him who had done the
work and he thanked me for bringing
! the picture in. Then, artist like, he be-
gan to comment on the original, saying
that was grand man, lofty ideas,
liked things elegant and big but had not
much ideas of distance or figures, but
full of the sublime, and that might well
feel proud of him as an ancestor.
My grandmother Dawson was Gener,
al Smiths eldest daughter She was
thrown from her horse and killed in
1873, at which time my father was q
months old, and he was consequently
reared by General and Mrs. Smith, and
he never spoke of them except with a
great deal of affection and respect.
1t is said that Mrs. Smith, during the
Generals absence in Congress, built the
house at "Hackwood,' a large, two
story building, constructed of blue lime
stone quarried on the place; masonry
being done by remnants of the Hessan
soldiers. who were held by General
Smith as prisoners during the Revolu-
! tion.
She is credited with having reared
and started in life at least fifty young
men besides her own children
Very truly yours,
EDWARD JAQUELIN DAWSON.