The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-05-25
SIDNEY LANIER.
An Address by Gen. E w Noise.

graceful style, entertained our Grade on last
Thursday morning, With pleasant hours
talk on Sidpey Lanier, one of the grestesr of
Southern poets and critics. His talk was
certainly enjoyed, and we were all struck
with the clearness and forcibieuess CT hls
remarks and all wished that be had bad time
to talk farther. Through this medium We
Wish to express to him our regard and appte.
citation, and thank him for his instructive
address. Being thrown with Lanier during
the war, and becoming one Of his most init
mate friends. he was enabled to give US All
idea as to the real character Of the man.
shall Try TO reproduce the address:
Lsnier was born in Macon, Ca His is one
of the Oldest aud most aristocratic families in
America his ancestors are spoken Of 10 his.
tory as far back ss the Elizabethan period,
Soon after the war broke out be enlisted. and
il was during this period that Gen. Noise
became acquainted With him They were
both stationed near the James River very
near Bacon's Castle, and duriog the winter
season. having very little to do spent many
pleasant hours at the Castle, where there were
several accomplished young ladies Lanier,
being very bandsoue young officer and
very fond of yonog ladies' society, eas a
general favorite. de was very fond ofa rich,
young and beautiful widow. Mrs. Wilson,
and it was generally thought, if it had not
been for his friend Capt. Price, they would
ultimately have been married Price being
a great deal larger man, WOE the prize; in the
words of the General-the tallest pole Always
reaches the persimmon.
Lan!er was az officer 10 the Signal Service,
which position requires not only brave
spirit, hu. great deal of caution aud jadg-
ment. He was born musician and seemed
no better pleased than when playing the
viclin and fute, both of which he played ex-
quisitely. His father was almost afraid he
would carry his love for music too far and be
ft for nothing else, 30 persuaded him to give
up his violin. Sidney clung to his flute,
though, always carry ing it with him wberss-
er he went. Having 6xed button at the
bottom of his coat sleeve, by which means he
held it up, he never found his flute in his way.
10 after years at q Centennial held at Phila.
delpbia, be wss asked by BaJard Taylor to
write a cantata, which be did. This. vas
Published beforehand without any music and
vas severely criticised. Lanier did not mind
that; he felt that he bad the power in his
sonl-and he could wait until it was more
evident to the world and recognized by it.
But all of this time the poetry in him had
not shown itself; be had never written any
thing. When he came ont Of the war the
steru necessity Of nekiug living for him.
self and family presented itself: and
he had to work very hard. It was
after this thai be began to write. Sore Of
his poems are simple aud sweet, such as,
'Ay Snrings," while others as s.Sunrise, u
have to be read and reread before yen caa
understand them. When you do once begin
to see into them, the oftener you read them
the more beauties present themselves. I.anier
was a poet of Nature, enc of his most beau
tifnl poems bears the simple title 'Corn."
In il be FIRST tells you that while you gaze on
field of waving, growing corn, you get
that beautiful view, thatiuspired feeling free,
it VAS not your labor that produced it, but
some other person by Gods divine aid. Then
he sho<s you how the corn takes in all that
it can get, absorns all the strength it can
from the cell, just 90 it will be enabled to
give bsck to the planter itself and all its
gatherings. So q poet gathers all he can
from mature, that he may give it back to
mankind. Music and poetry were closely
entwiued in Lanier's soul.
Reed, the great congressman, was asked
what statesman was. His reply was, can
eminent politician that is dead" So few of
our ZEAL geniuses are recognized until they
are no more
Lanier came out of the war with bis health
broken down aud for fifteen long years strug-
gled with the ravishing disease--coDsump-
tion. lie died comparatively young and
With his passing away the gen of one of our
greatest poets was laid down and the voice Of
our greatest musician was forever hushed.
c.. Rosa MOOD,
&eaoer Tenth Grade.