The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-08
disposed Any funds may be left with
either of the newspaper offices or at
Bonham Il Watkins law Office.
Mrs. NJ. J.. BoNHAM.
Henry Timrod.


the last few years interest has been to
great extent revived in the poets and
novelists of South Carolina. An asso-
citation is being organized to publish
handsome edition of his poems and
erect suitable monument to his men,
ory. 1t is worthy of note that this
movement began in Greenville, one Of
the greatest centres of education and
refinement in the State, and that it is
led by men of the highest culture and
influence. Let us, in accordance with
the spirit of the times, seek to know
more of this sweet singer, and not con-
denim the poems that came from his
pen because of our own ignorance.
Henry Timrod was born in Charles
ton, S. c.. December s, 1929. His faith
er, though a booll-binder, wrote good
poetry. He inherited from his mother
passionate love for nature. "Blue-
eyed Harry's" first misfortune was to
lose his father at the age OF eight.
Young Timrod was just twenty-three
years older than his lifetime friend,
Paul Hamilton Hayne. Being school
mates for several years, friendship
was formed, which lasted until the
poets death, October 6, 1867, and did
not end even then.
In 1872 New York publishing house
brought out "Timrod's Poems; Edited
with Sketch of the Poets Life, by
Paul II. Hayne" No finer biography
was ever written, for so exquisite was
the sympathy existing between the
poet and his friend that through the
memoir we may read the inmost
thoughts OF the singer.
One of Timrods teachers describes
him thus: .'Modest and ditfident, with
a nervous utterance, but with melody
ever in his heart and on his lips.
Though slow of speech, he was, like
Burns quick to learn. The chariot
wheels might jar in the gates through
which he tried to drive his winged
steeds, but the horses were of celestial
temDer. and the chariot car Of purest
gold.'
To love nature as shown in running
streams, grassy fields and blue skies
does not make one poet, but without
it there can be no poet like Timrod.
Although he lived in the city he longed
for the country, and one of the hap
piest times of his life was the long visit
to Hayne in his country home in Geor-
gia.
At the age of sixteen he entered the
University of Georgia, but he was
forced to leave before he could gradu-
ate by i'll health and poverty.
After leaving college he read law for
awhile under James l.. Pettigrew, but
his poetic temperament could not en-
dure so stern and methodical mis-
tress, and he soon gave up the idea OF
becoming lawyer His next venture
was to begin a close study Of Greek
and Roman literature, in order to Sc
cure position as professor of Greek
and Roman literature under his alma
mater. No vacancy occurring in any
college where he could be employed,
he accepted the place of tutor, offered
him by Mr.. Murray Robinson, Of Or
angeburg, and taughtin his family for
q number Of years.
During this time his pen had not
been idle, and he had contributed many
short poems to different magazines. In
1860 the best Of these were published
by Ticknor g. Fields, of Boston, and
both Northern and Southern critics
praised it highly. The New York
Tribune was especially loud in its
praises. No doubt, his work would
now enjoy worldwide fame, if the war
had not began just then. But as it was
Timrod was filled with hatred for the
invaders, and his wild spirit burst forth
in that series Of fiery war hymns which
many ahero sang as he charged to death
on the sanguinary fields of Virginia.
Especially worthy Of note among these
are "a Cry to Arms" and Carolina"
the latter having been set to beautiful
music. 1t is sung in many OF our
schools, and the opening lines OF the
chorus at least are familiar to almost
every school-bOy:
Ho for Carolina, that's the land for
me,
In her happy borders roam the brave
and free,
And her bright-eyed maidens-nonc
can fairer be,
Oh. it is the land of love and sweet
liberty"
He became war correspondent to the
Charleston Mercury soon after the bat
tic of Shiloh, but he afterwards resign
ed and returned to Columbia. There
he became associate editor OF a leading
newspaper, "The South CarOlinian,"
and began to think that he was pros
porous enough to carry out his long
deferred intention of marrying Miss
Kate Goodwin. This was Il beautiful
English girl, who proved herself i'll cv-
cry way worthy of her husband, and
who was always ready to chcerfully
undergo any hardships with him beside
her. She was the subject OF "katlc,'
one of his longest and finest poems.