The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-06-28
TIMROD.

last meeting by Mrs. Il. y. Webb:
The Bible says a prophet is not
without honor save in his own coun-
try, and this applies equally to men
of verse. A lady who had gone to
Boston for course in music told me
a short time after her arrival mem
Der of certain Literary Society in
vited her to be present at their meet
ing tnat night. The South Carolina
woman said: II can join no societies.
I am going to give all my time to
music" The Boston woman answer
ed, "but you must come this time, for
this is Timrod's night" Yes, away
up there in Boston they were honoring
our poet and studying his life. and
works. And I'll wager good deal
that we South Carolinians, by birth
or adoption, know less about Timrod
than almost any poet Of equal genius.
I, for one. must plead guilty until our
President made it my pleasant duty
to study his interesting life, and I
give few facts I have cleaned.
The name of Timrod has been close
ly identified with South Carolina for
over century. Before the Revolu-
tion Henry Timrod, of German birth,
founded the family in America. He
was prominent citizen of Charleston.
His name is on the roll of the German
Fusiliers Of Charleston, volunteers
formed in l775. In the next genera
tion Capt. William Henry Timrod
commanded this same company in the
Seminole war, and in the peril of St.
Augustine. He was father of the
poet, and himself published volume
Of poems in the early part Of this cen
tury. Washington Irving said of his
"To Time-The Old Traveller that
Moore had written no finer lyric.
Henry Tinrod, the Southern poet,
was born in Charleston, S. G. The
poets mother was daughter of Mr..
Chas. Prince, Of Charleston. Her in
fuence helped to form his character
and his intense love of nature. His
life was cast in the seething torrent Of
the civil war. His voice was the voice
Of Carolina and the South. He was
the poet Of the "Lost Cause the
finest interpreter of the feelings and
splendid heroism of brave people.
The earliest edition of Timrod's s
poems was published in 1860. 1t was
warmly welcomed North and South.
The edition of his complete poems was
not published until after the war, and
immediately-in l874-there followed
a second edition Of these poems, which
contained also his war poems and other
lyrics. In 1884 an illustrated edition
Of "Katie" was published.
Henry Timrod, father of the poet,
died of disease contracted in the
Florida war, and his family thereafter
was in Strengthened circumst lnces, but
the early education of his gifted son
was provided for in the best school of
Charleston. Here the lifelong friend
ship between the two poets-Timrod
and Hayne-was formed. He also had
other teachers and studied all classic
literature. His college life at the
University of Georgia was interrupted
by sickness and cramped by lack of
means.
In Charleston, as first effort in
life, Timrod attempted law, but
without success. Leaving the bar he
thence forward devoted himself to
literature and art. Charleston, to
him, was always home. There were
all his happy associations and purest
friendships. Returning after the
rsvage Of war to his suffering city in
the last year Of hisyoung life, he thus
writes: 'NIy eyes were blind to every
thing and everybody but few old
friends" An ardent Southerner, he
left his books and study and threw
himself into the struggle between the
North and South as volunteer in the
army. In the first year Of the war he
wrote "Carolina," "A Call &c Arms"
"Ripley," "a Cotton Boll,'' &c.
Too weak for the field, he was COM
PEELED, under medical direction, to
retire from the ranks. Then he tried
to serve the cause he loved as war COR
respondent. Home he came in 1864
and in an editors chair Of the South
Cdrolimian found refuge. Here his
pen. wrote the stirring editorials Of
those critical days. About this time
he married Miss Kate Goodwin, the
Katie Of his exquisite song. But the
war had broken his plans, wrecked his
health, and made literature for the
time in the South beggar's vocation.
With wife and child-the darling