The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-04-27

, BY way or Introduction, therefore. l
may speak Of myself. giving brief
! sketch OF nfy past history.
81 ain known 10 you all as Jim, and
because OF my fondncss for speech
| making some call me Preacher jim.
| Yet, preacher though ! am, | am not
one OF the learned doctors Of divinity,
! nor have | much in common with
! them, save tie earneStncss with which
! follow the path which have marked,
, out for myself in this life.
81 was born about so years ago. In
! this matter, from the universal laws Of
nature which control us all, was not
consulted. was brought into this
/ world. being myself in no way respon-
sible either for my coming or for the
! manner thereof. AS trite and unncccs-
sary statement rs this may seem to
be. 1t has an important bearing upon
/ what may call my theme for tonight.
Being born, some one decided that |
! should be known by the name of
! James, which has been abbreviated
, into Jim. This name was given to
me In much the same manner and for
| the same purpose as name Is given
| to Gog-that | might come when call
ed and be distinguished from others OF
| MY kind. And so came 10 be jim
! Other name l have not, because nay
revered father overlooked the formali.
| ty Of marriage with my mother Later
he overlooked both ray mother and
myself, and we were left to drift on
/ the tide of humanity. ana It is a
, truth. which is strange in the presence
! Of the vaunt2d civilization OF this era.
; tAat such fotsam will ever lie liuany
| stranded on the barren shores OF dam.
| nation.
"At the age of 3 began to steal net
! from necessity. but from imitation.
| lived among thieves ana did rs they
! did. AT 10 | was one OF tie most skill
! ful p.ckpockcts along the EowCvy. and
| at - was at the head CT band OF
! 20 boys any one OF whom was Il past
! master In tie art OF breaking the
! eighth commandments. One CT these,
| emboldcned by success. attempted az
| operation beyond his power of accom-
| piishment and was detected In the act.
! He fed and was followed. With n lack
of comradcship. for which he has since
| been punished. he ran into my place
! and. depOsiting some OF his plumber
| under my bed. succeeded Ia evading the
! officer who had followed him In.
| was awakened from what the police
! man declared was sham sleep and
! taken 10 the station house wiIeucc in
! due time ! was sent to II rcformutory.
There ! remained until I was Of
! age, and during those seven years re.
: ceivcd double education. From the
! good and p!ous preacher who otficiateh
| In the chapel | first suspected the val
| uc of knowledge and then obtained the
! books from which to acquire 1t. Being
! my own teacher TO u great extent and
p. Interested in my pupil. | absorbed
! knowledge as n sponge does water.
/ But, on the other hand. from the vast
! variety OF dcilnaucn,s who were sent
| to tie institution from time TO time
| also learned the true meaning Of the
words vice and crime.
u entered the rcformatory n little
| thief whose main object In stealing
had been mischief. / left The place q
, professional crook endowed with such
| knowledge us made me self reliant.
| f2lt myself equipped for the battle with
tie world to such n degree that was
: ready to attack II rather than walt and
defend myself. and was eager for the
fray.