The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-18
Ghe Wessenger.
MORE ABOUT AN OLD STORY.

me IeQIlO Oh OuT lIICuu LII. Mugs
bury to the historical and traditional
proof offered by our Salisbury CORE
spondent in Tuesdays Post as to the
authorship of Cousin Sally billiard"
The authorities cited by Mr.. Murphy
sustain the popular belief that the late
Colonel Ham. c. Jones wrote that fine
bit of humor.-Raleigh Post.
We saw what the Salisbury CORE
spondent of The Post said. We noted
his two authorities relied upon, but
they do not establish the authorship.
We submit, that two elderly gentle
men of rare intelligence and high
characters who were older than the
supposed author. Mr.. II. C. Jones, of
Salisbury, and who heard the amusing
little story known as Cousin Sally
billiard recited in Virginia before Mr..
Jones attained his majority, are more
trustworthy witnesses Of authenticity
than Wheeler, in whose history the
late President David L.. Swain, assur-
ed Rev. DIR. Calvin II. Wiley, of the
Presbyterian church., hat he had by
actual count found n thousand err
rors, and the comedian w. Z.
Burton, who simply too his state
ment on trust. We bought Burton's
two volumes in the ffties so soon as
published, and have owned Wheeler for
half a century. So the paraded "au-
thorities' amount to nothing as wit
nesses against two such educated and
prominent gentlemen as DIR. Thomas
P. Atkinson William o. Gregory.
These gentlemen were born in Virginia
not remote from Petersburg. We do not
know that hey knew each other, but
both declared hat they heard the
story recited in Virginia before 1920,
and our recollection is by 1915. When
DIR. Atkinson in 1870 told us of he
had heard, he was in his list or 72nd
year. He "a one Of the most accu-
rately informed men we ever knew. He
had been president for years Of the
Virginia Medical convention, had been
a member of the house of delegates,
was president of the bank in Danville,
had been mayor for years., was well
known among the public men of Vir-
ginia, was the soul of honor and truth,
brave as any hero, a half century
member of the Presbyterian church,
and long time one of the ruling elders.
He sal he heard the story told when
he was a lad in his native state. Mr..
Gregory said, when a boy his mother
took him with her to a dining given by
Judge - 1--WE forget the name) to
the members of the bar at his own
home, we think in Brunswick or
L%unenburg. After III ladies had re-
tired the wines were brought in and
conversation became free. A lawyer,
whose name, he also gave, (but it es-
us now), who was distinguished
for his humor and storytelling, was
called out to give cousin Sally Dill
lard" which was rendered amid great
laughter. This was not later than 1916.
In 1876, when Mr.. Gregory told this
writer and Captain Augustine Lands
of Oxford, 1--WE Were spending the day
with Mr.. Co. of this interesting bit of
history, he was probably Y or 70. He
did not know that we had confirma-
ton of his recollection in the state
ment of DR.. Atkinson, in 1870. DR.. At
kinson was a first cousin of the late
distinguished Bishop Thomas Atkin-
son, of this city, and both had the
same given name. We never had heard
otherwise than that Mr.. Jones vas the
author. AS we said in the paragraph
we wrote that called out the reply,
North Carolinians had been taught for
sixty years to believe hat Hamilton
c. Jones, of Salisbury, wrote it. We
heard it from 1910 up. Those who LAY
been students know how often many
reports have been perpetuated and
wrong credits given. To this year 1900,
North Carolinans are replying to SLAM
ders of Virginians against our heroic
troops that were started in the war.
Truth limps after lies that fly. We
wish to say that we knew Mr.. Jones
and had great respect for him. He told
the story with great spirit and success.
We do not know hat he ever himself
claimed to be the author. We would
not misrepresent consciously the facts
of history or of biography or of litera-
ture. NORTH C~arolinfans hould be can
did and open to evidence, in history
as in other things Intolerance is un-
worthy of enlightened people.
We were not inclined to pursue the
discussion, but as our friend Furman
twice called attention to what we said,
we have thought that the above would
not be without use. Knowing the two
gentlemen so well and so long who in
formed us, and their uncommon intel
ligence and very exalted characters for
truth and sobriety Of statement, that
We cannoe possibly doubt what they
affirmed. DIR. Atkinson has many de-
~scendants, one Judge Tom Jones, Of
Asheville, and Mr.. Gregory a many
prominent descendants n kindred in
Granville. We did not write it Hen
rletta Jones' as the Posts correspond
ent makes us say of Mr.. Ham Jones.