The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-26
ghe Messrnger.
DEAD

James Maurice Thompson, in his fifty
seventh year. is dead at his beautifui
home at Charlottesville, Indiana His
parents were southern but he was
horn in Indiana. He lived in the u
when a boy. fought through the war
for the south, practiced law in Cal
houn, Ga, and then returned TO MS ma
tive state. He was a man OF nne ac-
embellishments, delivered capital ao-
dresses. wrote several books OF IN
mistakable merit, wrote poems that are
noetrv and was held in high esteem as
met and man by Paul Hamilton
Havne and other men of parts n
gifts in this blessed southland. Mr..
Hayne, as we learn from a sympa-
thetic notice in the Atlanta Journal
Of Mr. Thompson'S much lamented
death h a the true poet, Hayne held
that Diana was a highly artistic
composition and really "one OF the
prettiest poems in the language.
Mr.. Thompson wrote several yolumes
among them were two, we think, on
Archery" His last novel he called
old Vincennes" is much praised la
northern literary and other Journals.
It is strictly historical. He was en-
gagged on another story when he passed
away. Any announcements that other
books from him will be published are
bogus. We find the following record
of his production and the ear of
publication in the Journal:
".Hoosier Mosaics" Q875, "A ITALIA
hassee Girl Q8S2), His Second Cam
paign" QS83), Songs of Fair Wealth
er" 0SS5). 1.-The Boys Book of Sports"
1885,. "A Banker of Bankersville"
1850, Sylvan Secrets QS8O, "a Fort
night of Folly" QSSS), The Story OF
Louisiana" QSS8), Poems" 1882,
King of Honey Island" QS92), THE
Ocala Boy $3.50, Alice of Old Vim
cennes'' $1,000.
We refer to him because We admired
him much and to note a fact. He was
of pure southern blood. He had rare
gifts. He was as gifted as any other
southern writer living. North Carolina
has never produced his equal as a man
Ol 1SllGI VI do d Ioh Cllol. ISl III wac
comparatively unknown to the people
in the south. How many of North Car
olina's / 800, 600 ever so much as heard
of him? But few. How many ever
read anything from his fertile, graceful
pen? He lived for ffty-siX years, had
a rich mind well stored and was a very
decidedly clever writer, but so far as
the south is concerned he was un-
known to fame. He passes away n
but few know of the loss. We much
douLt if today, unless Uncle Remus"
is to be excepted all southland has
his equal in polite letters. Essayist,
lecturer, poet. novelist, he goes out ana
but few in the south knew his name.
This is fame. He is a wise man who
builds for eternity. We hope that this
southron buifded wisely-far more
wisely than most of the writers who
seek fame and get poverty.
After writing the above we chanceu
to see what Watterson wrote of him
in the Louisville Courier Journal. The
following confirms our own opinion of
the gifted d~escendont of southern
blood:
1T is not intended to say Thomp-
son was not a successful man OF letters
long before his Alice of Old Vincen-
mes" won the avor of the general pub
Tic. For that matter. mis- name has
been we'll known IN the best ~lfterar.
circles for a generation. AS q charm
ing writer on out-Of-d0Ors life, as a
graceful poet. as a happy story-teller,
and as an acute and catholic critic, he
did excellent work in every field of his
e~ndeaVOr. His talent was many-Sided;
he did many things and did them
we'll"