The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-12-05

Wilmington MESSENGER
We have carefully and interesting .
lv read the new book concerning the
South issued from the press of Messrs. !
p. ID. Gold & Sons, Wilson. n. G. 1t |
is fairly we'll done and is creditable /
to the publishers. 1t is entitled The |
Broken Sword" and is from the facile !
pen of Col. ID. WorthingtOn, now a !
resident Of Wilson, but Of whose
previous history of nativity we have
no knowledge. That he is a writer Of
boldness, vigor and pertinacity OF
purpose is apparent from the begin
ming to the end of this volume which
deserves to be widely read all over
the South, and by all who have come
upon the stage of action since 1870.
He calls his book "A Pictorial Page in
Reconstruction" 1t is well named
for it is an intense, graphic, picter-
e>que and vitalized description OF the
darkest, saddest, bitterest days that
ever befell any modern people after
a protracted and most desperate
war.
The Broken Sword" cannot be
called novel or even romance. 1t
has but little Of the qualities and
characteristics of a genuine novel. 1t
is more Of a "reminiscences and his
tory, and is really an interesting, ab-
sorbinr discussion. We have often
wished and have frequently expressed
desire that some gifted North Caro-
linian with the true touch of vivid
portrayal and Of accentuated instens-
ity would write for his peopl" faith
full. well delineated picture of the
days that were so we'll calculated 10
trv mems souls" to arouse all the re-
venge in their natures. to fire them
with a consuming heat to strike down
the imported accusers. prosecutors
and scoundrels- awful. gruesome,
hopeless, ferOciouS times when the
carpet-bagger was at the front, the
. native scallawag following in his wake
hungry and solicitOus, and the ig-
norant, besOtted, credulOus, Supersti-
tious, eager negro pushing ahead,
with tongue out and eyes staring III
. a fond desire that a ''Promlsed Land
was lust ahead and the fifty acres
!. and q mule'' were about to be dc
livered to him with ..all his blushin4
honors upon him. What day OF
desolation and crime and wrath
He'll seemed turned loose. The dark
ness was like that of Egypt, and yot
II could feel it. 1t was the dread satur
: MALTA of white mans villainy and the
black mans folly--a day OF reprls&
and pillage and persecution and nn
tanned savagerv.
North Carolina should have tha
period in its history carefully, calm
iv, accurately, vigorously presented
1t was the time when the Norti
reached it's lowest depths of ignomin.
and the Internal world opened wild
its devouring jaws.
We have said that the Broke
[. Sword is not novel or romance
1t is a series of most lively, fresh
energetic, appealing, illumlnatln
pictures, the whole forming con
le plete representation, as if pane
a rama of the reconstruction times, bu
better described as destruction time:
We found use for our handkerchl'
al more than once. for there is beaut'
a tenderness. human nature, real hi
ur in many places. 1t is full OF patheu
appeal. there are many pages of power
there are passages OF kindllng ei'
ouence. there are scenes OF enthraIilh
passion. 1t is not perfect "ort
1t is not the production of a tralne
k. artist. 1t is overdone in places. III
- language is sometimes strained a
, piring in excess, almost grandiloquei
. and turgid, and the classic llIustr'
y tions abound to repletion. But Il
work as whole is extremely an
mated and even brilliant, at ono
MS passionate, glowing and vlrile.
:or would not please perhaps the acut