The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-03
QUEER CUSSES ONE
SCRIBE HAS KNOWN
An Erring MoraIist and Wool
Gathering Philosopher
JOHNNY REB TO THE CORE
Doctor Thought His Sons Sermon q
Banked Poor Effort.
STORIES OF THE ANTI-BElUM SOUTH

Blizzard Who Maries Saint Who Unlike Some
Saints | Wot Of Remaineth a Saint
Under Any and All
Provocaion.
To the Editor: The students of old
| times and ways have described SO min
uteIy in the News and Observer the
homes of half a century ago that 1t
seems as if nothing can have escaped
their patient and enthusiastic research.
But probably the newspaper man has
the best opportunity of ali to judge and
understand the ways and manners or
people, and it is my intention to tell
not of the old times-because my mind
does not go back so far-but OF some
human remnants l have known who were
contributed by that civilization to this.
For a number OF years l owned and
operated a country newspaper in Warren
county Warren is as rich in "charac-
ter" as her blue soil is fertile: and
among all the characters" of that
fecund section there is one standing out
in my memory as most unique and pecu-
liar-William Ransom. THE descendant
of long and uninterrupted line of noble
ancestors, and an uncle to the present
United States Senator, Matthew w. Ran
son." to quote the old man himself, He
was classical old man; student of
Johnson, Chaucer, Carlyle, Burton,
Bacon and Shakespeare. His words were
chosen always with precision-more
thought given to expression than to the
theme. He was an erring moralist, wool
gathering whose logical
functions never performed logically, nor
his moral functions morally. He loved
Byron, and knew every passionate line.
Probably the kinship of their affection
was mother of the sympathy. His tenn
permanent was much like Byron's, his
club-foo having isolated him from the
social activities of his kind.
Mr.. Ransom was prepared in his early
days for the law. but having compe-
tence in the palmy days of his manhood
till the Inflated war swept his fortunes
away, he had never practiced. And when
he was at last forced to turn to this pro-
fession for support he found his diction
ridiculed and his arguments ruled out,
for dissipation and debauchery had cloud
ed his memory and numbed his intellect.
l have a good story about this quaint
and dissipated old courtier. Immediately
following the closing days of the war
General Matt. Ransom opened a land
office in Warrenton for the handling of
various plantation properties which the
fortunes of war had thrown upon the
market. The General had many custom
ho
of whom had fancy ideas that they might
be successful in the management of
free and unfettered negro labor"
The old man was, of course. pen
sioner of the Generals, and one morning
when his funds had gotten quite low and
his appetite pressed hard upon his mind
and stomach, he approached the Generals
office with stumbling gait and climbed
the steps leading to the entrance. In
side the small vestibute he raped gently
upon the door leading into the private
office. Instantly General Matt. appeared,
at the same time drawing from his
pocket a crisp two-dollar greenback
Pressing it upon the old man, and noting
his unkcmpt and debauched appearance,
he said impatiently, though almost sadly:
Uncle William, if you were present.
able, / might take you in and introduce
you to these gentlemen from Connecticut
They are here to close a deal for the
Shocco Springs property"
"Ah," said the old man, drawing up
to his full misshapen stature, evidently
much injured by the tone of the reproof;
81 spurn your loan, sir, and furthermore,
l Indignantly resent any attempt on your
part to introduce me to any damned
abolitionist."
And the unreconstructed old courtier
strutted off in high dudgeon, leaving
General Matt two dollars better off by
the operation.
Another noble, sweet old spirit was
DR.. Edward Green-a magnificent type of
the old civilization. He was Balzac's
ideal of the country physician-blunt,
grim-visaged, plain-spoken, with the
well-springs of kindness springing up
eternal in his massive chest.
The doctor cherished great hopes of
his eldest son. Edward, his namesake.
He reiterated his intention continuously
before the boy was out of kilt-skirts
that he should be prepared for the law.
And in the due course of the youths
evolution, When ne ndd completed the
details Of a preparation for college, he
was very promptly and neatly dispatched
to Chapel Hill to read the law He was
graduated with honor at the end of his
course, and returned to Warrenton q full
f1edged attorney, while able bodied visions
of a supreme court robe in the dim dis
lance. But in the lassitude and languor
of a summer vacation, Edwards ambi
ton lost its strenuousness, and the
ascetic temperament of the young fellow
put priestly notions on his brain. His.