The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-03-18
MIR FURMAN's LECTUBE.
Remarkable Lecture on South Carolina
and Local History by u student OF Both.

The lecture delivered IN the ArmOry
Oh last Friday night by MIR. Mcdonald
Furman, of Prlvateer, Sumter County,
deserved larger audience. There were
reasons, however, why the audience
was not larger, among which may be
mentioned the fact that it was rot geT-
orally known that he would be here
and in addition the weather was very
inclement. Mr.. Furman spoke OF his
pleasure in being in Newberry and
meeting again his old classmates and
college friends and then launched out
into character sketch of Gen. Thomas
Sumter. He regarded Gen. Sumter as
the greatest of all the American gen
erals, not even excepting Gen. Wash
ington. When it came to hard tight
ing and daring movement Sumter could
always be counted upon and on account
of his bravery and great daring be was
known as the "Game Cock" AS to his
early history, there was very little
known, at least outside Of his immedi-
ate family. It would be impossible to
give any synopsis of his character
sketch of Gen. Sumter without doing
Injustice to the speaker. He showed,
however, remarkable familiarity
with the life of this great revolution
ary general and gave a great many
valuable historical incidents connected
Herewith which you do not find il the
printed histories. The fact Is, there
are few men in this State who are as
we'll posted in South Carolina history,
both local. and general as Mr. Furman,
and he has the ability to tell what he
knows in pleasing and an interesting
style.
He also gave portion Of his time to
the discussion of the character of JET
ferson Davis and incidentally was very
severe upon Gen. Miles and the treat
ment which he gave Mr.. Davis while
in prison at Fortress Monroe. Mr..
Furman said he esteemed it privilege
and an honor to have been born under
the flag of the Stars and Bars and as
SOD of the Cunfederacy, nation which
now lived only in history, but which
during the short period of its actual
existence wrote one of the brightest
pages in the worlds history, and whose
escutcheon is without a blemish. He
regarded Jefferson Davis as ranking
among the greatest of American states
men.
He also devoted a short time to
Thomas Edison, the great inventor and
showed how he had come from obscu-
rty into great prominence by pure
perseverance and pluck.
He closed his interesting lecture by
giving what he conceived to be the ideal
married life as contrasted with the real
married life. Mr. Furman is bache-
lor and claims the distinction Of never
having asked a woman to marry him,
and never intending to do so, and yet
his contrast between the ideal and the
real married life was very much en-
joyed even by the married men and wo-
men who were present. He spoke Tor
about an hour and half, and during
that time managed to hold the atten-
tion and interest of his audience, and
all expressed themselves as very much
pleased and fully repaid for the time
spent.
We feel sure if MIR. Furman would
return to Newberry that it would be
necessary for him to engage the opera
house, for every one present speaks in
the very highest terms of the lecture
and as very much delighted with the
evenings entertain ment and would un-
hesitatingly recommend him to those
who did not hear him Mr.. Furman is
q very enthusiastic student of South
Carolina and local history and we pre-
sumo there are very few men in this
State VINO are better informed than he.