The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-07-07
To the Editor OF the State:

South Carolina college for the year
1852 contains A names, many Of
whom, such as the Rev. Nicholas w.
Edmunds, Dr.. Peter E. Griffin, Harry
Hammond, Esq. ex-Judge Joshua
Hezekiah Hudson, Ellison S. Keitt,
Esq, ex-Judge Samuel Warren Mel
ton, ex-Judge William H. Thomas,
Joseph Newton Whitner, Esq, Leroy
F. Youmans, Esq, have been prorni-
nent in South Carolina. But there is
one name on this class roll as deserv-
ing as any other, one who has illustra-
ted his native state in letters and has
served her faithfully in war as we'll as
in peace-one whose fidelity to South
Carolina and whose life and services
and character make him at once as
guard and an ornament of the COM
monwealth. I refer to James Wood
Davidson, A. NJ, now residing at
Washington Miss Louise Manly, in
her fair yet incomplete work on
''Southern Literature, from 1578-18o5,"
thus speaks OF the writer:
flames Wood Davidson was born in
Newberry county, South Carolina, and
educated at the South Carolina COL
lege, Columbia. He taught al Winns-
boro and at Columbia until the open
ing Of the war, when he enlisted as a
volunteer in the Army OF Northern
Virginia, and served throughout the
great struggle. After the war he
taught again in Columbia till 1871.
Then he removed to Washington and
in 1873 to New York, where he en-
gagged in literary and journalistic
work. He has also lived in Florida
and represented Dade county in the
legislature. He is now living in
Washington city"
She adds: Works. Living Writers
Of the South" "The Correspondent %
"Poetry OF the Future" School His
tory of South Carolina" "Florida of
Today" Bell of Doom" "a poem),
Helen Of Troy" a romance of an
cient Greece (unfinished).
Miss Manly concludes that Mr..
Davidson's "labors in behalf Of south
ern letters entitle him to high regard"
The object OF this article is to show
that this and much more of praise
may be accorded with truth to Mr..
Davidson, the peer of any other son of
the south in literature.
The list Of books with which this
writer is credited gives but an made
quate idea OF the pen work that he
has done and the literary service in
general rendered by him in the field
Of journalism.
Much OF this service, however pa
triotic and honorable and self-sacri-
iicing, finds no record in the printed
volume and little appreciation in his
native state But the writer Of this
paper is one of the few who know
how bravely and ardently and ably
Davidson fought with his Junian pen
the organized robbers and the banded
thieves who dominated a ''prostrate
state" in the dismal days of Recon
struction, and how Loyalty he has since
maintained the nane and the fame OF
his state and OF the south since he left
his home to seek his fortunes in the
north and at the countrys capital
meanwhile making a name for him
self in the department. OF general let
tiers.
Devoted to South Carolina, mis-
great heart has yearned to bring its
owner back to the state and its educa-
tional service. Nor have efforts, from
time to time, been wanting to induce
the authorities OF his alma mater to
take him into her service. But there
has been no appreciation OF David
sons worth and rare attainments, and
so, smaller men have filed the places
that the gifted graduate and the in
tense Carolinian would have adorned
10 the great advantage OF the youth
OF South Carolina.