The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-07-07


thors after the manner OF Allbone's
with which he prays that he may he
able to close hi lie work.
1t appears that as far back as 1868,
when writing the book so we'll and so
iavorably known as The Living
Writers OF the South that Davidson
discovered and actually realized the
fact that the south had done about 10
times as much in the field of litera-
ture as the northern compilers had
given her credit for. He saw further
that her own scholars really knew
little about it. AS a consequence,
there came to his mind the absolute
need, by the south and north, of
dictionary Of southern authors. With
a resolve, born Of southern pride anG
abounding southern loyalty, he pro-
posed to his patriotic and public-spir-
tied ego to try and supply that need.
There came to him a great labor of
love to ennoble his career in letters
with crowning grace. So ne prompt
ly set about gathering materials for
the dictionary-a work in which, with
limited resources Of money, he was to
play the part Of laborer AMI builder as
we'll as architect and hnancier, too.
And this the brave worker has for 20
years been doing, with unabated zeal
and unflagging energies, working
meanwhile, now in Washington, now
in New York, now in Florida and
back again in Washington, and
neglecting in those years not few
profitable pursuits in order to keep up
his work so important as he deemed
it for the vindication of his section OF
our great country.
Though far from completion this
work, as I learn, is we'll under way
with an increasing index OF over 1900
autIhor-names. The author, while
holding a modest government Office
in Washington, is now still pursuing
his liie-hope-trusting that God in his
providence may give him the time
and the means to close and crown his
tribute to the lettered glory of the
south This under favoring circum-
stances the devoted author hopes to
effect in about two years. Davidson
is noble and brave and proud-the
soul Of honor and of knightly thought.
This is we'll. "Thy spirit, ,Indepen-
dence, let me SHARE" is a high senti-
ment Yet having this and feeling
thus, what generous man, with a
heart attuned to southern letters and
to southern melodies, will not hope
that some Maecinas, of Horation
type, may hold up hand like David
sons to make it strong for those vic
tories of the pen which are nobler
than those OF the sword?
May we ere long see Davidson's
Dictionary OF Southern Authors
take its honored place among the
printed volumes of the south, to re-
feet its light upon all the republic of
letters!
The author-our "friend and the
south's" as he is wont to call him
self-has done his duty, come what
may OF his rich volume proposed
whether it carry or miscarry. His phi
losophy he finds in one line of Words
worth:
DO your duty, and leave the rest to
heaven"
The laurel is Davidson's now Let
it not be deferred 10 the day when it
shall be entwined with cypress leaves
| Honest praise strengthens the liv-
ing and sweetens the human existence.
Let Ii not be withheld when the op-
portunity comes, and truth approves
and friendship finds the time for its
Offices.
How grateful it would be to a
South Carolinan of the James Wood
Davidson type to spend the evening
OF his busy days in the state he loves
so we'll. Some there are, self-exiled
sons of a needy, impoverished mother,