The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-03-29
BISHOP POTTER DISCUSSED.
People of Columbia Seeking Explana-
ton of His Position.
BY W. H. Mccaw.

circles here just now, as 1t doubtless
is in a number of other communities
in the state. The head of the Episcopal
church in New York has been very
popular here and elsewhere through
out The State, and it is with surprise
and disappointment that his friends
in this section see him displaying so
much temper when called upon civilly
enough to explain his unwarranted
SANDER Of social conditions in this
State He said, according to the New
York. Globe, that the prevalence Of
miscsgenation in this State showed
that an anti diveroce law was not the
solution OF the social problem, and
when asked for an explanation from
Columbia replied curtly saying that
common civility'' would suggest that
the inquirer first ascertain whether,
there was any connection between the
publication and what he really said,
and inasmuch as there was none and
the comments Of the inquirer were
simpertinent and unwarranted." At
ter he wrote this and refused to an
swer further letters he had himself
interviewed in the Globe to the effect
that he had no apology to make for
what he said previously and reiterated
that in view Of conditions in this state
that this States claim to superiority
"wa.s at once comic and pathetic.
Most people remembering Bishop
Potter's prominence and his ,andoubt-
ed talents and his great zeal are at
I1oss to account for his "loss Of bal
ance.'' in this incident, but others are
finding an explanation in the Kyrle
Ballew incident, and the scandals
which grew out of it's airing in New
York a few years ago, and which in
volved member of DR.. Potter's fam
ily. This, it is thought, accounts for
his bias, and has somewhat e-nbitter-
ed him on the subject Of divorce. Mrs.
James Brown Potter, his daughter
in-Elw, was a very handsome woman,
and very talented.
A member Of the faculty Of one OF
the State college who was teacher at
Uni on college in New York while one
Of Bishop Potter's brothers was presi-
dent of Union, came into more or less
init mate contact with Bishop Potter
and his three brothers, and knows
them all to be vain and egotistical. He
was therefore not surprised at the
bishops display of pomposity in this
South Carolina incident, about which
he: ought tc have spoken with better
| knowledge since he has visited this
state and is an intimate friend Of Bish-
op Capers, and remembering the Kyrle
Baaew incident is not at loss to ac-
count for the bishops acrinony and
priestly frown.
Your correspondents informant
l.
sort of way the late, Rev. DR.. A. Toom-
| ler Porter, of Porter's academy in
5Charleston was the indirect cause OF
Mrs. Potters becoming involved with
stage people. Bishop Potter was
great friend and patron Of DR.. Por-
| ter. who was frequently entertained
at the Porter home when he went on
| to New York on begging expeditions
for his school which was established
at the close Of the Civil War. Mrs.
| James Brown Potter became interest
led in his enterprise and organized pri-
yate theatricals among her fashionable
friends in New York as q benefit. She
took the leading part and the shows
were a great success from both
financial and artistic standpoint. Many
New York papers spoke highly OF the
splendid histrionic alent Mrs. Potter
DISPLAYED. but DR.. Potter compliment
ed her with some reservation. He was
very grateful for her effort in behalf
of his school and honesty compelled
him to acknowledge that her display
of talent was remarkable. But he told
her then that his knowledge of human
nature had caused him to fear that he
had read that in her eye while she was
at work on the stage and heard the
applause of her acting which meant
that she had been caught by the stage
fever. She laughed lightly at the time,
but subsequent events proved that his
fears were we'll founded. She was
finally divorced from James Brown
IPotter, who is now living in Rich
mond. She afterward married another.
| New York, March 25.-Maurice
Barrymore, the actor, who has been
an inmate of the Long Island Home