The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-05-05
AaRAHlD OLD MAN.
An Evening with DR.. james q. osr.
lisle of spartsnbnr .. Is 3 y. !.

- r . u Z. ~
Editor Spartanburg Herald.
1 once heard gentleman say face
tiously that he could not live in Spar
tanburg because he would not acknow.
ledge three tenets. The first was that
Woford College was higher institu.
tion Of learning than the University
OF Edinburg; the second, that DR..
Coke Smith was more eloquent than
the Apostle Paul, and the third, that
DR.. Carlisle was greater philosopher
than Copernicus.
pass the two first without com
ment. but Of the third wish to say
that do not believe that young men
found more pleasure or more to lift
them up intellectually by sitting at
the feet OF Capernious, than they do at
the feet Of the Grand Old Man of the
Old Iron District.
| am thinking of an evening spent
with him. and as recall it I am re.
minded OF grand figure whose feet
touch the earth, but whose head is
above the clouds. and whose utteran-
anceS make ordinary man ashamed of
his sordid sentiments and selfish in.
stincts. Our conversation was on a
wide range of SUBJECTS; religion, poll
tics, and domestic affairs. On each
the utterance by him was of a senti-
mept so human, 30 natural, SO sim.
pie, but withal SO filed with moral up
lift, that there was made plain the
nobility in life OF whatever sphere.
Being myself from Fairfield county,
the county Of his nativity, our conver-
sation turned often to Incidents of his
boyhood days. He told of being stung
in bed Of nettles in Winnsboro (the
nettles are still there, 1 believe) and
he explained the philosophy OF the
stirg. He told Of q MIR. William
Adger, whose plantation is marked by
railroad station of that name, who
after waiting for the stage for Char.
lesion, and finding 1t full upon its ar
rival, set out and walked to Charles.
ton, gettirg there before the stage be-
c .usa of tne muddy roads. 1 have
heard of my grandmother speaking OF
this MIR. Adger as fine old Irish
gentleman-Done finer on earth" And
DR. Carlisle confirmed the opinion.
And so it went Incident after in
cident was told by this philosopher OF
near four score with the clearness OF
detail OF a happening Of yesterday
and the vigor Of a man of thirty. The
whole would make too long a strry for
this communication, but of especial
interest is half Mexican silver dol.
lar, which DR.. Carlisle has in keeping
for Wofford College. 1t is a half dol.
lar with which General George Wash
ington paid for his breakfast in Ian
caster County. when he made tour
t the SIuth in l791 The father OF
MS country declined private hospital
tiles on this trip and insisted on pay
ing for all he got.
When on his way back north he
stopped at the home of a patriotic
family In Lancaster County, who wish.
ed to place all they had at his diepo.
sal, but he insisted on paying for his
breakfast, which consisted OF bowl
OF porrldge piece Of toast and cup
Of coffee, with the half of Mexican
dollar. The half coin was given to
the daughter of the family, who
treasured 1t until her death, at an old
aga, when she bequeathed 1t to a
friend, and he in turn pFesentedlit to
DR.. Carlisle for WoffOrd College. The
coin Is OF especial value as 1 under
stand that even the Natio Il GoJcrn.
ment has no piece whicn rnsk car
tract back to the hand of rWaShing.
ton.
1t is indeed treasure for Wofford
and In after years it will be doubly sc
sor having been In the custody OF a
second man whom power could not
tempt, nor wealth bribe to cease tC
serve his God, his country and his fel
low man. +. III MCMAsTER.