The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-29
Joel Chandler harris.

| Joel Chandler harris.
| What Rudyard Kipling has been to
the jungles Of India, Joel Chandler
Harris was to the cornfelds Of Geor-
ala. His name has been chiefly en-
deared to the world as the author Of
Uncle Remus." That quaint negro
character, understanding to the full
the master words Of the beastes of his
domain-Br'er Wolf, Br'er Mink-has
all but become one Of the saints Of
the holiday season. He is almost as
much a part Of the life Of childhood
as is Santa Clause.
Joel Chandler Harris, as the true
to-life negro sketches. which raised
him to the front rank Of librarians in
this country have demonstrated. was
to the manner born. He was born in
the little village Of Eatonton, Ga,
December s, 1s4s. Before he was 8
years old he was able to- read, and
'"rhe Vicar Of Wakefield" which fell
into his hands about this time. stimu-
lated the imaginative side Of his
character AID led him to devour any
thing In print which ne could obtain.
He enjoyed but a few years Of edu-
cation at the public schools and at
the Eatonton Academy. At the age Of
IL he entered upon the apprenticeship
to the printers trade. serving as a
printers devil TO q Colonel Turner
who. residing on large plantation,
published a weekly paper called the
Countryman. To this publication the
boy sent his first efforts at authorship
anonymously. They were promptly
published, and Col. Turner speaking
well Of them. the youth finally threw
of all disguise.
| Young Harris was one of the OBJ
servers OF the march of Sherman's
army to the sea following the burn
Ing OF Atlanta. Within few months
after the closing Of the war he
sought wider field. obtaining en-
ployment successfully on newspapers
OF Macon. New Orleans. Forsyth and
Savannah. While In the latter city
ne served as an editorial writer on the
Morning News. While a resident
there he married Miss La Rose, Of
Canada. In 1876 he removed TO At
lanta and became a member of the
editorial stan of the Atlanta Consti-
tuition. where his literary career real
iy began. His connection with that
paper continued for Is years, and
closed only when he Actually retired
from active life.
Harris was one Of the most unique
as we'll as characteristic figures In
American literature. He developed a
vein entirely his own, and although
he has had many imitators, none OF
them has attained Sthe. quaintness and
the rutfulness OF his gIimpses Of AZ
lro-American humor, with its drollery
and peculiarity. nor represented so
faithfully its pathetic eide.
1t was the Constitution which fur
nished the medium for bringing I,
the notice Of the public the highly
successful studies OF Afro-American
folklore, collected in 1880 as Uncle
Remus, His Songs and His Savings ~
volume which has become a classic
OF hts kind, since IL appeals alike to
scientific students OF popular tradi-
tion and to the general public with
out regard to age. He continued tn
work the vein so happily discovered
tn Uncle Remus" with other sketch
es. such as "Nights With Uncle Re-
mus" (1SsD: "Mingo and Other
Sketches GsS4): "Free Joe and
Other Georgian Sketches" nsss):
Daddy Jake the Runaway and Short
Stories" (1SS9). "Balaam and his
Master" ussD; "Tales OF the Home
folks In Peace and War" GS9S).
weaving into fiction frequent touches
of folklore, as do the juveniles Little
Mister Thfmblehnger" 1Ss49. "Aaron
In the wndwoods" Qss7) and sevcr-
al other volumes.
Mr.. Harris also wrote a memoir IF
Henry w. Grady GS9O), and con-
tributed to the history Of his state a
volume on Georgia From tho In
vasion Of De Soto to Recent Times"
GSsS. No one has more successful
ly portrayed the humorous side Of
negro character and imagination, but
ne has also given an admirable pic
ture OF Georgia life in general. espe-
cially OF the thrifty as we'll as the
thriftless rural Inhabitants.
Among his works not mentioned in
the foregoing list are: Uncle Remus
and His Friends Gss2); ION the