The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-10-19

Judge Longreet Georgga Scenes Studied Edgfed
Calhoun McDue Legre Pelgru, Crawford and
Trained By Moses Waddeu

George +. Mellen III the Chattanooga
News.
Bv the fathers and mothers Of
many of us few names were cherished
with more fondness than that OF
Augustus B. Longstreet. | recall
how my father, who went to Georgia
as New England schoOlmas;er,
used to laugh over the pranks and
jokes of New Braee,' as delineated
in that always refreshing book Of
humor, Georgia Scenes" As the
author of this book, Judge Longstreet
will long live, when his work as law
yer. judge, preacher and college pres
ident shall have become dim through
age. Bishop O. P. Fitzgerald Of
Nashville, in his "Longstreet-A
Life Sketch" tells US just enough
about the boyhood Of this noble and
useful man to make one wish that,
even within brief space he had
given a nearer view.
Longstreet in Augusta.
The first glimpse Of the boy is as
pupil in Richmond academy, in his
native city, Augusta, Ga. The tasks
are irksome. The teachers are with
out, love and sympathy. In after
years he spoke Of the school as hav-
ing been a "hateful penitentlary.' y
Surely, there must have been some
use of the rod or the Ounce cap that
left 50 unpleasant memomy. Men who
have risen to great eminence we're
treated in school with what was called
"a dose Of hickory oil.'' Thomas
Carlye, the great English writer, con-
fessed that it was once applied very
helpfully in his own career. While
at school he boldly told the teacher
that he had grave doubts about the
Bible and Christianity as divine. To
this the principal Of the ''Blue-Coat
School, replied: 'Come this way,
my lad, and take off your jacket. -
Soundly thrashed for his skepticism,
he ever afterwards, he said, found
himself clothed in his right mind, and
his vanity gone.
William H. Crawford, who came
very near being a president Of the
United States, was for three years a
teacher in this academy, at the close
Of the eighteenth century. It must
have been a little later on when Au-
gus;us was having much trouble. He
said that it was the language in
which the rules Of the book were
given that he could not understand,
and the teachers gave him little or
no help.
Old "Edgedeld District
After a while the father Of Au-
gustus moved to Edgefeld district IN
South Carolina. There the boy spent
two happy years. Under the open
sky, in the freshness Of country
life, amid the resinous smell of old
field pines, he waxed strong. His
aubition came to be to show himself
ahebest runner, the best jumper and
the best wrestler of his neighbor-
hood. This free, easy, joyous life,
it was granted to him to enjoy no
longer than two years. Richmond
academy was again to claim him as
a student. He was 10th to return.
The experiences and trials Of former
years haunted him like cruel vision.
However, the turning point Of his
career came through the new asso-
citations he enjoyed in Augusta.
George McDuGe.
George MeDufhe was clerhng in
the city. The two were only about
forty days apart in age. They
CHANGED to be thrown under the same
roof, and became roommates. The
rare promise which McDufie fulfilled
in after life as a statesman was dis
played while merchants clerk. His
D &mind was filed with a burning desire
flor good knowledge. Such books
land newspapers as came in his way
M he eagerly read. Slowly, but GER
y tainly. his love for knowledge was
communicated to his companion. In
his joy over the good things he read
he insisted on reading aloud to Au-
gustus Longstreet. At first the lat
ter found it irksome, then endurable
and finally delighted. After this, as
it were, their intimacy grew and
ripened. Their tastes had become
conoeniaI Their association reacted