The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-23
George F. Mellen in the Chattanooga
NeWS)

| BY the fathers and mothers of
many of us few names were cherished
with more fondness than that of Au-
| gustus B. Longstreet. / recall how
my father, who went to Georgia as a
New England schoolmaster, used to
| laugh over the pranks and jokes Of
| Ned Brace" as deIineated in that al
ways refreshing book of humor.
Georgia Scenes AS the author of
this book, Judge Longstreet will long
live, when his work as lawyer, judge.
preacher and college president shall
I have become dim through age. Bish-
op 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 a brief
space he had given nearer view.
The first glimpse of the boy is as a
pupil in Richmond academy, in his
native city, Augusta, Ca The tasks
L
out love and sympathy. In after years
he spoke of the school as having been
hateful penitentiary." Surely, there
must have been some use of the rod
or the Ounce cap that left so unpleas-
| ant memory. Men who have risen to
| great eminence were treated in school
| hot
ory OIL Thomas Carlyle, the great
English writer, confessed 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 Christian
ity 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
safd, 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
| teacher in this academy, at the close
of the eighteenth century. 1t must
have been little later on when Au-
gustus was having much trouble. He
| said that 1t 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.
| After while the father Of Angus
tus moved to EdgeffeId 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 ambition came
to be to show himself the best run
ner, the best jumper and the best
wrestler of his neighborhood. This
free, easy, joyous life, 1t was granted
to him to enjoy no longer than two
years. Richmond academy was again
to claim him as a student. He was
loath to return. The experiences and
trials of former years haunted him
like cruel vision. However, the turn
ing point of his career came through
the new associations he enjoyed in
Augusta.
George McDuffie was clerking in
the city. The two were only about
forty days apart in age. They chanc-
ed to be thrown under the same roof
and became roommates The rare
promise which McDuffie fulfilled in
after life as statesman was display
| ed while a merchants clerk. His mind
was filed with a burning desire for
good knowledge. Such books and
newspapers as came in his way he
eagerly read. Slowly, but certainly
his love for knowledge was commu-
nicated to his companion. In his Joy
over the good things he read he in
sisted on reading aloud to Augustus
Longstreet. At first the latter found
it irksome, then endurable and finally
delighted. After this, as it were, their
intimacy grew and ripened. Their
| tastes had become congenial. Their
association reacted beneficially.
Through observation young Augustus
derived constant aid. He saw that
young George, after reading a book or
newspaper, remembered far more of
the contents than he. Therefore, he
set himself diligently to the work of
improving his memory and of dis
eliminating in the choice of reading
matter.
| TWO more years We're spent at
Richmond academy. When these were
ended young Longstreet and McDufRe
| were sent to DR.. Moses Waddell at