The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-10-12
THREE SOUTH CAROLINIANs.
Col. Pleasant StoVall Gives Early
Memories of Miles McSweeney,
Ben Tillman, John Gary Evans.

memories OF Miles insolvency,
Ben Tillman, John Gary Evans.
Col. Pleasant A Stovall, editor Of
the Savannah Press, used to work on
the Augusta Chronicle. At that time
three young men from South Caro-
lima had the habit Of dropping into
the Chronicle office now and then 10
see the reporters. Col. Stovall has
been letting his memory dwell on
those days recently and the result IS
the following editorial in The Press !:
About twenty years ago, IN the
Chronicle office in Augusta. some IN
teresting people used TO come up at
night and chat with the editors. Mahy
of these visitors were from across the
rive, for Augusta is very largely
made up Of South Carolinians, and IN
the course of a day about halt OF the
-. visitors are from South Carolina.
One of these men was short,
thick set, forid boy with light, sandy
or reddish hair. He had gray eyes
and wore large mustache. If we re-
r member Alright his hair was curly. He
was modest, quiet newspaper man,
who published the Hampton Guar
dian. Most of these neighboring pa
pers lived by securing advertisements
from Augusta, and NJ. B. McSweeney
had good patronage in that city. He
was practical printer; in fact, had
begun his career as newsboy. his
paper was always we'll set up and
neatly printed. He was stickler for
- having a clean, bright print, and his
was one Of the best of the country
weeklies which came to the Office. Ev-
cry time McSweeney went to town,
which he did about once week, he
receivd notice in the personal coli
umn something Like this:
"Mr. NJ. B. McSweeney. the pro-
lsaBmassive editor Of the Hampton Guar
dian. is in the city. The Guardian
has a large circulation IN the new
county, and those who patronlze the
advertising columns Of the Guardian
find it a good investment.
"Mac' was really warm heart
ed, attractive boy, and the newspa-
per craft was very fond of him. He
probably had a little farm, owned a
horse and buggy and enjoyed life in
the quiet, simple way Of a country
editor-which, by the way, is about
j the most satisfactory way that a man
could live.
Another visitor to the Chronicle Of
fee for whom the boys had a great
liking was young John Gary Evans.
He came over from Edgefeld to read
law in his uncle's Office. John had
not begun to take life seriously. He
was tall, slender, rather frail looking;
had small dark eyes, with very fine
brow. He was popular with every
body. He was essentially favorlte
in society. He possessed fine, deli
cate tenor voice, and even IN CONVEX
! sation his tones were rather high and
piping. After living in Augusta few
years, he came up 10 the Chronicle
one night and tod them to announce
that he was going to move to Aiken
and open law Office. There was
perfect howl Of protest. The crowd
did not want him to leave Augusta.
They told him that the man who left
Georgia left Gods country, and that
the move to Aiken was TO bury him
self and to give up all thought of a
career in the law. However, John
Gary had thought it over, and next
morning the Chronicle contained a
personal item something like this:
"Mr. John Gary Evans, our popu-
. lar young townsman, who has been
reading law in the city for the past
two years, has decided to return to
his native State of South Carolina.
}, Mr.. Evans will hang out his single IN
Aiken, and We bespeak fol him the
confidence Of the people in his new
ome.'' - .,
malatheio dKEE. .etgro gggeB fits
" John Gary Evans was the youngest