The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-02

i'cotith vi the pook, Will throw
enough additional light on the SUBJ
ject to satisfy any truth seeker:
weems opened II as follows:
1T gives me great pleasure to be
able to inform you by our mutual
friend. DR.. Blythe. that your ever
honored and beloved Marion lives In
history. In other words, the history
OF the great Marion. from the docu
ments you were so good as to give me,
IL finished. How 1t will take God only
knows. but II may be permitted tc
hope by the success which has crown
cd the life of Washington. would
hope very much in it, favor. You
have, no doubt. constantly kept in
memory, that told you I must writs
II my own way. and knowing the pas
sion Of the times for novels. I have
endcavored to throw your ideas and
facts about Marion into the garb and
dress OF military romance"
Gen. Horny was angry at ,veems'
trickery. and said 90, and allowed no
one to correct his English. weems
heard Of It and wrote to him
II have lately heard. with infinite
astonishment, that you are displeased
with the Life Of Marion. Though /
have so heard, yet I can hardly be-
lievs It. What! Is It possible that
you can be displeased with book
which places both yourself aind your
believed Marion in so conspicuous and
exalted light? A book that contains
every fact that you yourself gave me:
a book that everywhere meets with
unbounded applause: of which have
orders for ninety copies in ore single
County in Georgia; which has. In fact
changed khe County of Wilkinson into
that OF Marion; book. which, in
short. sells better even than the Life
OF Washington? Now that you should
BE displeased with such book Is 20
me, very astonishing!"
Doesn't that sound like the profes.
sional book agent? Well. thorough
investigation by most scholarly
Clergyman Of the Episcopal Church
has shown that that was about all
that weems ever was. He wrote books
and then sold his own wares His in
veracity was proverbial. Suppose Mr..
Hartzeii investigates the matter to
ses II the story about Wilkinson or
Marion County Is true?
| In q letter. dated at Georgetown.
February 4. 1911. Gep. Horny said to
weems:
"A former letter Of yours to me
says: You have. no doubt. constantly
kept In memory that I told you
must write the history in my own
way This do not recollsct, but
we'll recoliect that / repeatedly men
tioned to you not 70 alter the sense
or meaning os my work. lest when II
came out L might not know It. and
perverted II might convey a very diff
ftrent meaning from the truth That
oificers were alive that well knew Ma
rion's history and would say as (per-
haps they have said) wrote what
was not true. requested you would
| or necessary 30 far alter the work
as to make II read dramatically. and
gave you leave to embellish the
work. but entertained not the least
idea Of what has happened; though
several Of my friends were under such
apprehensions. which caused my be-
Ing urgent on you not to altar as
above mentioned. Do you not recol-
lect my sitting on the ground with
you near the Georgetown printing Of
flee. and urging you again on the sub
sect Of no alterations to the work
that you replied (seeminyly out Of
numor) that: When the work came
out you engaged would be satisfied.
replied: That is enough and re-
collect nothing farther rassed be-
tween US afterwards on the subject.
How great was my surprise on read
Ing these words in your letter: Know
ms the passion of the times for nov
els. have endeavored to throw your
Ideas and facts about Gen. Marion
into the gerb and dress Of a military
romance!' A history of realities turn
&c into romance. The idea alone
initiates against the work. THE one.
as history Of real performance,
would be always read with pleasure.
The other, as a fictitious invention of
the brain, once read would suffice.
Therefore / think you injured your
self. notwithstanding the quick sales
OF your book. Nor have the public