The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-29

Bstug enormously opposvd TO pub
3, atcity myself. as to newspaper con-
u troversy I havo remained silent con-
sceruins all that has been written pro
and con about Miss Mary Johnston's
novel. 'Thc Long Roll" This being
a work OF fiction, It would seem USE
less to undertake to oontrovert its
( Misrepresentation: but since Miss
Uohnston herself. in an interview with
a reporter OF The Baltimore Sun,
avers that she is absolutely correct"
in all her Characterization of Stone
wall jackson and refutes the Rev. DR..
Smiths defense as "a personal ideal
OF General Jackson" can no longer
remain silent. Pity It's. but true that
fiction Is more read by the young than
history, and 1t would be n great In
Justice to General Jackson that such
a delineation of his character and per-
sonality should go down to future
generations.
Miss Johnston acknowledges that she
never saw or knew General Jackson,
which fact is very evident from the
hideous carcicature she uses as her
frontispiece representing him and his
little sorrel, and which alone Is enough
NO condemn the book. To quote from
a protest against THE Long Roll"
many OF which have received. an old
follower OF General Jackson says: His
ifrontispiece of this great soldier is
Eltterly featureless and is moro the
likeness OF some brutal prize fighter.
}of physical figure and countenance, all
Ianilnal, without one spark of mental
illumination; and while this is simply
and solely beastly, Miss Johnston's
l1tserably, unjust and unlikeness-like
portrayal OF his character and mental
qualities is at one, or in close unity
ewith the monstrous physical likeness"
Yin attempting to paint a historical
picture of General Jackson, which Miss
lIohnston asserts az n true portrait"
ft was but Just that she obtain correct
pictures OF the general and his war
morse. These would have been on
Hy too glad to give her, or they could
have been obtained from books of
Confederate history.
Passing Strange 1t Is.
( II ts passing strange whore the au-
,fhor obtained all her information con-
corning the wonderful peculiarities
and eocentricities OF this man, who won
honor and fame In spite of them all,
br how she could keep her mind and
pen In such constant exercise exploit
ing his ''old forage cap" "the Jerking
Iof his hand" and his everlasting
Sucking of lemons" The two last
peculiar habits which she airs in such
sNcessive detail were unknown to me,
but I can tell story OF that old gray
leap. around which a halo OF sanctlty
will ever linser and which perhaps
Miss Johnston has never heard.
= During the last winter OF his life
General Jackson was in winter quar-
tiers at Moss Neck. the home of a Mr..
.Corbin. near fredericksburg. The
host and hostess Insisted on giving him
quarters in their residence. but he was
afraid his military family might DO
too much OF an encunSbrance, 80 he
accepted an office in the yard. In the
family was lovely little gin named
lane. who became q special pet with
the general Her pretty face and win
some ways were 80 charming to him
that he requested her mother az a
Yor that he might have visit from
litt1e girl every afternoon when
~ $y's iabors were over, and her
.seent companionshtp and sweet
'Brstue became a source of great re-
creation 60 him He loved to hold her
upon his knee and sometimes ne played
and romped with her. his hearty laugh
ter rningling with that OF the child
Tie always had some treat in store for
her as she came each day-an apple
candy or cake, but the supply Of such
Filings In mis- scanty quarters beoom-
stnB exnauSted ono afternoon he had
nothing TO offer her. and CHANGING
around tho room his ego fell upon a
NEW grey cap which he had Just re-
ceived from his wife and which was
5lcrnamented with simple band OF gilt
lhraid-the most modest mark that
field officer could wear. Taking I'D
mis- knife he ripped of the braid and
lencircling IT around little James fair
head he stood of adrniringly and said:
(f'Th!s shall be your. eoronetr' The lit
htle girl died Just few weeks before
General Jackson himself was trans
lated. SO their happy spirits were soon
Heuntted in the Land of Living.
Mind Was Occupied.
General Jackson realized as few men
idid the desperateness of the cause the
}South had undertaken. but like Gen