The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-26
Voice Of the People
Defends The Long ROLL,

To the Editor OF The Times Dispalch.
SIT strikes me that THIS quiD-
nuhS criticism or he The Long itoll''
o oy me members OF Lee Camp is not
ohly lull OF sound and fury, signify
ing nothing but strongly successive
OF OF ingratitude;; Miss Johnston has
and zen ), work OF flaming patriotism.
anu II should be far from the hearts
Oh her own people to decry It,
certain members OF Lee Camp de
cure she has drawn II false picture OF
n nnr great general, but there are other
, , VINO also knew him personally,
VINO as strongly declare that the pic
lure is strong and true. After ali. IL
-; -; ihalsputaole that every human be-
ing mas as many sides to his character
US there are other human beings to
view him. No two biographers OF any
Sreat man ever drew him In exactly
the same way. or gave TO posterity
tnG same Idea OF his character. So
aaithouSh Miss Johnstons characterized
slon may not conform strictly to the
ioSas OF all who knew Jackson II Is
certainly true in all the great essen
tails. Instead of detr..ctiaR from his
Story she has drawn colossal figure
oI heroic strength Slowly. steadily.
IN. m, picture OF the leader grows Into
the heart OF the reader. until i'm f.
nasn OF revcalment 1T bursts upon him.
as II did upon Jackson's own men,
nat manner oil man he was. We see
sne IRON strength, the brilliant, strate-
slc. FEARLESS mind. the sublime faith
II, Eod-the memorable will that mould
ed the raw mass OF his command
through agony of unaccustomed hard
the "Stonewall."
we teei the answering faith In him
mat inspired his men 10 follow blind
Wherever n, he led. "Old Jack is all
slogan that lplifted every faintinE
spirit through cold and hunger'
through wearincss and bewilderment
dhey tought with the passionate con-
n
sweep through the enemy like a con-
Stunning fiamc. The jackson of ."rhc
long Roll stands out from the lam-
~ pnGS ground OF war; a man of steel.
10 the wornded--to little chlldren-un
humble supplicant before his God.
Van we say too much Of the posi-
.lVe genius with which Miss Johnston
has caught the spirit OF the South dur
ing the war? Every Southern heart
must thrill with passionate pride at
S ens courage; the endurance. the unset
me maintenance of the war, and
through 1t all the gaiety in storm
which ran like silver through the SOM
t prc fixture OF the conflict. We are
turned again and again from the blaz-
ing tumnlt OF battle TO the dreaming
calm OF some old Virginia manor,
breathing pre- of roses and sunshine. OF n
acres. The laughter that runG tbro,,r,h
inc LOFTY rooms il stilled Into sad
ness hut courage lifts sad hearts TO
nope amid the never-ceasing work Of
making bandaGes for the wounded.
AS we read The Long Roll" the
panorama or war unfolds before on.
eyes. Glorious! Pitiful. Suffering! EN-.
ultant! 1t passes-now with the blare
OF triumphant trumpcts-now with the
waiting of the Dead Observation-Disclosures
PAINTED with wondrous color and light,
etched with tenderness by master
hand.
Let us hear no more criticism from
me south concerning The Long Roll
~ rs written from cover to cover from
the standpoint Of the South. The North
mas "a. not only been just. but warm in
KS praise Of IL. For my part. think
It should be tho privilege OF cvc:y
to read it, and hope It will
iaii INTO the hands of every Southern
child. know OF no other book that
would give him a truer or more glo.
rlous idea of the meaning of the war
OF what his fathers endured in mar
inomentous strugglc-or of their never
railing heroism.
Richmond