Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-10-25
SEVERE CRITICISMS
OF THE LONG ROLL"
Distinguished Confederate vete-
ran Calls a Halt
PROFANITY DID NOT PREVAIL
Ssonewall Jackso Was an Earnest
Christian Gentleman

(By Dr. James Power Smith of Richmond, for
mer captain and A. D. c., STAFF Of General Stone
wall Jackson)
During the summer there have
been several contributions 10 the
study and portrayal OF the remark
able man kno xn as Stonewall Jack
SOD, and which have been widely
read.
The Long Roll is a work OF his
torical fiction from the brilliant
mind and pen of Miss Mary John
ston, the author OF TO Have and
To Hold, -" Lewis Rand" and other
stories of Virginia life at different
periods. The Long Roll'' has been
read by many in all sections Of the
land and will be read no doubt for
years to come 1t is a story Of love
and adventure, of manly courage
and heroism, wrought into the his
tory OF the War Between the States,
and especially the war career OF
Stonewall Jackson. AS is always
true in Miss Johnston's literary
work, there is much OF vivid and
charming description OF nature in
all its moods, with the poets eve
and the artists pen. And Yet more
vivid and thrilling are her descrip-
tons of the soldiers life in camp, on
the march, with the privaticns and
sufferings OF winters campaign in
the noun tains and the AWFUL tragedy
Of the battlefield in the Tidewatsr.
| There is throughout the book Just
and stirring portrayal OF the spirit
of the splendid soldiery of the Army
Of Northern Virginia, the heroic
men Of the ranks, their utter sacri-
Zee and patience and courage, their
high aims, devotion to duty, their
comradeship and hero worship. The
heroes, the greater heroes Of the
ranks, are here who without reward
or applause gave their lives for their
country and their homes; and the
story of the coward and the deser-
ter but adds to the color of the pic.
ture of the tue aud steadfast.
The accounts given of profane
swearing are much exaggerated, we
are confident, and the frequent in
PRODUCTION of profane language i:
much TO be regretted. These things
are not necessary to the story, anC
not to any such extent true to his
tory. They are to be regretted in I
i book to be read by many of our boy
, and as not just to the character o
] their fathers. The gentlemanly be
havior OF officers of all ranks re
: pressed any such profane habits
S whenever they came into the army
}. The few men OF prominence VIII
who were known to be profane il
speech in times OF excitement ant
: passion themselves felt the repres
sion of tie noble men of characte
/. and piety who were their leaders
l. and in later years they left the ba
o habit behind them.
IS Those living today who knew Ger
J, eral Thomas J. Jackson, and es
ol pecially those who followed him an
l. came to trust, to admire and to Low
D. him, will not be satisfied with th
j. strange and homely picture give
IS as afrontispiece in THE Long Roll.
y uncouth, misshapen, almost mol
ir strous. 1t would have beer MOI
10 true and just if the artist had +
produced the Beresford- Hope statu
IN with it's force and dignity; or Il
s. yet more faithful front face Of Il
re Routzahn Winchester photograp
MT THE Long Roll" picture is an u
30 fortunate caricature. forbidding
it is unjust. With bland counte
ance and courteous manner, JAG
son was erect and soldierly in bea
ing, riding with natural and up;
" fected ease. II in the strenuo
Valley campaign his forage cap a
uniform were sunburnt and VOL
it was not from neglect Of dress, /
. ' from the thoroughness with viii
O. he shared the exposures OF his arm
% Nor was his horse, the Little Sorr
as distinguished from q larger s
is rel he sometimes rode. the UNI