The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-19
Voice Of the People
A Word for "rhc Long RON"

To the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir.-It is unfortunate that n CON
troversy should have arisen over Miss
Johnston's wonderful book. THE Long
Roll" and one must feel that n prcju-
dice (born perhaps of the spirit of
hero Worship lies behind the attacks.
which. on examination. arc proved un-
warrantable by the pen portraiturc in
the book. Great men are none tile less
great on account OF their peculiarities
or shortcomings; rather is the whole
man" more interesting than the man
lin parts" One who is painted n per-
feet man is strongly suspect; one feels
tho lack of humanness in the man,
which. after all. is tho saddest defect
In character The controversy seems
to centre around the powerful figure
of General Jackson and the charged
profanity of the Confederate soldier.
The many Sides to General Jackson's
character, as shown in THE Long
Roll" give one clearer idea OF the
great man. and show him to have been
really human: subject to the frailties
of mankind; therefore. to All under
standing person, more approachabl bio
and lovable. No ono has ever thought,
least OF all the patriot, Mary Johnston.
OF attempting to dim General Jackson's
greatness. and the implied charge that
she is holding this great man up to
ridicule Is ungencrous and unworthy
of these people who are making It.
Those VINO are attacking Miss john
ston lack Il serge of proportion, that
most necessary factor in appraising a
man, be he great or small These peo-
pie hardly realize, too, that In Miss
Johnstons book, for the first time, the
South's unsurpassed hcroism and forth
tudc in the War between the States
has reached the minds and hearts of
the Northern people generally. In my
work j have met many OF these peo-
pic, who arc travelling in the South
and have been surprised at their
changed point OF Wow since reading
this story, and that General Jacks on
who heretofore seemed to mean very
little to them. has come into his own"
Relative 10 the charge that the pages
arc overburdened with profanity, let
me say that, notwithstanding the fact
that the Confederate soldier is to me
the most sacred of warriors of all
times. he was being with all the
rrallties of the flesh. Unfortunately
his swearing is not confined to the
battlefield and to moments of storm
and stress; one has but to attend the
various reunions ~ know that he still
swears, and sometimes does worse
things. God forbid that should dim
MS glory Dy the truth, but freedom
from profanity is not per se an attrl-
butte OF the Confederate soldier: II Is
the conviction OF the individual that
1t is an un-Christian and therefore an
unSentlemt habit The clergy must
not forget that an Unborn respect for
the cloth frequently prevents a mans
being profanc In their presence A
knowledge OF men should teach them
the truth of this
We have Miss Johnston's word for
ii that she used the sources in prepar-
ing her book; every page of the book
Is an unshakable witness to this state
ment. The truth of the whole matter
Is that history is just beginning to
replace the partisan accounts of the
last forty years.
The men who love things as they
are are profoundly grateful to Miss
Johnston for her book. and In the pain
and confusion of establishment, which
come with the breaking OF our lmag-
mary ideals. let us not forget to ex-
press gratitude to this woman, whose
heart and mind and hand have per-
formed the highest possible service for
her country.
WILLIAM CLAYTON ToRRENCE
October IS, 1911.