The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-27
Voice Of the People
Mr.. Harrison ON ..Thc Long Roll,

so AAoOh oh ht bOhs lfOlt.V
TO the Editor OF The Times-Dispatch:
Sir.-It is a natural and. on the
whole. a noble trait OF human nature
to tend to idealize whatever is nne
or stirring in the past. II we had a
good friend. and he is dead, he stands
digger and better In memory than in
lie. Ii the warriors of Troy were
brave men and true. they tower all
the taller when seen through he
friendly mists OF 5000 years. Much
more is this tenrency at work when
patriotism joins hands with memory
ana we contemplate not only caus.s
aMo heroes, but our own causes and
our own heroes.
40 one likes to appear to take issue
with SO good and gallant a man as DR.,
smith. most particularly in a matter
y which ne Is uniquely qualified to
speak: NEVERTHELESS, it would be
strange If this brave soldier, after
nearly nifty years. did not see the hero
WIN whom he was so closely asso-
6tated through a certain reverent
maze, IN which all faults or failings
nave dissolved from view. This. trust.
may he said without offense. since. as
believe, these processes are ineyi-
ra5ie, ana OF the heart. and certainly
reject no aiscredit. anywhere.
Few people are now alive VIII knew
Jdckson IN the way in which
~; smith was privileged to know him.
N'A4o Va lust silOlls \ ION
speak) OF a recent pen-portrait of the
great Seneral-appearing in a Virginia
novel so able and extraordinary in
many respects as to stand almost
alone in literature-are dependent for
their Knowledge upon h~earsay, tract
tIon n such researches into the orig
nave made. The author of the Long
Roll" In the nature or the case, was
dependent upon the same sources: SO,
10 siflke the balance OF the worth OF
EOlillpf1nR TpEttr1nrIr ~ r-A -
contrast her known t~horoughness as
a student ability as an interpreter, and
loyalty as a Nirginian, with the similar
evidences of reliability producible by
her c%ritics. In such a comparison /,
for one, believe that Miss Johnston
mas nothing whatever to suffer. Her
n9ok' In fact, stand as a visible proof
OF a far more intimate acquaintance
with history, and a far more active
and serviccable patriotism than has
been demonstrated, so far as / have
servers of tradition who have under
taken to derogate her.
Unlike some of those whose opinions
[ have noted with interest in the col
umns of The Times-Dispatch, 1 do not
pretend to speak as an oracle of the
minor personal habits of a captain of
[ think am sufficiently acquainted
Win history to know that great men
rise by their qualities. and that great
qualities have their defects. In 1.-THE
Long Roi" Jackson Is pictured not as
he appeared, or now appears, to the
Snail and privileged group whom he
knew ana loved best. but as he seemed,
In the strain and stress of the immc-
date moment, to hundreds of persons
Of all sorts and characters. and e'spe-
cially to some thousands of heartsore
soldiers who We're marched OFF their
feet for the good of their souls. but
who couldn't for the life of them see
the sense or good of 1t all. And 1 say
that to suggest, in such a portrait,
that Jackson had the defects OF his
der or traduce On the contrary, It Is.
to my mind, to show the hallmark OF
truth. To have failings Is to be.
human; and It Is only in it's being
human that greatness has any import
ance for us, or any merit.
HENRY SYDNOR HARRISON.
J Charleston, y. Va