The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-26
THE REAL JACKsON

interest or eScltcU
more controversy among ex-Confeder-
ates than THE Long Roll" In which
Stonewall Jackson 10 tho central figure.
In an extended letter to The Sun, Rev.
James Power Smith, who was on jack
sons staff, protested against Miss
Johnston's lecture OF the great general
az caricaturc. He contended that she
has accentuated hiS peculiarItics and
his austerity, falling to present In true
proportion the human and lovable quail
tiles of the man as he was known TO
his intimutea.
Miss Mary Johnston is not only q
distinguished novelist, whose brilliant
literary work reflects credit on her sec
tion: she is Southern born and bred,
southern In her sympathIes, devoted to
her own people. Feeling that, i'm JUS
ticc to her. the followers Of jackson
should BIO Informed OF the spirit in
which Tho Long Roll" was written,
The Sun sent special representative
10 Richmond, and in this issue pre-
nonts an interesting interview with
Miss Johnston. in which she modestlY
but hr1nly maintains tho essential cor
RICHNESS OF her presentation of tho
character OF General Jackson. She
ayers that Rev. Mr.. Smith is defending
personal ideal Of General Jackson"
while she was presenting "a compos-
lite historical picture OF the Confedcr-
ate leader" or their relative accuracy
she rs perfectly willing for those who
knew Jackson to Judge. and IL there
are somc who disagree with her es,l-
mate, even they must know that Miss
Johnston's work was inspired by lofty
scntimcnt-was indeed Tabor OF
love"
Ono walks slowly along franklin
Street, Richmond, from Capitol Square
toward tho Jefferson Hotel II is late
afternoon; twitter OF birds is in the
air, and at open windows and upon
wide vcrandas and porticos charming
girls In white gowns sit book In hand
or chat In low. pleasant voices. In
side arcaways the inevitable Southern
negro stands talking with his dusky
nciEhbor. 1t is a disnificd old street,
wide and we'll shaded. with stately. hos
pinblc residences upon either side.
somehow, Virginia homes OF the better
class impress the stranger as having
about them. In atmosphere aud archi-
lecture. n sense of sweet dignity quite
different from the often severe dignity
tina, characterIzcs imposing residences
in more northerly Statca Perhaps II
is the doors and windows. Hospitality
open; perhaps IL is the grace and green
moss OF clinging vines md the perfume
of flowers. st any rate, the dignity is
certainly there. and equally here is the
sense OF homclikc serenity and swcct-
ness.
The residences on East Franklin
street become Increasingly spacious as
tho figures upon the door posts de-
crease numerically. until the houses
OF tho 100 block appear to concentrate
within themselves all the plcasantest
architectural features of the nciShhor-
hood The homes upon the even num-
her side OF the street stand back from
the pavement upon high green terraces.
separated from the thorouShfarc by Il
stone retaining wall, and the wall Is
surmountcd by iron ratings. Many
OF these are overhung with vines, and
all within the ratings Is cool green
ness. grassy piats, little hedges OF box,
h clumps OF rose bushes, while Iron
e Eatowuys open to stone steps that
ascend to the terrace. Brick or nag
stone walks lead to the dwellings. anu
there Is sense of seclusicn that IS
pleasant
Tho houses arc three stories. vide
end old fashioned, with English base
ncnts, aud the porticos are overhuns
with luSuriant wistaria and rose vines.
and here and there In the grass plats
is seen the glossy green OF magnolia
trees. Midway OF The block one ter
race is glorlfied by a pink Grape myrtle
tree IN radiant blossoming. Seen afnr
it resembles some nowcry picture from
Japan, and since 1t is to ono uf these
Southern homes your steps arc tending,
IL
the very residence YOU seek may be
the house OF the hlossomtng hough.
.'Yonr destination Is the home of
Miss Mary Johnston, author Of The
Long Roll Lewis Rand To Have
and to Hold and other we'll known
works of fiction. and for once tho gods
are klnd-110 East Franklin street is
Miss Johnstons Richmond address, and
in the garden OF 10 stands tho tree
of ailuring pink radiance.
The interior of the residence is as
distinctive and beautiful as its eNte-
rlor. and Miss Johnston,e study, upon
The second floor front. looks out upon
the garden OF rosy enchantment.
"Miss Johnston herself uccords TO
the stranger the cordial, quiet well
come Of the Southern hostess. She is
a trifle more slender and girllsh- look
Ing than one might suppose from re-
cent photographs, but the oval face
and dark hair, softly parted and worn
low in the napc of tho neck, are dis
tinctly The charming Southern type.
Her soft silken house gown Is cut low
at the throat and is OF biue--a sub.
dued tone that somehow suggests the
blpe in old frcscoes and tapestries
"The authoress has only within the
week returned from four months
trip to Europe and 10 again upon the
wing. but in the midst of the busyness
OF arrival and almost immedlatc de-
parture she found time TO devote a
little leisure to the representative of
the Sun,
Tho Sun has always been kind
TO me. very kind to me-" she said
graciously. as she made the guest well
come. Then the talk turned to books
and bookmakipg. and few min.
utcs' conversation concerning Miss
Johnston's latest work of fiction. The
Long Roll led to. the question--had
the authorcss read the recent open
letter written by Row. James Power
Smith, former captain and aide-dc-
camp on tho staff of General T, j..
Jacnson. in which he criticized the por-
trait drawn OF General Jackson in