The Palatka news and advertiser., 1915-12-31
Augustus B. Longsheet, FIumorist
HOWARD MERIWETHER LOVETT
in Southern Womans Magazine

In a recent summary of American
humorists following the death of Rob
ert j. Burdette, there is no mention O.
the most original genius of them all
Judge Augustus B. Longstreet, O.
Georgia. Not only was he a rare hu
morist, but, as was characteristic o1
the Old South, he was initiative
striking the first note. Poe was faith
er of the modern detective story, ant
Longstreet was father of the Ameri
can dialect story.
When Judge Halliburton was study.
ing Yankee traits and presenting
them in the character of Sam Slick
Judge Longstreet was performing d
like task for the pioneer Georgian
the difference being that the latter's
studies took the form of dialect sto-
ries of literary quality and finish
Both the Nova Scotia Judge and the
one in Georgia chronicled provincial
types which have passed away or been
modified by the veneer of civilization.
Sam Slick now deals in high finance
instead of wooden clocks; while our
Ransy Sniffles may still fight with
pantomine fury invisible foes-no less
real because invisible-as economic
conditions and tariff. Perhaps the
types persist under veneer.
It was notable that the Southern
Literary Messenger for the Years
1858 contained writings of Poe and
reprints from the works of Long
street. Poe held the position of "crit-
ical reviewer" when there came to his
desk little unbound volume entitled:
Georgia Scenes, Characters, Incl
dents, etc., in the First Half Century
of the Republic. By Native Geor-
gian, Augusta, Ca" Our sad faced
genius read-and for once forgot
heart-aches and bitterness and "let
i his rare laugh echo through the old
Literary Messenger office at Rich
mond." Then he wrote: "This book
has reached US anonymously not to
say anomalously-yet it is most
heartily welcome. If this
book were printed in England it would
make the fortune of its author.
We are told that the publication of
these pieces commenced rather more
than year ago in one of the Ga
zettes of the state, and were favora-
bly, received" "For the last six
MONTHS" says the author, 81 have
been importuned by persons from all
parts of the state to give them to the
public in the present form" The re-
viewer adds: "This speaks well for
Georgia taste. Thanks to the
long indulged literary supineness of
the South, her presses are not so apt
in putting forth a saleable book as
her sons are in concocting wise one"
1t should also be noted that Ameri-
can literature was supposed to be cen
tered in the land of Sam Slick, which
sadly restricted the scope and quality
of the so-called american" output.
However, the fame of Longstreet went
abroad There is indisputable evil
dence that Georgia Scenes" was in
reach of Thomas Hardy, the English
novelist, when he wrote his Trumpet
Major" This man of letters
Southern literature the compliment of
adapting from the pages of the anony-
nous little volume by Native Geor.
gian, the sketch of militia Drill'
and giving it a place in the "Trum-
pet Major"
In another way was our Georgia
humorist introduced to Northern no.
tice. In the House of Representa-
tives during a sectional debate after
the war, Republican member was
making an infammatory speech,
"pawing in the air." pacing the aisle,
shaking his fists and challenging his
Democratic opponents-when Mr.. 5.
S. Cox, of New York, interrupted the
bloodless onslaught by requesting the
clerk to read from Georgia Scenes"
Amidst tumultuous laughter and ap-
plause from the whole body, was read
"A Lincoln County Rehearsal" The
fiery orator did not resume his re-
marks. Thus did Ransy Sniffies be-
come national character.
If anyone doubts its lasting power
Of humor read from Georgia Scenes"
The Fight, The Gander Pulling. The
Debate, The Horse Swap, The Shoot
ing Match, The Ball, The Fox Hunt.
In the Southern Literary Messenger
IF June, 1888, is reprint of one OF
Longstreet's sketches entitled Little
Ben," with this editorial note:
"The readers of the Messenger can
not have forgotten the rich treat we
gave them from the first volume of
Georgia Scenes two years ago. We
ire rejoiced that the very talented aI-
ho1 has determined to come out with
new series-the first of which =
Little Ben,' we transfer to our col
INNS from the Augusta Mirror, a
,ery neatly printed and we'll edited
periodical just started in Augusta,
Ia"
"Little Ben" is a literary gem.
Again, if the lasting quality of Long
treet's humor is doubted, read this
lassic. There is something about !
ach Georgia scene absolutely inimita- I
lie ard irresistible. 4
In historic st. Paul's churchyard at
augusta, site of the Revolutionary
Fort CORVALLIS, is the tombstone Of
udge Longstreet's father, bearing +,
his inscription: I
SACRED c
to the +
Memory of t
WILLIAM LONGSTREET g