Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-08-24
THE MEN OF '49.

scriber," and was as follows:
Savannah, Ga, Aug. 81, 1911
To the Editor of the Savannah
Press-Sir: For the last few
evenings there has appeared in
your paper a series of articles en-
titled: Your Savannah Ances-
tors" Don't you think it rather
unnecessary to publish occupa-
/ tions? l know of several that
your list has wounded. Now if
they as present family members,
have more ambition than their an
cestors, why not give the name and
residence, emitting the occupa-
ton, when that occupation hurts
the present generation?
I think The Press owes this lit
tie consideration to its subscrib-
ers. We are all interested in who
was here. Leave out the occupa-
ton, please. l am Sir
A SUBSCRIBER.
This communication attracted our
attention at once 1t came without
the signature of the writer, but it is,
we believe, of such immediate interest
that we have concluded to reproduce
1t for the purpose of disagreeing with
S.s author.
The Press is printing the list on
names from the directory of 1849, not
for the purpose of holding any one up
to ridicule, not for the purpose of
causing embarrassment to even the
most modest of our readers, nor for
the reason that we believe there is
any one ashamed of the occupations
of their ancestors, and would thus be
held up to public criticism We are
printing the list as sort of human
document of the Savannah of long
ago A world of information can be
read between the lines of these old
names and addresses occupations,
too, as our unknown correspondent so
readily points out.
But is it anything to the detriment
Of the man who today may be baker
that bis grandfather was a grocer? Let
US take the other view. We believe the
grocer of today, or the butcher, or
the peddler, who finds from reading
this list that his grandfather or great
grandfather was one of the principal
bankers of the town in 1S49, has more
cause for objecting to printing the
list than does the man who occupies
what is considered a more important
position in the community than dill
his paternal ancestor. 1t is much more
creditable to move upward in the scale
of business and affairs than it is to
move downward. We believe our I'M
named critic will admit that this is
true. And if this is admitted, then it
must also be granted that if there is u
man with a protest it is he who has
permitted the family name to get into
channels that might possibly lower il
in the estimation of some of his friends
Of today than elevate it. Not that we
do not believe the grocer, or the ba>
ker, or butcher, or even the peddler,
w NJ uOlCSLiy 6dI us HIS llNluS IOQdy 10
not as high in the scales of his fell
low-citizens' good will as the fnancier,
or the banker or the cotton merchant.
We know there is interest in these
lists we are printing, because we have
heard from them from number OF
sources. Until we received this com
nmnication, we had listened to only
good things said of the list and had re-
Iceihed naught but commentator for
lprinting it, A Savannahian who we
consider among the most energetic AMI
best known men in the city came in
the other day to look over one of the
lists. He wanted to find his fathers
name. He found it and the occupation
given was that of carpenter.
That's my daddy, all right" he
said with enthusiasm, And you might