Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-06-14
FAMILY TREES AND BLACK SHEEP

trees and black sheep the question OF
personal attainment yersus family dis
| fiction was brought up and properly
discussed in connection with so called
"black sheep" of exalted families. 1t
was pointed out, too, that the "black
sheep of a distinguished family who
! makes a failure in life is even more
to be criticized than the son of more
humble parents who because OF lack
of opportunity fails to become a
! person of eminence This is view with
which we heartily agree.
Many man who gains fame in life
| never would have been heard Of ex
cept for the fact that his father or
mother. or other relatives previously
attained recognition purely through
personal magnetism or merit. Indi
vidual distinction is not to be confused
with family f1onors, though 1t is
regrettable circumstance that in many
instances the sons of distinguished
families ATTEMPT, to make their way
through life without sh0uldering the
responsibilities placed upon them, and
seek office or other honors without
Just claim thereon, except through the
attainment of distinguished relatives.
Such men are unfortunate creatures
with which the public is forced to
contend. Persons who have heen
befriended by, or who may kave form
ed an exalted opinion of certain dis
eirguished members of old families
sometimes feel impelled to cast hlnors
nn.u the sons of these families, ard
consequently such men gain recognl
ton. where, perhaps, otherwise they
might not be so Fortunate if compelled
TO rely upon their individual attain
ments. Sometimes these men measure
up to the responsibility thus placed
| upon them, but in many instances this
is not true, the result being to cast
reflection equally upon the distinguish
ed father and the incompetent son.
!, The man who through his own effort
rises from obscurity into prominence
and the founders of our present day
|, old families are the individuals most
/, entitled to recognition, in our opinion
and to these belong the real honors
J. 1t is but small achievement when
| man whose family has already attained
}, eminent distinction is made the RI
/ cipient of public honors, but whe1
= the man whose parents are unEnow;
; or who, perchance, may have come il
the steerage from Europe, succeeds il
, forcing himself into popular promil
) ence, the feat may be regarded as on'
, well worthy of emulation.
Few men there are among us who's
/ own lives will bear close inspection
4 in the limelight of unbiased publi
/ opinion, and many. of those who s.
II proudly boast ancient family trees
e might well investigate the antecedent
: of some of their ancestors before co
/ tinuing some of their boastful asse
j., tons Recently in a Georgia city
t case illustrative of the point unde
i analyses was brought to public attel
{ ton. 1t seems the son of an humbl
4 family falling in love with the daug
| ter of a rich woman, proposed ant
l was accepted Going to the younI
e woman's mother to ask DER hand il
9 marriage, the humble sutton was mos
{ coldly received not only being refuses
t permission to marry the girl, blu
b. finally insulted and ordered to leave
e. The naughty woman who thus dismis
g, ed her daughters sutton, probably fel
r secure in her position. until the younl
L man. refusing to depart, proceeded t.
5 tell her the respective lineage Of th'
two families, this disclosing that tbs
Il present day wealthy woman's barefoo
: foreparents came to America In th'
r ss-e-as- acnle years after those of tn