The Washington herald., 1920-05-02

An dCCOuul OF the uuNellluE rI
the new town pump In Whit
more. South Carolina or a re-
vised Hist OF Gen. Lees body
servants. or whatg"
You are disposed TO be Ia
cetious." said Col. TeIfafr, calmly.
The article IL from the pen of
a thinker. a philosopher, a lover
OF mankind. a student. and a
rhetOrician Of high degree
1T must have been written by
a syndicate" said Thacker. But
honestly. Colonel. you want 90
go slow. ] don't know OF any
eight-thoussud-word single doses
Of written matter that are read
by anybody these days except
Supreme Court briefs and re-
ports OF murder trials. You
haven't by any accident gotten
hold OF a copy OF one Of Daniel
webster's speeches. have youg"
Col. Telfair swung a little IN
his chair and looked steadily
from under his bushy eyebrows
at the magazine promoter.
Mr.. Thacker." he said. grave
ly, Il am willing 70 seRregate
the somewhat crude expression
OF your sense OF humor from the
solicitude that your business in
vestments undoubtedly have con-
ferred upon you. But I must ask
you 70 cease your jibes and de-
rogatory comments upon the
South and the Southern people.
They, sir. win not be tolerated
IN the ONCE u The Rose OF Dixie
for one moment And before you
proceed with more Of your COW
ert insinuations that /. the edi-
tor of this magazine, am not a
competent judge OF the merits
OF the matter submitted TO its
consideration. beg that you
will f1rst present some evidencs
Of proof that you are my supe-
rior in any way, shape or form
relative TO the question in hand
''Oh, come. Colonel Thacker
said. good naturedly. 4 didn't
do anything like that 20 you. IL
sounds like an indictment by the
fourth assistant attorney-gener-
al. Let's get back TO business
What's this 5000 to shot
aboutT'
The article" said Col. TelfaIr,
acknowledging the apology by a
slight bow, covers a wide area
Of knowledge. II takes up rns-
ories and questions that have
puzzled the world for centuries.
and disposes of them logically
and concisely. One by one u
holds up 20 view the evils Of the
world. points out the way Of
eradicating them, and then con-
scientiously and in detail COM
mends the good. There e. hard
ly a phase Of human fife that Il
does not discuss wisely, calmly.
and eduitsbly. The great poll
cies Of governments. the duties
or private citizens. the obliEa-
uons Of home life. law, ethics.
morality-aN these importaut
subjects are handled with a calm
wisdom and confidence that I
must confess has captured my
admiration"
1T must be a crackerJacK-
said Thacker. impressed.
1T is a great contribution 20
the worlds wisdom" said the
colonel. The only doubt re-
naming in my mind as TO the
tremendous advantage % would
be 10 us to give IL publication in
The Rose OF Dixie is that have
not yet sufficient information
about the author to give his
work publicity in our magazine
1T thought you said he is a
distinguished man" said Thack-
CT.
He Is" replied the colonel,
both In literary and in other
more diversified and eNtrancous
fields. But I am extremely care
ful about the matter that I ac-
cept for publication. My con-
tributOrs are people Of undues-
tionable repute and connections
which fact can be verified al
any time. AZ I said. I am hold
ing this article until can ac-
quire more information about its
author. I do not know whether
/ will publish il or not. IL de-
eide against IL. ] shall be much
pleased, Mr.. TFacker. TO substi-
tue the matter that you are Ieav-
ing with me in its place.
Thacker was somewhat at sea.
Il don't seem 10 gather" sata
he, much about the gist Of this
inspired piece Of literature. II
sounds more like a dark horse
than Pegasus TO me"
1T is a human document"
said the Colonel-editor. conf
IDENTIFY, from a man OF great
accomplishments who. in my
opinion. has obtained a stronger
grasp on the world and its out
comes than that Of any man liv-
ing today.
Thacker rose TO his feet ox-
citedly.
Say" he said. 1T isn't pos
sible that you've cornered John
ID. Rockefeller's memoirs. is it,
Don't tell me that all at once
mo. sir" said Col. Telfair. I
am speaking of mentality ana
literature. not of the less worthy
intricacies Of trade"
Well. what's tho trouble
about running the article" ask
ed Thacker. a little impatiently.
IF the mans well known and
has got the stuffT"
Mr.. Thacker." said he. for
once ! have been tempted. Moth
ing has yet appeared in The
Rose of Dixie that has not been
from the pen OF one OF it's sons
or daughters know little
about the author Of this article
except that he has acquired
prominence in q section OF the
country that has always been
inimical to my heart and mind.
But I recognize his genius: and,
as have told you. have insti-
tuted an investigation Of hts
personality. Perhaps it will De
futile. But ] shall pursue the
inquiry. Until that is finished.
must leave open the question
OF filling the vacant space in our
January. number"
Thacker arose to leave.