The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-25
M E N w o M E N
 A ND T H IN C $

1 have been collecting books about
 the Civil war for more than score of years, but it's only recently that have become interested enough to begin to study them.
 l had always heard that one could never trust history unless at least a half century had intervened, as any one undertaking to write about events would either have faulty perspective or let their prejudices color their viewpoint.
 But now that more than 50 years have elapsed since the days when the north and the south were locked in deadly embrace, the time has come when it is possible to calmy review the differences which led to the estrangement which came between those who lived on opposite sides of the Mason and Dixon line.
 I find, however, that in dipping into my collection l am more inter- ested in the autobiographies and memoirs than l am in the more ambi- tious histories. Of course 1 am fa-' miliar with the general outlines of the titanic struggle which for more than four years rent the country from one end to the other, as well as the causes which brought about the conflict, and how at last the south had to lay down arms. A few years back I received Two Boys in the Civil War and After" and after glancing rather cursorily through the book I put it on my li- brary shelves; but not long ago l was engrossed in it, for it tells the story of the late Judge W. R. Tough ton, a prominent member of the Bir- mngham bar whom I knew we'll in the days when I was a young lawyer; and his brother, Col. M. E. Houghton, we'll known in the civic, social, com mercial and religious life of Mont gomery.
 My attention was soon arrested hot only from a personal interest in the narrative of my friend Judge Tough ton, but from the fact that in the story an uncle of mine figured, and the company to which the Houghtons belonged was raised in Barbour coun- ty, and in it Newton, Glennville and Eufaula were mentioned, thereby bringing the incidents close home to me. All three of them at the time were thriving villages.
 At the opening of the Civil war, William R. Haughton, IS years of age. was engaged in teaching school in neighborhood of wealthy and aristo- cratic planters near Smiths station, Russell county, Alabama, about eight miles north of Columbus, Ga; whils M B. Houghton, Is years old, vas compositor, assistant pressman and assistant editor of the Newton Stand ard, published at Newton. Dale coun- ty, Alabama.
 I give these facts for it shows how the boys of that day developed early, for it was not thought necessary that they should serve such long ap- premiership in college before they undertook their life's work. l am not taking violent grounds against the practice which now requires that before a man shall enter one of the professions he shall have arrived at an age when in the old days man was supposed to be settled and we'll on the way as the head of a family. I take the Houghton brothers as types of the men who made good after the war in spite of having served their country four years at critical time of their life, when, had they lived at present, they would be just finishing the high school and entering college. They had the fun damentals of an education and the will to cultivate themselves during the period when they were making a | K. 1 tion, but sometimes l fear that the present generation is being coddled too much and kept in school, college and university until they are over ripe.
 | w. R. and.M B. Houghton not only made good from the standpoint of successful men of affairs, but all the time were adding to their own cul- l ture and playing part in the life Of their community. It is certainly an 1 jinspiration for a man born at the end of the war to read the story of two such gallant and sacrificing brothers, each one of whom served throughout the entire conflict and receiving hon. orable scars in the service of the south.
 1 w. R., the elder, was mustered into service at Tybee Island, in the Co., lumbus Guards, Second Georgia regi-
 ment, Toomb's brigade, Hoods di- vision, Longstreet's corps and army of northern Virginia. M B. was mus tered in at Fort Mitchell, Gleenville yuards Fifteenth Alabama regiment, Laws brigade, Stonewall Jackson's corps, army of northern Virginia. In 1.-TWO Boys in the Civil War" one IS able to see the camp life of the Con federate soldier, and seeing it, can never forget the courage and bray cry of the men who wore the gray. 1~x/1fh 70. A.,<<W