The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-06-03
GEORGE TOMBSTONE


Plutarch in his 'Lives of Illustrious
Men" quotes Diogenes as saying that
'tin order to be saved man must
have strong friends or violent enc
mics, and that he is best off who has
both"
; Without attempting to disparage
the philosophy of the famous Greek,
we may observe that it would seem to
be: quit plausible, at least, that the
fewer of these unpeaceful opponents
the better.
!. Probably very few people take into
account the conspicuous opportunity
which lawyer las for making enc
mics. His life may or may not cor
respond with Macbeth's frenzied def
fition of it, but it is certainly spent
in the zone of conflict; he must handle
bis clients cause fearlessly, no matter
whose feelings may be thereby
wounded. He will probably have
few good friends, however, if he de-
serves them, but it is greatly to be
feard, that they will be more than
ceunterbalanced by the other class.
Disguise the fact as you may, by for
NAL and polite procedure, lawsuit
In the final analysis, is something Of
a quarrel, and therein, in great
measure, lies the necessity for claw
gers" Jack Cade said, "the first
thing you do, kill all the lawyers"
But common experience teaches that
men, even with full technical prepa-
ration, cannot conduct their own dis
'pntes with proper observance Of the
amenities of debate, indeed that is an
accomplishment not always attained
by long professional training, and
hence, it has been said that one who
undertakes to be his own lawyer has
fool for a client.
Preliminaries aside, Mr.. Editor, We
respectfully ask short space III your
columns for brief mention Of q most
remarkable man, Of the laywer class;
csrtainly no complete sketch Of him;
jnst a few hurried "reminiscences.
George Johnstene was possibly rs at
the time Of his death, and with the
exception Of the last ten years OF his
iffe, had been accustomed from early
manhood to great mental and physical
exertion. Heredity counts for some
thing; no doubt about that, but as all
men know, character and sentiment
die greatly modified by environment.
Hewas occupied all of his life in the
field Of controversy" / have at
times permitted myself to wonder how
much sesdal change might have been
wrought in him if he had felt it to be
HIS duty in early life to enter the min
istry.< What would have been gained,
We need not now enter upon largely:
That he would have been the same
ifiasterf1il parsonage in the pulpit as
he was in the judicial forum, will go
without saying. But would the world
have lost, for instance, those trench
ant comments on men and things for
which he is famous and which have
been quoted, to the delight and IN
sfructiori of others, far and wide!
Lion hearted man, his predominant
note was defiance; yet, in a small cir
Gle and among his intimate friends,
he showed a gentleness of manner,
and kindliness of disposition, which
was truly remarkable. He did not
seek friendships, and yet he was noted
for unwavering loyalty to his friends.
At times, indeed, he actually seemed
to- enjoy alternating the good will of
others. Such are the strange eceen-
tricities of genius. But withal, ne was
an all round man; could entertain any
a1sdience. The writer recalls on one
occasion boarding a midnight train
between Newberry, and Columbia,
meeting drummer coming out of the
car convulsed with laughter; he paus-
ed long enough to say, "There's a,
fellow in yender that they call Col.
Jahnstone, who will make you split
your sides laughing" A trait of his
character worthy of special observa-
tion was his marked Difference to wo-
men; a perfect Chesterfield in his
bearing toward them.
:, :, Not, many people, comparatively
speaking, can now recall the desper-
ate political struggles of the white
men of the state to regain pofItlcai
control, during the era of reconstruc-
ton, when all the offices of highest
honor and power were held by aliens
and strangers and ignorant freedmen,
backed as they were by federal bayo-
49, Aho%