Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-08-30

governor and I were left alone at
his home, all the family having gone
out except Mrs. Bonham, who was
engaged with the household affairs,
With that famous twinkle in his
eyes, the governor asked me: "Son
do you read the Bible?"
I told him that I did.
"Well, them" he said, "you re-
member about Noah, do you not? He
was a human and interesting person,
for after having been out in the ele-
ments 40 days and 40 nights, when
Noah struck dry land, he planted him
a vineyard, grew grapes and made
some wine in order to settle his ner-
yes, which had been upset by his ex-
posure. Was not this a very human
thing for Noah to do?"
So on, from man to man in the
Bible, he went, winding up with ST.
mon Peter, whose human side made
irresistible appeal to the governor.
Withal I was so charmed that
sleep was forgotten and it was mid
night before the flight of time was
noticed. Looking back at it ! marvel
the more. Here was a man who had
served through the Seminole war,
the Mexican war and had served, in
the confederate war, then was war
governor, a man who had lived more
romance and adventure than pres
lent day writers can invent, who yet
could give a whole evening to a boys
entertainment and do it with such
grace and ease that the boy was
swept away into dreamland and
fairyland. The versatility of his tai
emit was infinite.
There were carping critics, OF
course, who called governor Bonham
a politician. Nothing was further
from the truth. His n weakness
was a love for his kind. He loved the
common man. Were he in Washing
ton, among the great of the earth,
THE Commonestcitizen ofSoutsaiCaro-
lima would have been received on
equal footing by prince and ambas-
sador or they would have had to an
swer to Governor Bonham on the
spot. He would have fought for his
fellow countryman, have lent him
his last dollar, merely because he
was a South Carolina citizen, and
therefore equal to the best people
on earth.
Born a partrician, a partrician he
remained to the end of his life. 1t
is n of the sad aspects of the pres
emit world upsetting, an almost hope
less aspect, that in the popular mind
no man can be acceptable unless he
wallows in filth, looks with lenient
eye on dishonesty or bows himself
before idols of popular fancy. An
inherent quality of ~aristocracy is its
tender regard for the weak and low
ly. The ward boss in a city, who
steals a fortune in his upward ca
reer, would drive over his former
associates were they in the road. A
gentleman never did, never could do,
such an act. He treats with courtesy
and consideration eve the servants
who minister to his wants.
Governor Bonham never descend
ed; he lifted others to his level. Be-
tween the two things there is an i'm
passable gulf. One proceeds from a
man of exalted mind, who loves his
fellow man and seeks to benefit him.
The other proceeds from a heart es-
sentially vile and false, which plays
men in order to use them for self
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Brilliant, courageous, true to ev-
erystrust, this great hearted gentle
child of light, strayed into the dark
by a life of devotion. He was a true
Paladin, a Knight Of our Table
Roung.
Charlie was cashier in a bank in a
country town. He had been engaged