The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-08-11

governor and l were left alone at his
home, all the family having gone out
except Mrs. Bonham, who was en-
gagged with household affairs.
With that famous twinkle. in his
eyes, the governor asked me: "Son,
do you read the Bible?"
l told him that l did.
"Well, then," he said, 'you re-
member about Noah, do you not? He
was 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
vineyard, grew grapes and made
more wine in order to settle his
nerves, which had been unset by his
exposure. Was not this a very hu-
man 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 midnight
before the flight of time was noticed.
Looking back at it, I marvel the
more. Here was man, who had
served through the Seminole war,
the Mexican war and had seen SER
vice in the Confederate war, then
was governor, man who had lived
more romance and adventure than
present-day writer's 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 fai-
ryland. The versatility Of his talent
was infinite.
There were carping critics, of
course, who called Governor Bonham
a politician. Nothing was further
from the truth. His one weakness
was love for his kind. He loved the
common man. Were he in Washing
ton, among the great of the earth,
the commonest citizen of South Car
olina 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
South Carolina citizen, and there
fore equal to the best people on
earth.
Born a patrician, a patrician he
remained to che end of his life. 1t is
one of the sad aspects of present
world upsetting, an almost hopeless
aspect, that in the popular mind no
man can be acceptable unless he wall
Lows in filth, looks with lenient eye
on dishonesty or bows himself before
idols of popular fancy. An inherent
quality of aristocracy is it's tender
regard for the weak and lowly. The
ward boss in a city, who steals a for
tune in his upward career, would
drive over his former associates were
they in the road. A gentleman nev-
er did, never could do, such an act.
He treats with courtesy and consid-
Grafton even the servants who minis
ter 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
aggrandizement.
Brilliant, courageous, true to ev-
cry trust, this great hearted gentle
man departed even as he came,
child of igt, strayed into the dark
ness of earth, and lighting the gloom
by life of devotion. He was true
Paladin, Knight of our Table
Round.