The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-08-18
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:. ARTHUR SMILEY TOMPKINS 6
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(By John X. AulD

Of the passing Of notable person
age in South Crolina, nid, in sub
stance, that when a giant oak in the
forest fell that it was known of all
mankind in the surrounding COM
munity. In cont,2distirc ction is the
falling Of some tree in the forest
which would hardly be noticed by
passers by Mr.. 4. S. Tompkins was
cne Of these towering trees in the
forest. 1t was given him, by mer-
ciful God, to be one of the eXponents
cf the divine command of right liv-
ing, clean thinking, and absolute du-
ty to his fellowman. He went out
side of that. He visited, quietly, the
poor, and he left his impress in their
homes and particularly in their
hearts. He did this without ostcnta-
ton and none knew of it except
tnosc who were the recipients of his
goodness.
As friend ne was one of the
,kindliest gentlemen whom the Lord
has created. He WIS. active in the
wolk Of his church and for a number
of years was superintendent of the
Sunday school of the church Of which
he was a, member. 1t has been esti-
mated BY those who know, that he
made twice as many Sunday school
addresses as any other man in his
county, and it is prob22le tl'1t dur
ing the long term of his life of 68
wears he made more of this kind Of
addresses than any other man in the
state.
Mr.. Tcmpkins was a nan whose
father felt the effects of the War
Between the States, and Mr.. Tomp-
kins vert to .ss3rk as : young attor-
ney at Edgefeld and become one Of
the leading lawyers of the state, rep
resent;ng a number Of important liti-
gants. In business and professional
life he was successful, and ne made
a place for himself by his honesty
and loyalty, and devotion to duty,
second to no man who has practlced
law in this state.
AS lawyer. he handled some very
important cases successfully, and
his career at the bar was one of the
most highly creditable in this state.
Mr.. Tompkins was reared in the
tenets of the schocl of the Old
South, the fragrant remembrances
of the civilization of which are as
"sweet as remembered kisses after
death" He was a product of the
Old South-a South which, through
efforts of men of his type. has devel-
oped into section not only of this
country, but of the world, which IS
the lc.ding agricultural, manufacture
ing, and-best of a!l-the result Of
a type Of culture which has neither
beer cqualled nor surpassed. He was
a man of literary genius; an author;
but, even with the laurels which
were his in these lines Of work, his
main claim to fame lies in his friend
illness to ALL A principle Of his life,
symbolically, was to
Give in a house by the side of
the road,
And be friend to man."
He was friend, not only of thos"
whose material means entitled them
to. tide through the meagre years,
hut he w2s even more so friend OF
those whose meagre means did not
vision bread and meat for the coming
season. He lived to do good, and
the good as he saw it, and as the
Scriptures taught the good to be. He
was an ardent student of the B.0le,
and by its prccepts he directed his
life.
As man he was always genial,
courteous, and always open and
above-board. He was one of those
men who had so lived that he had
nothing 70 hide either in his person
al or public life. He was q devoted
husband and father. He was a Sou
thern gentleman, unafraid, and moth
ing more can be said Of any man.
In his passing the state and the
church have lost one of their most
valuable citizens and members. He
was always devoted member Of the
church, and he always took Al active
hurch. and he always took an active
interest in the affairs Of the state
government. He was one of those
men of whom it may be said in the
words of the poet that he so lived: