Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-30

TINE beloved and distinguished Chan
ceilor David C. Barrow, of the Uni
yersity of Georgia. is the indirect
cause of my writing this article, but he
doesn't know it. yet.
On the walls OF the rotunda OF the state
capitol, first floor, there hang life size
portraits of four Of Georgia's most Illus
trous sons-former United States Senators
Robert Toombs, Herschel V. Johnson and
Benjamin H. Hill and Ex-Governor AleXan-
der x. Stephens.
The pictures OF this shining quartet are
the only paintings in the lower section of
the rotunda All are seated in chairs ex-
cept Hill. stephens occupies his historic
roller chair, the one which has so frequent
y been rolled, with it's famous occupant,
along the aisles of the house OF representa-
tives when Stephens was a notable mem
Der for many years of this great body, in
the golden age Of parliamentary oratory
and when craftsmanship was in flower.
Hill is pictured as standing erect, at his
desk on the floor Of the senate, his right
hand raised in imposing gesture, the left
arm gracefully reposing at his side, while
delivering one of his matchIess orations-
those wonderful deliverances, electrical, eff
fectual, luminous, logical learned and so
richly embelished
Chancellor Barrow in Reserve
On the day before the adjournment of
the recent session of the general assembly
| was passing through the rotunda when /
beheld Chancellor Barrow, all alone, sit
ting directly under the Hill portrait. His
attitude was somewhat a la Napoleon
wrapped in the solitude Of his own origi-
nalty." He was absorbed in deep media
ton. He was not aware of my approach
or presence until 1 was right by his side,
and, pointing to the paintings Of the four
renowned statesmen, [ said: Good morn
ing, chancellor; are you imbibng nspira-
ton from these immortal Georgians, who
shone prelustrously in the days Of
" The glory that vas Greece,
And the grandeur that was Rome?'"
Aroused from his revery, Chancellor Bar
row clasped me warmly by the hand and
answered: "No, my friend. | was sitting
here merely to escape the noise and fuss
up yonder,' and he pointed in the direc-
ton of the legislative halls on the second
floor, where the University Of Georgia and
it's branches have so often been the sub
jects Of debate in the senate and the house
Their Bitter Political AnlmOsity
I stood for a moment meditativey gaz-
ing at the painting of Ben HILL and then
L turned and looked thoughtfully upon the
portrait of Alex Stephens. [ thought of
the intense political animosty which had
who typified the wisdom and eloquence and
patriotism of their fellow Georgians, whose
talents blaZed with inextipgushable splen-
dor in the tumultuous and tempestuous
decade preceding the gigantic struggle be-
tween the north and the south, and whose
flashing spirits and resplendent genius
made them symbols of the hopes of the
southern people during the dark and peril
GUS era of reconstruction.
There is quite an interesting story con-
nected with the Hill painting which [ will
relate presently, but the prelude will give
clearer understanding of the feeling which
prompted the unusual and remarkable ac-
ton Of Governor Stephens with reference
to the portrait
Hill and Stephens I'm Hostile Array
In the memorable presidential campaign
OF 1856 Hill was elector for the state-at-
large for FILLMORE, the candidate of the
American party. Stephens who was rep
resenting the Democratic side, met Hill in
fierce debate at Lexington. These two
gladiators had never met each other before
the stump. The next day, at Washing
ton, Wilkes county, Bob TOOmbs, the ardent
friend of Stephens, and at that time a
champion Of Democracy, crossed knightly
lances with HILL
Later, Hill Illuminated at Thomson. Ste
phens heard that Hill, in the course of this
speech, had declared that Toombs and Ste
phens, who had been Wings, but were then
Democrats, had betrayed the Wing party
and had acted toward it worse than Judas
Iscariot. Stephens ncensed, and he
wrote to Hill demanding to know If he had
employed such language Hill denied he
had made the reference. Stephens was not
satisfied with Hills reply. Other commu-
nicatons passed between the two men, Ste
phens challenged Hill to a meeting on "the