Southern Literature From 1579-1895 Part 37

By his frank utterances, expressive of his admiration of the people and the inst.i.tutions of the United States, he has provoked adverse criticism from a portion of the English press. He thinks the Senate of the United States "the most remarkable of all the inventions of modern politics," and the American const.i.tution "the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man," and that "its exemption from formal change, has certainly proved the sagacity of its constructors and the stubborn strength of the fabric."

In the same essay--_Kin Beyond Sea_--speaking of our future, he says, "She will probably become what we are now, the head servant in the great household of the world, the employer of all employed; because her service will be the most and the ablest." In 1856, when the relations between Great Britain and the United States became considerably strained, in an able speech may be found this sentence: "It appears to me that the two cardinal aims that we ought to keep in view in the discussion of this question are peace and a thoroughly cordial understanding with America for one, the honor and fame of England for the other."

In 1884, he wrote: "The convulsion of that country between 1861 and 1865 was perhaps the most frightful which ever a.s.sailed a national existence. The efforts which were made on both sides were marked. The exertions by which alone the movement was put down were not only extraordinary, they were what antecedently would have been called impossible; and they were only rendered possible by the fact that they proceeded from a nation where every capable citizen was enfranchised and had a direct and an energetic interest in the well-being and unity of the State." "No hardier republicanism was generated in New England than in the slave States of the South, which produced so many of the great statesmen of America."

In a conversation with Mr. Gladstone in 1887, he referred to the enormous power and responsibilities of the United States, and suggested that a desideratum was a new unity between our two countries. We had that of race and language, but we needed a moral unity of English-speaking people for the success of freedom.

The English or Anglo-Saxon race is essentially the same in its more distinguis.h.i.+ng characteristics. Unity of language creates unity of thought, of literature, and largely unity of civilization and of inst.i.tutions. It facilitates social and commercial intercourse, and must produce still more marked political phenomena. We profit naturally by inventions, by discoveries, by const.i.tutional struggles, by civil and religious achievements, by lessons of traditions, by landmarks of usage and prescription. Magna Charta, Pet.i.tion of Right, Habeas Corpus, what O'Connell even called the "glorious Revolution of 1688," are as much American as English.

England claims to have originated the representative system six hundred years ago. Our ancestors brought to this soil, "singularly suited for their growth, all that was democratic in the policy of England and all that was Protestant in her religion." Our revolution, like that of 1688, was in the main a vindication of liberties inherited. In freedom of religion, in local self-government, and somewhat in state autonomy, our forefathers constructed for themselves; but nearly all the personal guarantees, of which we so much boast on our national anniversaries, were borrowed from the mother country.

FOOTNOTE:

[23] By permission of B. F. Johnson and Co., Richmond, Va.

MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON.

~1825=----.~

MRS. PRESTON is a native of Philadelphia, the daughter of Dr. George Junkin who in 1848 removed to Lexington, Virginia, as president of the Was.h.i.+ngton College, and remained there till 1861. She was married in 1857 to Prof. J. T. L. Preston of the Virginia Military Inst.i.tute, her sister Eleanor being the wife of Colonel T. J. Jackson of the same inst.i.tution.

She identified herself with the South, and her "Beechenbrook: a Rhyme of the War" contains the poems, "Stonewall Jackson's Grave" and "Slain in Battle." Her later writings are mostly short poems, many of them religious, articles for magazines, and sketches of travel, all of which breathe forth a sweet and wise influence.

WORKS.

Silverwood, [novel].

Old Songs and New.

For Love's Sake.

Book of Monograms, [travels].

Beechenbrook: a Rhyme of the War.

Cartoons, [poems].

_Translated_ Dies Irae.

Tales and articles for papers [uncollected].

THE SHADE OF THE TREES.

(On the death of Stonewall Jackson, 1863, his last words being, "Let us pa.s.s over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.")

(_From Cartoons._[24])

[Ill.u.s.tration: ~Natural Bridge, Virginia.~]

What are the thoughts that are stirring his breast?

What is the mystical vision he sees?

"_Let us pa.s.s over the river and rest Under the shade of the trees._"

Has he grown sick of his toils and his tasks?

Sighs the worn spirit for respite or ease?

Is it a moment's cool halt that he asks Under the shade of the trees?

Is it the gurgle of waters whose flow Ofttime has come to him borne on the breeze, Memory listens to, lapsing so low, Under the shade of the trees?

Nay--though the rasp of the flesh was so sore, Faith, that had yearnings far keener than these, Saw the soft sheen of the Thitherward Sh.o.r.e, Under the shade of the trees;--

Caught the high psalms of ecstatic delight,-- Heard the harps harping, like soundings of seas,-- Watched earth's a.s.soiled ones walking in white Under the shade of the trees.

O, was it strange he should pine for release, Touched to the soul with such transports as these,-- He who so needed the balsam of peace, Under the shade of the trees?

Yea, it was n.o.blest for _him_--it was best, (Questioning naught of our Father's decrees,) _There_ to pa.s.s over the river and rest Under the shade of the trees!

FOOTNOTE:

[24] By permission of author, and publishers, Roberts Brothers, Boston.

CHARLES HENRY SMITH.

"BILL ARP."

~1826=----.~

CHARLES HENRY SMITH, or "Bill Arp," the "Country Philosopher," was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and has made a wide reputation by his humorous letters in the Atlanta "Const.i.tution." He served in the Confederate Army as colonel. Since the war, he has served his country still by giving some very sound and good advice in his "Country Philosopher" articles, seasoned with much humor; and his sketches of Georgian life are valuable.

WORKS.

Bill Arp's Letters.

Articles in Atlanta "Const.i.tution."

Fireside Sketches.

Bill Arp's Sc.r.a.p-Book.

BIG JOHN, ON THE CHEROKEES.

(_From Fireside Sketches._[25])

Big John had had a little war experience--that is, he had volunteered in a company to a.s.sist in the forcible removal of the Cherokees to the far west in 1835. It was said that he was no belligerent then, but wanted to see the maiden that he loved a safe transit, and so he escorted the old chief and his clan as far as Tusc.u.mbia, and then broke down and returned to Ross Landing on the Tennessee River. He was too heavy to march, and when he arrived at the Landing, a prisoner was put in his charge for safe keeping. Ross Landing is Chattanooga now, and John Ross lived there, and was one of the chiefs of the Cherokees.