Georgetown Enquirer : volume 06, number 04 - 10-21-1885

              AlTEIt ll.VZ_.RU. I
loiaiid l'ropilclnr.)
GEORGETOWN, "S. C, OCTOBER 21, 1885.
YOL. VI.—NO. 4.
Luvo una Laughter.
This in tlio poem concerning llie authorship nf which Mrs. 1511m Wheolor Wilcox and Ool. Jufm A. Joyce, of Washington,mo nt loggerheads. Each claims it, nml tlio claim, at iho instance of tlio lady, is to bo decided by the eoni-ls:
Laugh, and' lho world   laughs with   you,
weep, and you weep alone: For this liravo old carlh   must borrow its mirth.
It lias trouble enough of Hs own. Sing, nnd the hills will answer;
Sigh, It Is lost on the air 1 Tlio echoes liniind to a joyful sound.
But -brink from voicing care."" "
Rejoice, and men seek you, *  Grieve, nnd they will'turii nnd go; Thoy wnnt full measure for all their pleas¬ ure, Hut do not went your woe !
Be glnd, and yonr friends aro mnny; ' Be Bad, and you loso lliem nil;
There' are none lo decline  your  ncctared wine,
But ulono you must drink life's gall.
Fcastv and your halls aro crowded,
FftBt, and the world goes liy; Succeed and glvo nnd it helps rou to live
But no man will help you to'dic.
Thero's room'in tho hulls of plensurc, Y_v along and lordly train; 	
But ono by one we must all file on Through tho narrow aisles of pain.
MUMIlltlAl,  ADOIVES3.
n,i|lv<iroil liy   the Itev. Samuel I._nr<l   ut
*f.ho   M.    K. Cliuroli,   GeorKtovrn,   _. C.
October 11,1880.
Ono of tlio must unique and touch¬ ing characters, drawn by tho grout Wi-ianl of Scotland, Gir Waltor Scoti, ;b entitled:
OLll MORTALITY. Ila is represented as an old man, who having outlived his days nf active em¬ ployment, spent the remnant of liis life \n visiting tlio burying grounds of the Oiimerouiaus and otlior branches of tbo rigid -Presbyterian Churoh, iu Scot¬ land, and with mullet, and chisel, uud scraper, removing tho moss from their tombs and deepening tlm inscriptions, pn the marble slabs, which recorded the virtues and sufferings of the mould cring dead.
To the miud of the writer,  there is Boiuothiiig  deeply   touching    in this self-imposed task of reveveuco nnd love. After all, there is   nothing so saqred to tha averago human heart ns thu pre¬ oious mcmoi iosof thc pious do-d;uorany argument iu favor ofa trnly religions "ifo,  to bo compared  with  the bright exninplos of thoBo whom wo loved, lev- '   erencod nnd obeyed,  in onr childhood Tlieco ate the udatnantino chnins,which bind us.in spilo of tho flood-tide of ov il passions and aodnotivo lemptutions.to llio faith of onr fathers.   Here wo find {tu immovable nnchnngq lor our fnilli ivhon nil othor lines of argument may ^o shaken.   No man can ever bo sin¬ cerely nu infnlol,  whoso childhood and youth   weie spent  in the tenderness jil(i) love qf a trnly Christian house¬ hold. It is important thereforo to havo theso   impressions deeply engraven on {(ie lableto of onr human hearts.
Wo como, on this occasion, to do nretaphnrically for yon, whnt "Old Mortality" did literally for tho saints mid martyrs of Scotland. Georgetown Methodism has an honorable record. Tlto noble mon und women, who first fcoplyqd the Gospel ol n living Chris¬ tianity from the UpB of Bishop Asbury nnd his compeers, nro wot thy to bo had in c vot lasting remembrance.
It was no mora child's play to on. counter tho opposition, und even perse¬ cutions, which were moused by their simple earnost preaching against the prevailing vices of tho day, and their constant oxhortalions to a life ol holi¬ ness. Acts of yiolunco wore frequently cojuiuittcd. It was not diflicult to stir up tlte worst passions of the human hoart nguinst a Gospel, which earnest¬ ly rebuked siu and tuuglit the necessi¬ ty of a pine and holy life.
Il !b not with these earlier Motho- diBtR, however, that wo huvo specially to do on the present occasion,
The names of Asbury, Wayno nud others, of the earliest pciiod of Geoige¬ town Methodism, must for the present he passed ovor. Wo propose to pro- eont you to-dny, with a scries of pen and ink sketches of tho leading mem¬ bers of our Church, both male and fe¬ male, as wo knew them, during onr pastorate of 18'_l-3. Allow mo to Make u slight digression here of a per¬ sonal nature, Georgetown then and for a long period before had tho repn- |jou of being tho Graveyard of South Carolina, It was then with some trep¬ idation that tho writer received the ap¬ pointment to this place, nt the com¬ mencement of 1841. lie enmo with ills wife ami child, uud lived in the old parsonage, diagonally across the grace yard from the Chuich. It loykod liko .hero might' hnvo been some design uit llio pall ol  {lie fathers, to  remind the
fircnulier, thai ihero was bill ll step bo- weoll him and his pussiblu resting (ilncn.    Wo begin with
unoTui.i. i-'uuzKn watermau,, who was nt that time among lho oldest, and in many   respect*., tho most influ¬ ential ,of the mulo members of our Church hero.
Brother  Waterman was  a native of North Oarolina, nnd bi ought with him many  of  tho  bettor qnalitios   which distinguish   tlio sons ol  the good old North State.   He commenced life ns a printer, and gradually developed into publisher, editor, merchant   in naval stores, and genernl   business  manager of a vnriety   of worldly  enterprises He was a mnn of ull work, and contra¬ ry  to the  general  title iu   snch cases, succeeded in all, and was regarded as n man of largo means.    His devotion tu tho   Methodist  Church was constant and deep.    His heart was a louutain of  tenderness.   His eyes   wore often Hiiffnsod with tears.   His place in thc Honso of God wus  rarely .vacant, and bo  was known  ns  n Methodist, in all classes of society, and ho bad access to sll.   Wo never knew him  to closo his heart or his purse to any applicant for oid—but 'onco—and then he was righ;. __ plausible impostor had practised up¬ on the   credulity of the whole town, and successfully  too, nntil ho cnnio to Brother   Watermau'e   offico   ou   tho wharf. The old gentlemau'a eyo glanced nl tho line   proportions and   stalwart form of lho impostor;  and taking in all at a glance, ho simply snid to bim; "Well, sir, there is a flat   of mine go¬ iug up the rive,- for a   load of lumber. I need    a man of about your size; get aboaid and lay  hold  of an oar, and I will give you teu dollars a  month nud board."    Tho    boggar    collapsed, ol course, and the wholo town (that heard of it) wondered what wonld happen— Brother  Waterman had refused to aid a oommon beggar!   Dear,  good, kind hearted, generous Brother Watei- man—everybody's    friend—and    tbe contrite, penitent Christian man.   Hu bad one tailing, which   gavo bini more sorrow  than to* any ono else.   No one hnd the heart   to condemn sceercly n weakness wliich crushed  bis own spir¬ it.   May we not hope that ns the nngel mnde the record, his tears, (il tenia are slmd In Huayeu) blotted it oni—q: to speak moreiscriptiirully, that tho blood of Jesus Christ cleansed bim from all siu." .
In this, connection, it mny bo allow¬ able to speak of
filBTRIt WATERMAN,
tho excellent wifo of out* beloved broth¬ er.    She  was a lady of fino personal appearance,  although she  had passed ihu meridian oflii'c at  lho time referr¬ ed  to.    Her   faco  was expressive of much intelligence and at lhe same time of much suffering,  fur she was an in¬ valid and rapidly  approaching the end of hor useful life.    Her  maiden name is forgotten.   Sho   wns tho   familiar friend and companion of most of the ladies of tho community.   Such was tho gentleness of her spirit, combined with rare intelligence nnd  social fincmeiit,  llllll  her society  was much sought after _ and highly  appreciated. Sho was  confined   to hei   homo by af¬ fliction, and therefore, uot us constant uu attendant on lho public services of lho sanctuary,  as her more stalwart hnsband.   lint   her   heatt   and  soul weio  there, and none doubted the sin¬ cerity of her piety, or her  anient at¬ tachment lo lho Chinch of  hei* choice. That her cud was peaceful, cannot bo doubted hy any who know tho consis¬ tency uf her lite and the sweetness of her spirit.
UROYHER THOMAS L. SHAW
was, at that time, in tho zenith ol his Christian manhooJ,and one pi the finest representatives of manliness in char¬ acter, conjoined with sweoines of man¬ ners, and consistency of Christian life, that the writor bas over known. 01 hiB ourlier life, nothing is known to the wiitor, excepting ono thrilling puss- uge, wliich was received from his own lips; and lot* that reason iu au¬ thenticity cannot bo donbied. Wo will try and reproduce it. It may bo of in¬ terest to this audience. "When I was compnrati veiy a young man," said he "and had taken my placo as a citizon and u voter, I had a difficulty with the celebrated John L, Wilson, then a citi¬ zen ot Georgetown nnd a lawyer, prac¬ ticing at our bar, on lho subject of pol¬ itics. Mr. Wilson was well-known throughout the State and beyond its limits as n celebrated duellist, and the author of lho code by wliich gentle- tiion conducted ull affairs of honor. Thu controversy grew so hot between us that ho chullangod mo to single combat. Mr. Wilson had been en¬ gaged in severe] snell affairs Icfiire.and bad nlways been successful in killing liis man.    lie was considered music of
to be certain death to meet hiin on the field. I .e.olved,-, said Shaw, "to ac¬ cept tho challenge. My friends gath¬ ered around me, -..id sought to dis¬ suade mo, saying it was worso than madness to meet him. It wonld be certain death. And yet I determined to meet him. ' By the laws ol tlio Code, I had the right to select the weapons, and make all the necessary arrange¬ ments. I chose pistols, and thai we should go into a room, and having on-, ly a tablo betweon us wo should each tnke hold of the end of a packet-hand¬ kerchief, and await tho word fire.wbioh should bo given from without.
Having thus arranged nil the pre¬ liminaries, I weut nnd spent the even¬ ing boforo tho fight with the lady, to whom I was engaged to he Married, and bid her farewell at 10 o'clock, fully purs-laded I should nevor seo her face again in this life. I had resisted all the cniiealics of my friends, aud lold them iu the bitterness of my hate to¬ ward my antngonsst that I knew we bolh would be killed and that J would go to hell and I whs determ¬ ined io take John L. IFilcon with me. Of conrse llio friends of both parties interfered—a reconciliation was effect¬ ed, nnd the duel did not como off—bnt tho author ol the Codo revised the wholo system of dnelliug.as to distance, tfce." Thomas L. Shaw was reserved lor a higher destiny, and tho cruel practice qf duelling has gradually fall¬ en into disuso. For which let tie be grateful.
Mr. Shaw was subsequently married to the lady of his clioice; and a few years afterward became a member of tho Episcopal Church, accompanied by his wife, we suppose, nnd there remain¬ ed until lhe gracious Revival, which occurred in the Methodist Church a lew years previous to tho pastorate of tho writer, when ho and she became members of tha Mothodist Episcopal Church, and, as the wiiler supposes, Miss Magdalen Walker, his wile sis- tor, nlso came along with them. They all, it is presumed, made a piofession of con version during that Revival.
In person Brother'Shaw wa_ valher' below than abovo the medium height, well.lormed ami graceful in manners. His temper wns most genial and friend¬ ly. He was a man of fine bnsiness capacity and general intelligence. His honie was a model of "sim¬ plicity and generous hospitality, in which his excellent wifo and her cul¬ tured sister played an important pnrt. The parents have lung since passed away—some of their descen¬ dants still remain, to perpetuate the memory, and, let us hope,tu lollow af¬ tor the example of tlieir Christian pa¬ rents.
Living in the house of Bro. Shaw, was the excellent maiden sister of his wile,
HISS MAODALEN WALKER,
whoso life was prolonged much lie* ond tho average of her sex. She died only the present year,in the town of Marion, whither she had refuged wilh her widowod sister, nnd her orphaned chil¬ dren luring tho late war. Sho was a womim of deep piety, rare intelligence, and entire devotion to tlio welfare of her bereavod sister. At llie time of which wo writo she wns in tho full prime and vigor of womanhood. She seemed to have as few faults and more virtues than fulls to the share 'of most Christian women. Her training had been in tho Episcopal Church; oud right nobly did sbo illustrate tbe ex¬ cellency of that teaching.
Aftor her connection with the Meth¬ odist Church, sh. seemed never to ful¬ ler in her religions course, or to regret the change in her church relationship. Pnre, wiso, aud faithful to the ond might safely be inscribed upon her tomb.
Amongst the recruits from the old Episcopal Churoh in Georgetown, may be mentioned tho names of Dn. wm. riuon and his cultivated wife. At the time of which wo write the doctor was in tbe primo and vigor of lifo. In person and manners ho was tbe elegant gentleman* His early associations and his educa¬ tional advantages, were of the first or¬ dor. Ho had a high sense of personal honor, and uo ono could with impunity trespass upon what he considered to be due to himself in all the relations of life. His temperament was. anient, quick to appreciate a kindness and as prompt to resent nil injury, real or supposed. As u mutter of course, this temperament subjected hiin to many trials, aud al times to much uiibnppiness. To il¬ lustrate his peculiar temperament, tho writer will relate a little incident.in whicli he himself was personally   .im¬
postor noticed with pain, that tho jloc- tor tvas absent from Church for several Sabbaths in succession. Having a deep sense of his own inability to in¬ terest such a man aB the doctor, in his pnlpit administration, he was not only depressed about it, hut was also afraid to seek tho doctor and inquire into the reasou of his absenco from Church. Just about that time, lie (the pastor) was taken ill with tho dreaded fovei of the climate and immediately sent for the doctor. Ho came promptly and kindly prescribed fur him. As he was about leaving, with a trembling heart and voice, the pastor asked the doctor to le seated a moment, as he had sonic thing to comniuuicutu to him. Thc doctor promptly complied with the re¬ quest. Willi much _ hesitation the preacher began somehow in this stylo:
the lady who afterward became his wifo, and who brought to hiin wealth and position, and who still lives, with hei largo lamily of interesting children, to mourn over the nntimely and sndden loss of ono of the kindest husbands and tenderest fathers who over blessed a household or left behind him snch « savor of rare intelligence nnd great moral wortb.as my old aud tried friond, Dr. Alexius JI. Pursier. The writer is well assured that he 6hall never have the privilege of claiming the friendship and confidence of such a fiiend ngain. It is useless to kpecnlato on "causes" and consequences" in such a case aa this. It is enough to say, that when God chooses to make a man of such rare worth, as om departed friend, lie mtti.es htm. The original gifts ot mind and    heart  and  development—
ticular time of our history in George¬ town. Wo began with our 1'iother nnd sister.
Doctor, it is with pain, I have noticed aud their triumph, nre all iu the hand
your absenco from Church for several Sundays in succession. Will yon please state to mo the cause of it?" With tears in his eyes, llio doctor replied: "Bro. L., why bavo yon not spoken to mo before of this mntter. Ihave beon expecting yon to como and seo me. I even went so far as to write a letter of resignation to sond to you, but I could not do it. 1 threw it iuto my dosk, and it is there now. It is nothing that you havo said or done; hut a deep sense of my own personal uuworthiness which has kept mo away. Oh why didn't yon come?" And there we were a pair of penitents—mingling oor tears together—one becauso ho felt birasolf unworthy—the other because ho was a coward. Wo bolh deserved io go into the vnlo of tears.
Of tbo hitler part of liis life, ouly this it. known to the writer, viz., that ho with his family returned to tho Episcopal Church, and ihal he is now sleeping iu tbe grave.
Wo will now introduce to the andi- ence one- tho most remarkable young men living iu tbis couimuniiy at tho time refered tq,
DU. ALEXIUS 21. _*OJt3T***l,
Son ot the venerable and much be¬ loved Rov. Alexins M. Eorstur of tho Su. Cu.* Conference.
Tbo Doctor had graduated in medi ciuo tho year befure and was lbs part net of Dr. William Prior in 1841. He was at that time an official member of ibis church, nud remained in its com¬ munion for several years after. The reasons for severinc his connection with it, aud his entrance into tho Epis¬ copal Church, of which ho oied a proai- iuent and influential officer, need not bo detailed bere.lt is as aMelhodist and n warm personal Irieud, that the writer kuew him, and iu this doublo relation to himself he proposes to speak of him to-day. Iu person, the Doctor was a small man, somewhat below lbe nsual standard iii height aud heft. He was as straight as an arrow, and bis   whole
of God,   and to Hiin alone,  ali honor and glory aro to bo ascribed.   Snch and more than all this was my Meth¬ odist   friend  and   brother,   the lion orcd     son    of     an      honored    and cultured  Mothodist  prenchor,   of the old timo.   His successful  life came to a sudden  nnd nntimely  ond—an end much  deplored by  all  who knew the value of the man.   By nn accident he waa ushered iuto  the presence of his Maker, for which ovont, wo have rea son to hope, he was prepared.    His ex .client widow and large family qf chil¬ dren and  numeious  friends,  siucerely mourn  over his  sudden death.   May we  not hopo   that  tboir loss   was his eternal   gain?    The  writor  feels  like using tbo expressivo language of an an¬ cient Prophet, aud summing up all his regrets in the one short   exclamation, "alas! my brother!"
BRO. JOHN n. EASTERLIKG.
In point of influence Brothor Easter- ling deserves to ba placed in tbo front rank of the official members of the M. E. Cburch.nt the time referred to. The writer understands that bo was a na¬ tive of Charleston District. He was intho very prime of lilo, and a most energetic and successful rice planter on Black lUyer. His home wns on his plantation, duriug tho winter season; bnt he and his lamily spent the sum¬ mer in Georgetown, and here they held their membership. Iu person ho was rather above than nnder medium height. His faco was a most .expressive one, and represented fully the playol thought and feeling. His temperament was ar¬ dent, and there was no concealment of bis conviclions as to mon and meas¬ ures. He was dovotod to the Church of his choico and aided by the influenco and constant caro of his excellent wife thoir childieu wero brought up in the "nnrtnre and admonition of the Lord," according to the teaching oi the M. E. Church. A noble and generous Chris¬ tian hospitality was extendod to all her ministers and membors.    Tboir  telig-
MARIANO.
As his name indicates, he was a foreigner, and I thiuk n native of Por¬ tugal. She belonged to onr own low country, pethnps was born in Georgo¬ town. He waB a man of fino personal presence, exceedingly polite and even punctilious iu his bearing at all timos to all persons with whom he camo contact. It was vory evident that ho was a Methodist for the sake of Ihb wife and children. His own religions training had been receivod in a foreign land, where Methodism was unknown in ita distinctive peculiarities. For re¬ ligion he had great respect, and for his wifo's sake,if not for his own,ho sought to conform to tbo usages aud customs of onr church.
SISTER MARIANO,
on the contrary, was a Mothodist from conviction, aud sought to enter into the life and spirit of tho evangelistic move¬ ment, and to train np her children in tbe spirit of old-time Methodism, ln person sho was tall; in manners grace¬ ful; in spirit meek and lowly; in speech sbo was Blow and cautions, apparently seeking to avoid offence, and to recom¬ mend religion to others by thc orna¬ ment of n "meek and quiet spirit." Sho was highly respected by tho Meth¬ odists of her day and generation. She had one lovely daiightc.*, (perhaps others) whoso gently ways and spirit reflected great honour.upon her parents and their domestio training. Wo will introduce to our audience another "double star," wliich shone wilh groat brilliancy at that particular time, vis:
11R0. AND SISTER ANDEUSO*..
He camo from Charleston to George¬ town some yoars beforo the limo refer¬ ed to and became the partner of Mr. Rothmahler, nn old citizen, in the sale of drugs and medicines. ' Bro. Ander¬ son was legitimately tho product of Charleston Methodism, and light worthily did ho represent his perternity. He was the brother of Miss Hannah AndersOn, whose piety nnd intelligence adorned tho membership of Trinity Chuich for so many yenrs. One pe¬ culiarity of Bro. A* ivas that he was a lame man nnd walked with Bome diffi¬ culty. Living at that time in George¬ town was a widow lady, by the namo of Denuison, au accomplished and elegant woman, a native of Ireland, whoso former husband had fullen a victim to the malarial fevors of the town, which at lhat time was so fatal to almost all strangers of foreign or northern birth.
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.
had been his extraordinary good for¬ tune in these various engagements, wherein death seomed to run riot, thnt hie friends begun lo think bis lifu was almost charmed. But, alas! tho bloody field of Spottsylvonia dispelled Ihis fond dolusion.und taught lliu nnceilnin- ty ol hnman hopes. He Ihero received tlio wound which terminated a precious life, nnd wns borne fovovor from lho sight of thoso ho had so ofton lod to victory.
A lifo so licit in lessons needs no comment.   His oxnmplo wns eloquence itself, and in  that  memory  which liu leaves behind there  congregates asso- ciation whioh will render it porpetun in tho hearts of nil  surviving frionds, Providence in His infinite wisdom  has Been fit to take him lrom nnv midst ill tho priino ofa useful life; but  while ho lived, his evory acl illustrated the no¬ ble principles by which ho was prompt¬ ed and his death sealed a devotion  lo our oauso thut is unalloyed by oue blot of shame. "Ho wrought In faith and aot in doubt, I* tlio p.-oud epitaph inaei-ilied nhove Tho glorious dead, who hi his grandeur lio*, Crowned with tho gmlnnd of eternity "
Death   ol
Major  Thonm_
Alston.
I'lncl-noy tributes.of
bearing, whether in rest or action, was ion partook of their mental  eharnctor- lhat ofa  thoroughly  self-reliant   and (istics.und was ardent.f.ank and decided.
THOMAS mCKNEY ALSTO-i.
llio art of duelling, airl it was supposed  corned.    In   the summer qf 1841 tbo
tearless man.    Conscious of rectitude, in all his purposes and plans, bo never cowered in the presence of any  man, nor would he havo turuod on his heel to flutter or court the favor of any human being.    Polite and  respectful  tuwards all men, he  mado thom feel  that he was not'to bo won over by uny of the arts which mqu usually practice in or¬ der to  securo  popular  favor.    In  all this independence of thonght and bear¬ ing there  was not the slightest ap¬ proach toward rudeness of manners or the vulgarity of the professional bully, who seeks  to intimidate where he conscious be cannot win popular favoi. Ho was a gcntlemau of tbo  first  order and was conscione of rare endowments both ns to general intelligence aud pro¬ fessional skill.   In this consciousness, he chose to  wait for appreciation  to seek him rather thnn lo seek populari¬ ty by methods which are so common aa to command the ajiprobation  ot or- linary   meu.   His methods were in striking contrast  with those  of  olher and highly respectable physicians,  by whom ho was surronmled.   Tbo field of medical   practico, iu   and   around Georgetown, was already occupied  by vetorans, the most of whom weie high¬ ly esteemed gcntlomen aud practitioners iu medicine.   His skill as a physician became gradually  known,   fiist   ns a child's docior, and then as   a   general practitioner among ull classes, unlil not only in tbe lown, but also in tba coun¬ try, in the palaces of the rich,  as  well as in the cabins of tho   poor, he sup¬ planted, (not by any   crookedness   ou his part) many ol the oldest physicians of ihe town and countryjand became.as he deserved to be, an oracle in the art of healing.   If it might not be  cousi.l ored indelicate, tho writer   would   liko lo detail tho Important cure wliich  by bis skill ho effected in  tho petsou  of
It is needless to add that   the   family was cultivated and mingled iu tbe best society oftho town aud country.    Cne of tbeir daughters was mairiod early in life to the Kev. Charles  Walker,  and has been for many years a widow; an- nothor becamo the  wife   of   tho  Rev. John Mood, also a member of  tho   S. C. Conference.    The other children are scattered abroad, wherever   they   wero thrown by the  fortunes  and  disasters of om* late  uuhappy  war:   Bro. ami Sister Easterliug have long since pass¬ ed away lo  -their   homo   in   Heaven. Their memory is blessod and   will   no doubt bo handed down   to   successive generations, as models of piety and de¬ votion to tho church   of theit   choice. His   daughter Sirs. Dinkins,  informs the writer that his last expression was, "Christ lho Rock,"   nnd that she (the wifo and mother,) had uo  foal as sho entered tho cold waters of death. Snch lives as theirs bad an sjfpropriate end¬ ing.
BUO. CAnn  CROFT
was amongtho younger members ofthe Chnrch nt that time. Of him, wo may say, that although a yonug man, ho was distinguished for bis piety and scholarship, and was a graduate of Randolph Macon College, "Vn. He was remarkable for his unassuming modosty and piety. HiB plnco iu tho Church was rarely vacant. On account oi a physical defect he had groat diffi¬ culty in walking, yet his feet, lame as thoy wero, always bore him to tho Honso of God whither hia heart had gone already.
Beforo wo oomo to tho largo number of widowed ladies, of whom llio Church was mainly composed in 18*11 & 1842, it may uot bo amiss to call attention to some of the "double stars "which shone wilh more or less brightness on our   Mothodistic skies, at that  par-
Glowing* Tributes to the Memory of a South Carolina. Soldier and Gentle¬ man.
[Rc-publishcd liy Request. Died, in Richmond, Ta., on the 19th ol June, from wounds received at tho battle of Spotsylvania, 0. H., May 12, 188*1, Major Thomas Pinckney Allston, of tho 1st Regiment S. C. V., aged thirty two yearB.
Anolher nap has beon mndo iu the broad eirclo of sorrowing friendship— another sonl nddod to tho vast congre¬ gation of beyoic dead, whose spirits are to-dny pleading for our causo bo¬ fore the shrino of the Almighty. We grieve over our loss; but by that gold¬ en ladder which Henvnn drops down, our hopes ascend to that diviner sphere whero tho eye of faitli boholds onr lov¬ ed ones, set liko pearls iu a crown of eternal glory.
In the death of Maior Alston, the ar¬ my has lost ono of its most valued of¬ ficers, society one of its brightest jew¬ els, and his  family and  friends one whose name was a synonym for every irtuo that adorns noble manhood.— Tendering his  sei vices  at tho begin¬ ning of tho wur, none was more  brave or faithful iu  tlieir discharge.   Every relation between his officers and mon was marked by frankness,  courtesy trnth and honor, and each  succeeding day only onchanced the esteem and ad miration   which  followed his career. On the field, Major  Alston was distin¬ guished lor cool, calm,    self-possession and   that high  mornl  courage  which mailelightoftoil, privation and dan¬ ger.   His judgment, always good, nev¬ er appeared moie perfect than when in command of his regiment (First Sonlh Carolina Volimceers), and at the head of his men, leading them on to glorious dnty; and his devotion was manifest in tho most reckless gallantry with wliich ho dared death in a thousand shapes. Ho was  a  prominent   actor  in  every battlo of Virginia, including Mechan- icsville, on  the  26th  of June,' 186' Cold Harbor, Fiascr's Farm,   Ox Hill, Second   Manassas,   Harpprls   Ferry, Sharpbnrg, Shepherdstown, Fredericks¬ burg (where he was slightly wounded). Clmnc-llorsville,    Gettysburg, Falling Waters and  the Wilderness.     Sncji
Amidst  tho  thousand respect"  to   lho   gallant  dead, with which the entire press of llio Confeder¬ ate Stales irom ono end ol the hind to the other ia daily limited,  it is difficult to distinguish, in tho high-flown eulogy and tho ovor-stinincd lnngnago ehniao- toris.tic of tho day,  betweon tho jnst public acknowledgment of groat merit, ur virtno, or achievement and tbo more extrnvaganco of frioiidsbip to tiio dead or of fulsome flattery to tho living,   ln the vast multiludo of such hovoos na Groeco nnd Romo never know, and tho woild dreamed of before (if wo are tq believe all that wo road), the mind be¬ comes obtuso and callous—great deeds and uoblq virtues ilwiudle into common conventionalities and lho merest mut¬ ters of course.   Tho toolings of mon kept upon a constant tension loso theii' spring nnd tlieir power of elasticity, and becomo relaxed and almost dead¬ ened, and the mini! refuses to respond to tho ceaseless, endless draft upon  its crednlityand its cupncily to suffer lot* others.   Tho culls upon tbo sympathies of onr naturo como so  sharp,  in  such quick  succession,  nud  so  ceaselessly, thnt tho heart is drained, as it wore, of all deep or lasting sympathy  for nuy,- and ouly cries aloud in tbo  bosom  of, alas, tfio ninny iu our stricken land  for rest," rest, rest!   So  oppressed with its own cares,   so overwrought with  its Dim suiloiiiigs, that it has no room for thoso of otliors.
We find it impossible to avoid Ihcso sad reflections in announcing the doath ofthe distinguished soldier nnd accom¬ plished gentleman, whose namo stands, nt tho head of this paper.— Wo stand amidst the dying and the dead, liko some wanderer in a vast forest ihal has been touohod hy the chill broath of nn- tnmn, listening to tho ccnsolcss, ulmost silent rain of fulling leave:) about him —and perchance, oxcopt where wo ure individually concerned, wilh as Utile emotion. Such is the force of habit upon tho mind, and such tho necessity ol human nature.
But the doath of Major Alston, how¬ ever obtuse tho publio miud may havo become to the loss Of lilo, cannot but arrest its ntteiilion, and demands the tribute uf ils warm admiration and its earnest regret. For the doath of snch n man is a blow nt thu very foundation ol '.he strength, tho enlightenment, tho moral elevation of a community or a State. Of the many noble sons that Carolina has sent foi'th tu tho war in Virginia, within our own borders, or in tho Western States, there are very few so competent to illustrate thu peculiar characteristics for which our State is known and honored abroad amongst other States.
As a Boldier, Major Alston had long since achieved a repiitaliuu, which, un¬ der nny Govurment that could raisii itself abovo the potty intrigues of per¬ sonal power, and tbu barter and trado of publiu office for privato and politi¬ cal ends, and wliioh conld for a mo¬ ment look with an eyo singlo to tlio puhlic interest , wonld long before his fall havo lilted him to a position in tlio field, which he had repeatedly and brilliantly won, and where his nbilit'ieu conld hnvo founil room for exoicise. To speak of his courage ns conspicu¬ ous in tho battlo field where many were brave, still gives no nilvqiintu idea of that impulse which hahiliinlly puses- sed bim. There nro in nil pints oi' tha world n large number" ot pooplo who cerlain amount   ot   .,><uMr*v.
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