E-text prepared by Tim O'Connell
and revised by Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D.
HTML version prepared by Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D.
| Note: | Many of the author's spellings follow older, obsolete, or intentionally incorrect practice. |
When The Rose of Dixie magazine was started by a stock companyin Toombs City, Georgia, there was never but one candidate for its chiefeditorial position in the minds of its owners. Col. Aquila Telfair wasthe man for the place. By all the rights of learning, family,reputation, and Southern traditions, he was its foreordained, fit, andlogical editor. So, a committee of the patriotic Georgia citizens whohad subscribed the founding fund of $100,000 called upon Colonel Telfairat his residence, Cedar Heights, fearful lest the enterprise and theSouth should suffer by his possible refusal.
The colonel received them in his great library, where he spentmost of his days. The library had descended to him from his father. Itcontained ten thousand volumes, some of which had been published aslate as the year 1861. When the deputation arrived, Colonel Telfairwas seated at his massive white-pine centre-table, reading Burton's"Anatomy of Melancholy." He arose and shook hands punctiliously witheach member of the committee. If you were familiar with The Rose ofDixie you will remember the colonel's portrait, which appeared in itfrom time to time. You could not forget the long, carefully brushedwhite hair; the hooked, high-bridged nose, slightly twisted to theleft; the keen eyes under the still black eyebrows; the cl