*1955-1956 MARIST BROTHERS DARLINGHURST - BLUE AND BLUE PART III THE BROTHERS AND THE BUILDINGS

I apologise for the poor quality of this image. The top Floor Classroom at this end was our Fifth Year Classroom and the one next to it away from the camera was our 4th Year Classroom. The fine building on the right was used for the Tuck Shop ( Is there an American equivalent for something so basic?) and a Sports Kit storage.area.The spiral staircase was quite a feature of the school building and relieved pressure on the enclosed stairway on the Southern (left hand side in this picture)

The heart of the School was provided by the Marist Brothers. Marist Brothers had educated me at Lidcombe and it was grand to have them again at Darlo. They had operated the School since it opened in the 1890's I believe. They are an Order of French origin, founded by Saint Marcellin Champagnat who was Beatified in May, 1955 by Pope Pius XII when I was in Fifth Year, and Canonised in April, 1999 by Blessed  Pope John Paul II in April, 1999. The Order seemed to attract and develop well- balanced men , though of course not free of the human foibles we all share. We became familiar with the French terminology used in the Order - the Mother House ( Maison Mere) was the worldwide headquarters. Interestingly, I was to encounter the same terminology many years later in the Banque Nationale De Paris - but that is another story.

The Principal at the time was Brother Fergus ( family name : McCann) whom I liked and admired immensely. He was an intelligent gentleman and a good teacher. He was a gentle soul who would try to see the good in everyone present and historical. He was, I am afraid too good a man for the likes of some of the students in our Class. As I have said, a number had repeated 5th year and were really, physically at least ,young men and he treated them and all of us accordingly. Regrettably some lagged in maturity of character and caused him a lot of unnecessary difficulty - he was too good for the likes of them. The next most senior teacher was Brother Cloman who was dubbed "Trigger"because the top of one of his fingers was missing. He was the ultimate in low key operating style. But the same feral oafs who sensed vulnerability in Brother Fergus and worked on it, were totally under Brother Cloman's thumb! Without histrionics, or raised voice, or physical gestures - with no seeming communication by sound or sight he seemed to exude an aura that affected them and shut down their "stirring"tendencies. It was wonderful to see, and all the more so because he was in no way pre-possessing in appearance! He was universally well liked.

The Internet never ceases to amaze. Here is the grave of Brother Fergus, died at 90 yrs in 2003 -
God rest his gentle soul.

Two other teachers were Brother Cassian and Brother Patrick. Brother Cassian had the nickname "Skull"( how merciless we were!) since he was thin and his skull was very evident. He taught Physics and Maths and was not popular - it was generally said of him that he must have lain awake at night thinking up his carefully crafted "impromptu"remarks! Brother Patrick was far more down to earth than the others, with a short fuse and a no nonsense manner. In 1955 he was the first person EVER to publicly call me ""Tony", when going around the Class putting faces to the list of names he had. It stuck well and truly! I had never liked it, and had always been called "Ant"or "Anth"in the family and at Marist Brothers Lidcombe it was "Dicko" as for many other boys Surname contraction or embellishment was used e.g. "Walshie". 

Brother Samuel who had taught me in Sixth Class at Lidcombe came to Darlo in 1956 but since he was teaching Primary School I did not have much to do with him. The last of the Brothers I recall was a young chap Brother Athanasius( a mighty Patron to live up to!) He took our Latin Class and had great trouble with one young fellow, whose name I had better not mention in case I might be deemed to sully his reputation, but he was a little terror and beyond rational control.

For the first time I encountered Lay Teachers here at Darlo. Mr. Connolly and Mr. Everingham were both good men, Mr.Connolly the younger ( perhaps 50) and the more likeable. He had lost a son due to illness I believe, and the trauma was reputed to be the cause of his virtual baldness save for a few irregular tufts of hair. He was also given a rough time by the usual suspects. Mr. Everingham was much older (60 Plus) and seemed rather crabby  and was not popular. The arrival of Lay Teachers into Catholic Schools may have been necessary as the number of religious vocations declined in the face of post-War prosperity and growing materialism, but it was quite adverse in its effect on the authentic Catholic spirit of our schools and the quality of Religious education.

Our Darlo years came to an end after we sat for the State Leaving Certificate examinations. To do this, we Darlinghurst Catholic School Students were required to go for several days to Cranbrook College (Anglican I think) a very expensive and snobby place which had a reputation for rather "limp-wristed boys"which was carefully nurtured by a ditty to the tune of the Sailors Hornpipe tune. It must not have been a reputation given only by our students because in later years I heard the same thing referred to on Radio National. Anyway we were set at some psychological disadvantage by the requirement. The reputation of the "Cranbrook"students was re-inforced in our eyes when we found most of them falling in with their own "fashion"of getting about with their shirt collars turned up! We did not regard such affectations well!

The years of High School culminate in the Leaving Certificate results which have become a much more frenzied pre-occupation in recent decades. After a short period they fade quickly in importance as the real world takes over our lives. I did quite well in the exam and my now Brother-in law did somewhat better and Darlo acquitted itself quite well overall as I remember. Tony went on to University in the Arts Faculty , and I went on to St. Columba's Minor Seminary at Springwood. And that is another story!

*EX LIBRIS :: "WOMEN IN THE DAYS OF THE CATHEDRALS" A MARVELLOUS WOMAN IN A.D. 841

Revealing surprisingly attractive personalities in dark and distant times.

We are often left with an absolutely false and depressing view of Medieval times, and in fact, the word itself has become a pejorative term, doing a great injustice to the people of those times and their achievements in the face of barbarian Viking, Mohammedan (from North Africa) and Magyar (from Hungary) raiders. 

Some 650 years before Rabelais, and later Montaigne wrote their treatises on Education, a laywoman, wife and mother named Dhouda wrote "A Manual for My Son " which was published in French in 1975.

Charlemagne had been crowned Emperor by the Pope in the year 800. But upon his death, in 814, his three sons began to fight among themselves over who should rule. Dhouda was of noble birth and began to write her work at age 40 years in 841 . The times were troubled indeed and it must have been hard to know where to stand. Dhouda's husband was Bernard of Septimania who was executed for treason in 844 for supporting Pepin of Aquitaine in the struggle against his brother Charles the Bald. Dhouda's son William was also executed for treason five years  later in 849.  

But, in 841, all of that lay in the future. Before we read somethings she wrote, we need to know something about her. She was, like all educated Catholics of her time totally immersed in knowledge and love of Sacred Scripture - both New and Old Testament were her daily points of reference, as they were for her sons. So she could confidently write to them making allusions to details of Sacred Scripture with no doubt that they would understand. She was a prayerful person, praying the Divine Office every day. She was a very down to earth, practical achiever, managing the family estates whilst her husband and sons were away for extended periods on military campaigns. This practicality of hers even extended to negotiating loans when extra funds were needed for the estates. She was a devoted wife and mother as will become plain, and in so  many ways she was a model of Christian living. Let us hear her words, from this work which occupies 370 pages in the modern translation,   the first of which to Son William was "Lege"("Read") :
First she urges him "to read and to pray ". "" In your involvement in the preoccupations of this world, do not neglect buying yourself many books with which you can, through the teaching of the holy Fathers and masters, discover and learn about God the Creator more than you can find here........you have and will have  books to read, to leaf through, to meditate, to deepen, to understand, and you will even very easily find scholars to teach you.They will provide you with examples of the good you can do to comply with your double duty( no doubt to his father and to his lord.)..She later went on.."People who apparently succeed in the world and are rich in possessions and who nevertheless, with dark malice, never cease to  envy and to tear apart their neighbour as much as they can, and this under  cover of honesty  ..... those I invite you to watch, to flee from  , to avoid" Perhaps surprisingly, only 10 of the 370 pages are taken up with issues of morality. Dhouda is always humble and tenderly respectful in addressing her Son :  "I pray and suggest humbly to you..", "I exhort you my son....", "I , your mother, however lowly I am according to my smallness and the limits of my understanding...."                                           

This was a labour of love and that is a key feature of her writing : "Love God, seek God, love your younger brother, love your friends and the companions among whom you live at the royal or Imperial Court, love the poor and the unhappy, love everyone so that you may be loved by all, cherish them so as to be cherished by them."

If the above book were to be purchased for the full story of Dhouda alone , it would be worthwhile. The lengthy account of Dhouda from pp 45 to 54  is a joy to read and I have only been able to give my readers a brief taste here. I urge you to track down the Book and get to know more about this dear lady from 1,200 years ago! 

A final, fitting consequence of her life: Her Grandson William the Pious was instrumental in the founding of the great Abbey of Cluny which led the reform of the monastic movement and truly flourished for centuries to the greater glory of God.

*EX LIBRIS : "A HISTORY OF PRIVATE LIFE" : Speadeagled at the Crossroad

I love Roman portraits of this style . They usually seem to be young couples -
perhaps  it was "chic"to have one done. 

This is certainly a handsome book, a 670 page larger format softcover, published by Harvard's Belknap Press in 1992. But like the Church of England Curate's egg it is "good in parts".  It is made up of a series of chapters by different authors and at times their writings are somewhat contradictory, and at other times disclose a degree of anti-Christian prejudice. But those parts are minor and , for the most part it is an interesting and rewarding read.

I wanted to bring to your notice a really interesting piece from the book, which for the life of me I can't find at present, despite three careful skimmings ! I am sure you have had the experience - you KNOW roughly where it is in the book, you KNOW it is on the left hand page starting in the lower half etc., but the more you look, the more the text seems to conceal itself. So, I am simply asking you to let me tell you.

 The author is dealing with aspects of law in the period of late Antiquity, recounting some surprising oddities. The example is given of a law that provided the death penalty for anyone who, coming upon a man spreadeagled and staked to the ground at his feet and ankles at a cross-road, attempted to cut him loose. Weird, we might think - what was going on?

Further research showed that the penalty for rape at the time was to be thus spreadeagled at the crossroad and left there to die!! Obviously family or tribal sympathies - if not Charity - might have tempted someone to remove the wretched fellow from his agony. But the death penalty was a strong deterrent! The good old days.

The motive may not have been "women's rights"- rightsspeak lay many hundreds of years in the future, but concern for family honour worked in this time to protect women from harm as far as practicable. The same result is sought to-day but dressed up in different verbiage.

*1955-1956 MARIST BROTHERS DARLINGHURST _ BLUE AND BLUE PART TWO

ZEROING IN 1955 - MY BEST FRIEND AND FUTURE BROTHER-IN - LAW TONY HANNON EXTREME LEFT BACK ROW 

ZEROING IN 1956 TONY HAS MOVED TO THE RIGHT A LITTLE IN THE BACK ROW, WHILST YOUR SCRIBE HAS MOVED DOWN TO THE FOURTH ROW DOWN THIRD FROM THE RIGHT - AND HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN WATCHING TOO MUCH LENI RIEFENSTAHL!

The photos above are now 56 and 55 years old respectively. It is interesting that what they do in my mind is summon up a series of brief thumb-nail sketches of a remarkably diverse range of rapidly forming personalities.  I can't share them all in full and one or two might be deemed libellous in any case, so I shall confine myself to a very few.

 It needs to be borne in mind, that the majority of the Class were longtime students of "Darlo"as it was affectionately known, but in the year I transferred in on my own, a group of boys from Marist Brothers Bondi, which had closed in an Archdiocesan Schools rationalisation, came to Darlo. I think about 10 were in our class, including Tony Hannon ( now my Brother-in-Law) . Tony and I shared many interests in common, but especially History and movies and Goon Show humour. We frequently  went to the movies and bushwalking and in later years .Each of us had a bewildering succession of cameras and cars, perhaps I led the race in the "bewildering range"area. Zany humor was the order of the day and the Goon Show was the ideal grist for our mental mills. Here was a friendship that was to last through the decades and I would still, anytime, trust my life to Tony.

I guess I was rather reserved in those days with most people so I did not form close friendships with other students - living 12-14 miles away to the West didn't help in that regard, I was always coming from or going to a different place to everyone else. I got to know a little and to like the irrepressible Roger Constable, an incorrigible wag who delighted in "stirring". There were several students who repeated 5th Year for their personal reasons. Whilst I didn't "hate"school I was impatient to be out in the world and independent of the regimented routine of school.

I particularly admired, but was not close to, several students for various  reasons : Bill Allport for his ultra modest manner and politeness coupled with academic ability and athletic success, Brian Wyndham for his manly bearing and good humour and outgoing personality - he was also accomplished as Drum Major in the School Cadets and Paul Langford for his quiet but friendly manner and genuine openness. The Class had varied outcomes in our lives one  student became a successful lawyer, another a doctor, another a dentist, another went into the Army , at least one a teacher ( my Brother-in- Law Tony with great distinction as a much admired Rugby Coach of Sydney Boys High and longtime enthusiastic and accomplished History Teacher) . Another was Bob Vagg who became media  famous for a time in the Financial Press as an "expert"executive of a major American Merchant Bank. But, several financial crises later that is not the sort of "darling"the media cultivates. 

I joined the Cadet Corps in 4th Year and saw the year out without distinction and did not sign up again for 5th Year. Interestingly, whilst re-reading the book "The Old School Tie"by Father John O'Neill the well-known Parish Priest of Doonside in Sydney's western suburbs, I came across a description that immediately brought to mind a Cadet Corps figure with outstanding clarity. The book is based on Father O'Neill's life together with that of another Priest friend. Names are fictionalised and some characters are "telescoped"for the purpose of the book, but it is all based solidly on fact.The hero and his friend and fellow Priest to be are both students at the Cathedral School and are members of the Cadet Corps.  The Permanent Army supervisor of the Cadet Unit at the School is "a World War Two and Korean War veteran, Sergeant Peter Irwin". When the two friends are at a mixed Schools Cadet Camp at Singleton and attendance at Sunday Mass makes them a tad late for breakfast in the Mess Hut the cook abuses them and won't serve them. The story goes on :
"He did not notice Sergeant Irwin standing near.
  Get breakfast for these men Cookie", said Irwin, They've been to Church Parade, I don't think we'll penalise them for being Christians."
The cook grumbled as he sloshed porridge into bowls, and slapped rounds of toast onto cold plates.
"Thank you Cookie", said Irwin. "Enjoy your breakfast gentlemen."
'Thank you Sir, they replied.
"If you can't enjoy it, offer it up"laughed the Sergeant as he walked away, and from that remark, the boys knew they had a fellow Catholic in high places."

Our Cadet Unit at Darlinghurst - just up the hill from St.Mary's Cathedral College was obviously supervised by the same man as the Cathedral College :- the smiling, manly Warrant Officer Sam Irwin who exuded an admirable competence, efficiency and self - possession that made him universally admired. He was every inch the professional soldier, and a great fellow.

*SOCIAL DECAY IN EVIDENCE

CARDINAL PELL HIGHLIGHTS PROBLEMS

All Australians should be grateful to Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, for highlighting in his column in Sydney's Daily Telegraph yesterday the following figures:

"In Australia imprisonment rates increased from 88 per 100,000 adults in 1984, to 168 per 100,000 in 2008.  Crimes rates, which have pointed in different directions in different areas over this period, do not explain this alone.

Mandatory non-parole periods, tougher bail conditions, and a slow criminal justice system have also contributed. 10 per 100,000 were on remand awaiting trial in 1984, but 39 per 100,000 in 2008.

Indigenous Australians are still jailed at higher rates than others, comprising 14 per cent of prisoners in 1991, but 25 per cent in 2008.  The Aboriginal imprisonment rate is 17 times higher (2195 per 100,000) than the rate for other Australians.

The situation is even worse for young offenders.  Juvenile detention rates fell for the non-Indigenous population between 1994 and 2008, but rose to 420 per 100,000 for Indigenous youth."

Despite the mitigating factors His Eminence mentions, the enormous increases in so many areas give cause for grave concern and cry out for remedial action. Hopefully this action will be positive in nature -  addressing causes and not negative - increasing penalties, creating new offences and exaggerating law enforcement efforts. Already, our society is burdened down with more and more police , carrying (and using) more and more weapons, driving more and more loudly painted cars, whilst signs warning of larger and larger penalties abound and more and more invasions of citizens' privacy and rights are countenanced as the use of oppression to address the problems grows.

But, in the meantime Governments license extended hours for drinking in many clubs, bars and pubs - in some places not closing until 5.00 am resulting in a mushrooming of alcohol related crimes and violence. 


Advertising and "entertainment"and the media become more and more provocative and accustom people to ideas of violent activity as normal and sexual misconduct as acceptable if one can get away with it.


We need a new paradigm operating in Governments to build a responsible self-respecting society , and a more ethical and responsible media which will seriously address these present day "signs of the times"with the same gusto it brings to selectively regurgitating  some Catholic clerical abuse from 40 years ago.

*1955 -1956 MARIST BROTHERS DARLINGHURST - BLUE AND BLUE PART ONE

YOUR SCRIBE 3RD ROW DOWN SECOND FROM THE LEFT
OBVIOUSLY SNAPPED IN THE MIDST  OF RESPONDING TO A COMMENT FROM THE IRREPRESSIBLE ROGER CONSTABLE NEXT TO THE RIGHT

YOUR SCRIBE FOURTH ROW DOWN FIFTH FROM THE LEFT
EXHIBITING THE STEELY VISAGE OF A HITLER JUGEND

From about 2nd Year of High School (1953) I had formed an increasingly strong conviction that I was being called to the Priesthood. This was not something I immediately embraced as being what I wanted to do. I can recall sitting through Sermons at Mass about the need for Priestly vocations and wishing the subject would come to an end so that my conscience would no longer be tortured by the consideration of the issue. However by 3rd Year (1954) at MARIST Brothers Lidcombe the issue was resolved after much prayer, visits to St.Patrick's Seminary Manly ( it always amused me that on cruises up to Palm Beach by the largest of the Manly Ferries "SOUTH STEYNE" the commentator regularly referred to the massive Seminary building as "the Cardinal's Palace" an infinitely more modest building across the road from the Seminary and NOT visible from the sea or the Harbour.) 

This meant that I needed to continue my studies in Latin when I went to a new college to complete 4th and 5th Years . Many of my fellow students  would not go on to those Matriculation studies, but go out into the workforce. Those that did go on went almost exclusively to Marist Brothers Parramatta - which did not teach Latin. Problem! Some investigation turned up the fact that Marist Brothers Darlinghurst - on the other side of the City and some 12 miles distant - not only taught Latin but its Headmaster, Brother Michael was an accomplished Latinist and in fact lectured at Sydney University. So that was the decision - Marist Brothers Darlinghurst it was to be. 

A daily trip to and fro by electric train was needed from Berala to Central Station then out onto Eddy Avenue which crosses Central's North frontage and then a tram or a Double-Decker bus to Taylor Square Darlinghurst , then a walk past the High Court, past (though I did not know it at the time!) the notorious "wall"-later infamous as a rent-boy pick-up point frequented by some very senior Labour appointed lawyers including it is said a High Court Judge and also a member of the Police Commission - "Sin City"indeed. The walk proceeded past the old Darlinghurst Gaol and hey presto! arrived at the College along one side of a cul-de-sac, on the corner of Liverpool Street which stretched all the way down the hill back to the City's Hyde Park.

Taylor Square at the bottom of the picture, the High Court just above it, the road to the left took me along "the wall"past the entrance to the old DARLINGHURST Gaol here shown in detail as I never saw it.. The College is out of sight beyond the top of the picture.

MARIST BROTHERS DARLINGHURST, LIVERPOOL STREET FRONTAGE FACING SOUTH AND  FACING EAST ONTO THE CUL DE SAC .OUR 5TH YEAR CLASSROOM IS ON THE TOP FLOOR ON THE RIGHT OF THE PICTURE, AND OUR 4TH YEAR CLASSROOM WAS IMMEDIATELY TO ITS LEFT IN THE PICTURE ADJACENT TO THE STAIRWELL WHICH IS THE BRICK PROJECTION OUT TOWARD THE STREET. 

As it happened , Brother Michael was appointed to another school. But he took the trouble to come all the way out to Berala during the school holidays to assure me and my parents that the College would be maintaining Latin and would gladly welcome me. I was very happy to receive this  kind attention, though embarrassed that I happened to be ill in bed  (a rare occurrence) at the time! We had few enough guests in our home when I was young, but Mum was even more overwhelmed than I by this distinguished visitor.

This of course meant a trip to ANTHONY HORDERN'S DEPARTMENT STORE  in the City to get fitted out with a new suit, Hat (!! - never have been keen on hats!) , Tie etc. So here I was on the brink of 1955 and keen to get on with it!

EX LIBRIS : "FAR, FAR FROM HOME" - SLAVERY

A fascinating and revealing read.

In 1993, my wife had the opportunity to visit the  United States with a Quilter friend and attend the annual QUILT SYMPOSIUM at Paducah, Kentucky. My work commitments kept me at home. But among the things Robyn brought back from that visit, was the book shown in the image above.She knows my keen interest in the American Civil War. The book is a real gem. Because it is a collection of private correspondence, from and to a soldier in the Confederate Army, it is a rich source of information on life in those troubled times.

Slavery is a word with connotations which produce universal revulsion and conjures up images of cruelty, beatings and all kinds of inhuman behaviour. Some surprising aspects of its reality come to light in the correspondence of Dick and Tally Simpson to and from their home in Pendleton South Carolina:

From a letter written by Tally Simpson (Taliaferro was Mrs Simpson's family name) dated 23rd July, 1861 addressed to his Father Richard Franklin Simpson:-

"(After a lengthy discussion of the Battle of Bull Run/First Manassas) "........Give my love to all. If you can find anyone to send me a negro boy do so quickly. I need one badly.I have lost nearly all my clothes.Do send me one. There is no danger - and no expense. I will look for one - Mose or anyone. Farewell. Believe me as ever Your affectionate son T.N.Simpson. "

From a letter written by Tally at Camp Gregg, Vienna , Virginia on 7th August, 1861 to his Father :

"Dear Pa, Again I write to you not having received a reply to any of my letters..........( a lengthy account of military actions follows and of a visit to an old comrade of the Father)...Write to me.T.N.S.   I received your letter yesterday afternoon after this letter was written. So you can consider this an answer and write accordingly. Say whether you are going to send Mose or not."

From a letter written to his Sister Mary by Tally Near Vienna , Virginia on 12th August,1861:-

Dear Sister,  It would be cruel to take Peter from his Dulce. (After extended discussion of recent military events and happenings involving mutual acquaintances) ".......Randol cannot stand fatigue. If he could, I would prefer him to any negro we have.Joe will not suit our purposes.Tell Pa to send any he wishes. If Cousin Jim, Buddie or myself were to get sick, we would have to go back to the Hospital somewhere with no-one to wait upon us . And it is said to go into one of them sickens a well person . The doct. visits them once a day, and the afflicted are compelled to lie in those miserable holes from day to day with no-one to administer to their wants. Tell Mose if he ever belongs to me , he may consider himself in the hands of Cobb the negro trader. Pa ought to send him whether he wishes or not."

From a letter written by Tally's Brother Dick from Vienna, Virginia to their Sister Anna Tallulah Simpson on 22nd August, 1861:-

(Surrounded by much family discussion) " ....About sending Mose. We must have a boy whether he takes the measles or not.  So if you don't send him by Sloan , send him by anyone who will be coming on. Give him a suit of clothes just like our uniform for it is of great importance ( we now have a frock coat) a couple of blankets and an oil cloth. He must have everything comfortable." 

From a letter written by Tally to his Mother Margaret Taliaferro Simpson from Vienna , Virginia on 31st August , 1861:

(After a general review of conditions in camp and mention that "The health of camp is still bad enough".) .....When are you going to send me Zion? I hope tho before this reaches he will be half way here. Has Pa received my last?...........It is very disheartening to see the mail come every day and no letter for me. Try to remedy this. Give my best love to all and to Col. P's family. Farewell. Ever believe me Your Devoted Son  T.N.Simpson"

From a letter written by Tally from Charlottesville, Virginia on 12th October, 1861 :-

(After a lengthy somewhat teasing reproach to his Sister for not writing) ...Zion stands it very well and says he likes the camp life very much indeed. Tell Hester, as long as we are able, he shall not suffer.......Your most affectionate and sincere brother T.N.Simpson " 

From a letter written to his Sister Mary Simpson by Tally at Centreville , Virginia 0n 1st November, 1861:-

"After a brief account of his clothing needs.).......Zion says tell Hester to remember him to Col. Pickens'black folks, and if she stands in need of anything, he will try and assist her - & to make Lewis gather his crop - take half of the patch he has with Jessie in Jenkins bottom.

From a letter to his Mother written  by Tally from  In camp near Centreville on 4th November, 1861:-

"( After general discussion of his circumstances  especially after both brothers had been hospitalised with measles) .........Zion is getting on finely. He cooks finely and does us very good service. John Garlington's boy has gone home with Stobo but will be back in three or four weeks......(he relates several deaths of men known to his Mother)...Zion says give his love to Hester and the children and all the rest. He says for Hester to make Lewis sell his corn and for her to buy shoes for Lucy, Emma and Clara - tell him how Venus is getting on.

Give my love to all and write to me soon. I remain as ever Your Devoted Son T.N.Simpson

Do excuse this scrawl for I never felt as little like writing in my life. It seems as if I have lost my senses. Zion says he wants to know how master is coming on and has a pipe for him made of soap stone taken from the battlefield of Thursday.

From a letter written by Tally to his Sister Mary from In camp near Centreville on 10th November, 1861:-

(After a general review of events including the Confederate reverse at Port Royal and his continuing illness).".....Give my best love to all. Zion sends love to Hester and the children and all the negros. He stands it very well and is in good spirits. Write soon. Your Affec brother  T.N.Simpson ".

From a letter written by Tally to his Mother from In Camp near Centreville on 21st November, 1861 :-

(After the letter reviews his life in camp and the progress of the War) "..... Give my love to all.Write soon to  Your affectionate son  T.N.Simpson     

Howdy to all the negros. When it is convenient have sent to us some good Winter boots. "

REFLECTING

We see in this private correspondence past the objective abhorrent principle of  slavery to the practical lived "peculiar institution"in at least one case. Yet the written words are so natural in their flow, and free of any hint of apology for the degree of consideration for the slaves and their wishes shown, that it would seem more than likely that the Simpson family was not alone in its approach to its slaves.

 Even so, who would exchange their freedom for the status of a slave? 

Even Tally raises the spectre  of the Slave Trader in showing his displeasure at Mose' non- compliance with his wishes. But the great surprise is that Mose COULD and DID refuse to comply. Equally we might be surprised that Zion's slave friend has corn to grow and sell and is free to dispose of the proceeds of its sale to meet personal or family needs.

 But obviously, not every slave holder was a Simon Legree.

Grave of Tally Simpson who was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga  20th September, 1863