contained ten thousand volumes, some of which had been published as
late as the year 1861.  When the deputation arrived, Colonel Telfair
was seated at his massive white-pine centre-table, reading Burton's
Anatomy of Melancholy.  He arose and shook hands punctiliously with
each member of the committee.  If you were familiar with The Rose of
Dixie you will remember the colonel's portrait, which appeared in it
from time to time.  You could not forget the long, carefully brushed
white hair; the hooked, high-bridged nose, slightly twisted to the
left; the keen eyes under the still black eyebrows; the classic mouth
beneath the drooping white mustache, slightly frazzled at the ends. 

The committee solicitously offered him the position of managing
editor, humbly presenting an outline of the field that the publication
was designed to cover and mentioning a comfortable salary.  The
colonel's lands were growing poorer each year and were much cut up by
red gullies.  Besides, the honor was not one to be refused. 

In a forty-minute speech of acceptance, Colonel Telfair gave an
outline of English literature from Chaucer to Macaulay, re-fought the
battle of Chancellorsville, and said that, God helping him, he would