There are some events with which we have become so familiar by report that we can scarcely believe they did not happen within our own recollection. Thus it is with my advent into earthly existence. Not long before the time at which I was expected to arrive in this vale of thorns and flowers my father's only brother was seriously ill. It became necessary for my father to accompany him to Philadelphia to consult an eminent surgeon. For months it had been definitely settled that I was to be a boy, for all was grist that came ...
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There are some events with which we have become so familiar by report that we can scarcely believe they did not happen within our own recollection. Thus it is with my advent into earthly existence. Not long before the time at which I was expected to arrive in this vale of thorns and flowers my father's only brother was seriously ill. It became necessary for my father to accompany him to Philadelphia to consult an eminent surgeon. For months it had been definitely settled that I was to be a boy, for all was grist that came to my father's mill. No shadow of a doubt of my manhood clouded the family mind. My health had been drunk at the clubs and in the homes, and especially at the neighborhood functions, the fox hunts, and the name of Thomas La Salle had already been given me. "L'homme propose et Dieu surprend," and so did I, for, most unexpectedly, I made my arrival in the middle of the night, the middle of the week, the middle of the month, almost the middle of the year, near the middle of the century, and in the middle of a hail-storm. Confident that I was a boy, the family had all hoped that I would be considerate enough to postpone my coming at least until my father's return, but with perverse discourtesy and want of filial regard, I would not wait. Of course, there was no one ready to receive me. I have borne the blame for this untimely d???but, but it was really the fault of the barn which, in the early part of the evening, had caught fire and been burned to the ground. The excitement had passed and the sleep of exhaustion that follows disrupting events had settled over all when again there was confusion; this time owing to my inconsiderate haste to present myself. The keys to the stable door could not be found. There was no time to hunt for them, so the hinges were pried off and Fannie Kemble, the fleetest and safest horse in the stable, was hurriedly called from her dreams. My young uncle, afterwards a gallant Confederate officer, Colonel J. J. Phillips, was routed out and, barefoot and mounted upon the horse without saddle or bridle, rode post haste for our family physician, treasuring the grievance to reproach me with in after years when I would give evidence of a too impetuous disposition. In my eagerness to fly to the ills I knew not of, I would not await the arrival of the medical man and, spurning his assistance, defying them all, made my "ingress into life, naked and bare."
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Add this copy of What Happened to Me to cart. $24.03, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2015 by CreateSpace Independent Publis.
Add this copy of What Happened to Me to cart. $150.00, very good condition, Sold by Glover's Bookery, ABAA rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lexington, KY, UNITED STATES, published 1917 by Brentano's of New York.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good with no dust jacket. 9.0 X 6.0 X 0.9 inches 366 pp; Author signed presentation. A nice tight clean and attractive book, just a touch of edge rubbing at the corners. Beautiful book; Signed by Author.
Add this copy of What Happened to Me to cart. $400.00, very good condition, Sold by Raptis Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Palm Beach, FL, UNITED STATES, published by Brentano's.
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First edition of the autobiography of LaSalle Corbell Pickett, wife of Confederate General George Pickett. Duodecimo, original cloth, top edge gilt, frontispiece portrait of the author dated January 17, 1917. Presentation copy, boldly inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "For my friend of many years Mr. W. W. Norman-with the sincere regards of the author: LaSalle Corbell Pickett. March 27, 1923." In near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities. Graduating last in the West Point Class of 1846, Lieutenant George E. Pickett rose through the ranks of the Confederate Army, eventually being promoted to major general. He is best remembered in history for the disastrous Confederate offensive attack on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg which came to be known as Pickett's Charge. He married his wife, LaSalle "Sallie" Corbell, in 1863 when she was 20 and he was 38. LaSalle Corbell Pickett died on March 22, 1931, having outlived her husband by more than 55 years. After his death, she became a well-known writer and speaker on "her Soldier, " resulting in the creation of an idealized Pickett who was the perfect Southern gentleman and soldier. There is a great deal of historical controversy surrounding LaSalle Pickett's lionizing of her husband, which played a part in Pickett becoming a tragic yet heroic figure in the "Lost Cause" mythology.
Add this copy of What Happened to Me to cart. $500.00, very good condition, Sold by Raptis Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Palm Beach, FL, UNITED STATES, published by Brentano's.
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Seller's Description:
First edition of the autobiography of LaSalle Corbell Pickett, wife of Confederate General George Pickett. Duodecimo, original cloth, top edge gilt, frontispiece portrait of the author dated January 17, 1917. Lengthily signed by the author on the front pastedown, "Over the great world tragedy of today the star of Bethlehem shines with divine radiance and lights the way to a brighter day when peace and love shall reign forever-Faithfully from LaSalle Corbell Pickett." In very good condition with light rubbing to the extremities. Graduating last in the West Point Class of 1846, Lieutenant George E. Pickett rose through the ranks of the Confederate Army, eventually being promoted to major general. He is best remembered in history for the disastrous Confederate offensive attack on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg which came to be known as Pickett's Charge. He married his wife, LaSalle "Sallie" Corbell, in 1863 when she was 20 and he was 38. LaSalle Corbell Pickett died on March 22, 1931, having outlived her husband by more than 55 years. After his death, she became a well-known writer and speaker on "her Soldier, " resulting in the creation of an idealized Pickett who was the perfect Southern gentleman and soldier. There is a great deal of historical controversy surrounding LaSalle Pickett's lionizing of her husband, which played a part in Pickett becoming a tragic yet heroic figure in the "Lost Cause" mythology.
