The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1856-02-02

/ the House, the mOOeSJ W NJ0e, III luc OlICA'
Whose, YOU inquire, is that commanding
figure, attired with scrupulous taste in the
rich dress of the period, that is just an
nounced, and is approaching the host, his
partner on his arm, her early beauty beam
mo still, and who was to share with her hus-
band, ere that beauty faded, the purest
fame that human virtue ever won, and who
in the fulness of time was to place with her
own hands the cypress or that sacred brow;
the yictorwith armies yet unraised-the chief
of an empire whose cornerstone was yet I'M
laid-the peerless model for the admiration
of ages yet unborn-I need not name his
name. Now behold the thick-cOming throng
of names which Virginia viii never willing
| ly let die" The aged Bland, moving
slowly, salutes the host, who advances to
greet him; Archibald Cary, his small sta
ture and delicate features yelling from the
common eye the lion spirit that burned
within; John Randolph the Attorney Gene
raj, his noble form still erect, his cheek
vet unmoistened with repentant tears; the
brilliant brotherhood of Lees; the sPrightly
Jefferson, his great Declaration and his
greaterstatues neutrality-suspicious. and
entails and established church yet unwrit-
ten; John Tyler the venerable Marshall
of the Colony, supported by his Son John,
on whose useful and honest face the Anglo
Saxon and the HugUenOts seemed to strug-
gle for the mastery;* Carter, another de-
scendent of president Of the Council, still
| bearing on his escutcheOn the heraldlc
symbol whence he derived his name. Still
still they come, the Burwells, the SCOTS, the
Digges,' Cabell of Union Hill, Peyton,
Mayo, Darlington, Thompson, Mason, Jones,
Hutchings, Bassett, Read, Lewis, WoodsOn,
Starke, Poythress, Barbour, Bell, Riddick,
West, Newton, Wake, Cooke, Banister,
Baker, Mosely, Marable, Johnston, Gray,
Wilson, and conspicuous even in that gallant
band was the benignant face of John Blair.
But they came not alone. Would that l
could draw aside the pail Of time, and
present to the view of their lovely descen-
dants the mothers and daughters who shed
their brightness and beauty over that fairy
scene. The music sounds; and the courteous
host leads off the dancing train; and the
stately Randolph, the gay Pendleton, the
gallant Washington, Innis, then in the
dawn of his splendid fame, but in the full
nets Of his gigantic proportions, Richard
Henry Lee, smiling as he offers his only
hand to the fortunate fair, join in the
mirthful dance. But that dance is done
the last note of that delicious music
has died away-the scene is closed
Even the JOY which it inspired, was short
lived. A proAigate ministry had deceived
the candid but credulous host; and soon that
crowd gathered around his grave. Years
have passed, and the curtain rises once
more. The yicegerent of the British king
no longer dwells in his palace-he is gone
his very palace is in ruins-the sceptre
of his king has been broken. The ling
dom has passed away. The Republic has
risen IN It's place and ''beams HERSELF IT
all her beauty before US. New views and
fresh feelings inspire the general mind.
Observation-Disclosures n-
are the magic watch-words of the age.
Again, assembled in this city, behold the
gladstone thrOng. The blended arms Of
Britain and Virginia are no longer seen
suspended from the wall. The portrait of
the king, too, is gone; but another is seen
beside which the imageof the proudest king
that ever filed throne grows pale. A
familiar face it was and long had been in
the streets of this city and at its fresides.
But it was face whose influence no famili
arity could impair; for it was the face of
L ] bo
had succeeded in establishing a federal
union, and who was in the first term of his
first administration. Grateful tidings from
abroad, which filed every breast with JOY,
had Just been proclaimed. The sun Of
French iberty-too soon set in blood
was seen on the edge of the horizon. As
the people assemble, no lordly miniOn, in
regal array, stands to receive their homage,
but, in his stead, beneath his own roof, tie
modest Blair extends the cordial welcome.
Elevated, as he had been, to the highest
honors of the federal judiciary he wears
not the simple robe Of his Office, but APP
pears as he was, without disguise, like JUS
tice herself, whose minister he was. Again
the sound of music is heard. Wisdom, gal
lantry and beauty again move in the mystic
mazes of the dance, or share in more seri-
Gus, mood the enthusiasm Of the kinding
scene. And that music, too, has died away;
and all those bave men and lovely women
have retired to their homes-and to their
graves. But the memory of their genius
and valor, of their social elegance of their
beauty and their WORTH which difused so
long over this city their charming influence
and which is felt to this hour, still lives,
and with that memory the image Of Blair,
as he appeared in private life, is insepara-
bly, mwoven.
The young Tyler in the text is the
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