The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-04-21
looaassrosDEscs or rHs rrcanosp pAnr plsrarcH.l
To ANDREW p. CsurcHrlELD, EsaR, Editor Of the

fttsFs,brg ExfFess:
In my dispatch" of yesterday, an article ha'
attracted my attention, containing copigus ex
tracts FROM an editorial OF the Express {the mum
ber OF which eyer-weleome sheet had not come T.
baBd) in which my esteemed friend, MIR. Thomas
H. Wynne aud myself are called upon to render al
account OF certain Gold Medal, said to be al
present decorating, amid other blushing honors
tho breast OF an individual in Paris, yelept 1.-The
Cheyalier, the Count Joannes. Citizen of the United
states'--the said medal being reported as having
been bestowed in honor of 81 public Grafton upon
the National Independence
recognize IA Vein OF sly malice, disguised be-
neath the fattering terms Of your appeal, my old
friend, which makes me half suspect that you have
not forgotten dimly remembered "passaga at
arms from which yen emerged ..seeond best, .
1--WE shoaidh fancy repetitiono Of theexperiment,
antil the addition Of ci9k. should render us your
equal: "nIay your shadow never be Iuore,") and
that yon are endeayoring to revenge yourself by
thus exhumiDg from the buried past an occur
renee, which We wonid willingly allow to sleep ia
oblivion; but for fear that the matter may be inn
agined to be richer joke than it really is we
have determined to make the following confession.
Know then. that about the year 1899 there ex.
isted IN the city OF Riehmond certain institution
termed the Franklin Literary Society," composed
ef ~ or so aspiring gentlemen, whose average age
might have attained the sage experience of 10 or
II years; among whom may be Daned my esteemed
friends, Mr. Thos. III. Wynns, whom you so 1esery
ediy commend, Col Thos. p. August, s.sfsaciter in
''"NfSs II. III.
80 whom the Tyre and Ianrels have been given
aud many others who now OCCUPY positions of use
iuiness anu distinction The 4th of July was an
proaching, aud not content with the programme
OF the ceremonials planned by older heads we re-
solved TO have celebration of our own, and In pur
suance thereof, appointed committee of which
the writer Was member, to select an orator The
choice He'll upon Mf. George Jones, tragedian Ies-
see OF the Marshall and Avon Theatres. Sc Sc
ana why not! Had be not after brilliant debut
Aa IK.x lsnl.l L.. n.
hearts anu lovers about town, boldly confronted
the clergy, as the champion of the moral and reli
glous tende nces of the legitimate drdma and CLEAR
~ convinced as. at least, notwithstanding the dis
sent oi ine Old oiks that the knights of the sock
ana buskin were really missionaries Disguised In
kendai green, and the stage, merely an unusu
ally capacions pulpit Had he not Transformed
the Old Theatre fast falling into ruins and whicl,
hau broken, with It's "beggarly account of empty
boxes, the most enterprising managers and sent
starving away company after company of nious
comedians and devout tragedans Z
III these did not constitute claims sufficient iust
remember my friend that he was the best iookinv
best dressed man about town, will h matchless whis
kers and a nnely turned leg. and il all this does
not excuse the predilecton do not forget that old
er people than We were, have been taken in by the
CANDY tinsel and meretrcious alluremepts of Mel.
pomene ana fhalla. But to continue the invita-
ton was sent and accepted, and on the appointed
day oar Orator appeared, but not before IAN i'm.
mense civic and military multitude" The militia
ry thinking no doubt that the embryo Count was
rather purtanicsl for martial tastes preferred we
believe, to hear the Rev. Mr. Chaplin, aud instead
OF the civic multitude, we were very much lisap-
poin ted n porceiving that the room was only mar
TALLY occupied by an audience neither very select
or attentive. Our man eloquent arose How calm.
how selfpossessed he was, whilst our young hearts
were tremulously humping against our white
Sunday waistcosts. How grand and sublime SEEM
ed every sentence, how graceful every motion and
expressive every gesture. which now appear mere
iy as a compound of bomhast, fustain aud theatri-
cal rant. Well, to conclude, as usual, we passed
unanimously the most ilattering resolutions, re-
quested az great boon, copy for publication, and
TO crown our folly voted and presented cheap
gold medal. Such, dear, Andrew, is the history OF
the gew gaw, which ci deraRt Tragedian is now
sporting in tue salons Of Paris under the title of the
Chevalier (diadaStrfey) the Count Joannes Fire
La bt[g,ftsHei Iire ie eonil,te JG-dnes.
Cordially, as ever, your old friend,
o. T. NJ