Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-23
Correspondence of the New York World

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, March 16.
II hope i shall not be suspected of having Joined
any secret league here for the overthrow of the Gov
eminent of the United States when | confess that
not only went last evening to hear Mr. F. {. Bang
in his second Evening with the Poets" in the Con
cert Hall of the Exchange Hotel but that came
away much pleased with the intellectual treat go
for my money. II is necessary TO express this hope
because the Washington Chronicle went into sucl
spasms OF outraged and endangered loyalty at the
description of Mr.. Bangs first entertainment, penned
by some one here signing himself Yankee that
many people in the North might really suppose
these innocent gatherings, TO while away an houl
or two IN mental enjoyment, are some deeply
laid - rebel scheme for overthrowing the Govern
ment.
There was on this, as on the former portentous oc
casiOn, goodly gathering of what ~ ankee called
the Z" elite and beauty" OF the city. 1t is n redeem
ing quality in that gentleman, with all good judges
on the subject that he has at least some idea oil
taste for certainly tho number of pretty faces at any
Richmond gathering of the kind are quite nOticea
BILE, and they are the more appreciated because they
are rarely to be seen in public, unless indeed by
the men and boys who indulge in the extremely yul-
gar pastime OF ranging themselves in line of battle
in front of the churches every Sunday morning to
stare the pretty ones out of cOuntenance.
Mr.. Bangs is gentleman of good personal ad.
dress and veIy prepossessing appearance, with a
clear voice. Keen sense of the pathetic and the hu-
morous, and with considerable histrionic talent
Most of his Rotations excellent. 10 give the
best idea of the innocence OF his entertainment,
will mention the pieces he selected. The "Od
Grenader's Story" by ThOrnbury; Hoods ode to
Nv Son." bridge of Signs" and pains in Plea.
sure Boat" Lyttle's beautiful poem 81 am Dying,
Egypt;" Poes Raven and "Annabel Lee" and
Hamlet's great sOlilOquy.
The only two Rotations having anything of a
local or Southern tendency were poem, written by
"A Baltimore lady, called jackson is Dead" and j.
So,
ederate officer and portrayng one out Of the count
less mournful incidents of the late war; Before re-
citing the lines upon Jackson, Mr.. Bangs made a
few remarks TO the audience respecting the recent
ferOcious attack upon him in the Chronicle, and
asking if il was not too much for people to expect
them even to cease honorng the memory of those
who had lived and died for them. His remarks kin
died such feeling of enthusiasm among the au.
dience that it was long before the clappng of hands
and stamping of feet would allow the speaker to
proceed.
Towards the end of the entertainment Mr. Forney
came in for another little mark of attention. Com
ing very gravey forward, with paper in his hand
Mr. Bangs told the audience that lie held in his hand
a sklful adaptation from celebrated literary au
thority with which all his audience were doubles:
acquainted-he meant Mother GOose-and which
had been sent him with request to read it. Upon
this he delivered the following choice piece Of
poetry:
q X
And he filled his little gun with lead lead, lead,
And he shot poor duck right through its head,
And he killed the poor duck dead, Dead dead
dead"
The onslaught made upon Mr.. Bangs by the
Chronicle, for only doing honor TO the memory O
such men as Stuart and Ashby, recalls wildly to my
mind an incident which is worth mentioning. 1t was
Immediately after the engagement in which Ashby
lost his life that had the pleasure of meeting Colo
mel Kane, the officer who commanded the Fedora
troops on that occasion. He was on his way home
living languidly on his couch and suffering greatly
from the wound he received in the encounter. From
Colonel Kane's own lips obtained full and modes
account of the whole affair. AS parted from hin
he called me back, and | never shall forget the
earnestness with which he said to me: - Whatever
you do, sir pray deal kindly with the memory o.
poor Ashby He was a noble fellow, Il brave soldier
and a gentleman" | need not say that so noble anC
chivarous thought so earnestly expressed, affected
me deeply and raised that gallant officer, Colone
Kane, greatly in my estimation. That officer, too
be it remembered is a Pennsylvania.
What far nobler illustration is this of American
honor and American chivalry than the vindictivC
hatred that would follow a brave and open foe be
yond the precincts of the grave However wrong
or however illogical the cause for which they fought
may be argued to have been, it is sufficient to re-
deem their memory from all stain if in their souls
they bcLieped-as such men assuredly did-that they
fought and died in n good and righteous CAUSE
The Southern heart must cease to throb before il
ceases venerate the character of those who died
for her and the day is not far distant when even
the North, soaring above the mean and petty pas.
siOns of the hour, will have to feel that the South
was only honestly fighting for her distinct nterpre
taton of the written law and the Constitution, and
acknowledge, as Mr.. Raymond beautifully expressed
it, that the many noble qualities manifested by
Southern heroes in the war reflect honor not upon
the South alone but upon tho whole American
name and character II.