The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-22
VIRGINIA FARMERS,
gaeAeran PhiliO Sc. George Cooke m"
Edmund Ruin.

General Philip Sc. George COOKE IN"
Edmund Humn' ,
Al Richmona on the goth instant, HON. VIZ
AoHghby Newton, President OF the Vugiuia Asir
sulsural eooiety, delivered an ADDRESS OeiO'e
Nhat Association, Of which the following 10
part .,.oo
.sMoyc than six years have passed away slhce
our last great agricultural aSinn e5hOo on drama Of
mat period the curtain has ialleh on vi
q far different character. II ls not my pu ktHye
10 revive it, narrowing scenes, Dut upnt and
6y-st occasion of our reunion, IL IL meov m,on,
proper to recall the memory OF Io Tue now vacant,
Sprs of our society whose seats are no" ,ore he
oaad vghose welcome voices will never a1ots -
heard in our councils. The klpuly III ln9 nF robIe
seur nature, too will revert 70 tha. hO9 roea our
,noaths who IF living would glauly BL"oo, ,I ~.
,yt1ny Inv their presence but who now quietly
sIeep in graves bedewed WAth @ .eta' IS g. U;r,,tnio
with flowers by the lovely women VI IisnIaa
And should Justly incur u,tS Ho"b becomne respect
tne memory of two distinguished gehteheh,
nv predecessors IN ONCE, WhV5e lam Lia sooiat
been intimately connected WIN Cnls So %sooIIStS ~
trom its foundation, and have now become us
"Pbihp ST. George Cooke was the soul or
ohiValry and the type OF the true virginia gen
tIeman. He entered upon the discnaIge ~ tho n'o
dutie AS President OF this society WIN az ito nc
ardor and enthusiasm of his nature, anu Vy hle
nrIncely munidcence and enlightened Zeai was
chiefly instrumental in securing Tue pLhlIuO t.
suCcess Of our hrst ana lnOsI mas nah " ,, y, =,
hilton. His sensitive nature ielI too NeetLy lnc
tronbles of his country, and he died martyr III
her cause, The purity OF MS character ana tne
hano6cence of his actions we're such that, II ne
net die he left his friends but one cause OF
raaret that he had not fallen on the held OF
hattie where he cOurted death in defense OF Ills
native state. which he so dearly loved
HOf Edmund Ruffin what snail say! A char-
actor of contrasts. BY his stern integrity aud
bis hind genial and allectionate manner TO his
fr;enda he secured their highest admiration
and warnest regard. BY his occasional acer-
bity of temper which no one regretted more
thsn himself he sometimes incurred the last
mo displeasure of gentlemen who, If they could
have known him better and had approached
him under different auspices, would have
learued to love and respect him tor the sterling
warm friends and bitter enemies. But the
grave covers all animosties. As an agricultu-
rahst he was without a rival. He opened new
path TO agricultural Improvement and boldly
led the way, His writings are monument OF
the aCutenpss and comprehensiveness OF his in
telect of his great research, ard OF the zeal and
energy OF his efforts to improve his native state.
Posterity will regard him as a man OF mark in
the age In which he lived this society will con-
tinue to venerate his name, and Virginia will
ever remember him as one OF her greatest
heneiactOrs He felt the keeneSt interest in the
progress and results OF the late disastrous civil
war. He lived to hear of the fall OF Richmond
and the surrender of Lee. With the calm
serenity of Cato, he argued his right 10 take
his lite; and, having resolved not to survive the
liberties of his country, he followed the example
veil OF charity the indrmity of a great intellect,
unbalanced by public and private grief and
finally overwhelmed by sense OF the utter ruin
af his country"