The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1867-11-15
JOHN M. DANIELS LATCH-KEY.
A Memoir of the late Editor Of tn.
f,.f.sr Richmond Exanliner.i ,6duoE

Some days ago, found in an old
drawer, tho 1afch-key, which the edl-
tor of the Richmond Examiner gave me
in 1868. 1t fitted the door of the house
on Broad street, opposite the African
church--the house i'm which he died -
A bit of brass, differing i'm nothing from
Others of its kind, this key, nevertheless,
has its charm, 1t IS the only sotivenier
have of one of the most remarkable
men Virginia ever produced. Coming
upon it unexpectedly, after had given
it up US lost. the bare sight of it crowd
ed my mind, In an instant, with pic
lures of its former owner. | saw him
in Washington, just after his return from
Europe, conyersing with Seddon and
Garnett i'll his own room over the Err
dmi,,er office, as he sat; lord-l like, i'm a
high arm-chair, in August 1861, ques-
tioning me as to the battle of Manassas
and exhibiting the Maior's uniform,
which he intended to wear as Aide to
Gen, Floyd; in the editorial roon,s CUT
ting ard slashing leaders, which had
been Written fer him, or denouncing
iiercely the Administration at his din.
ner-table ,pledging Wigfa]l and Hughes
in q glass of old Madeira; in the bed.
where he lay wounded, after the duel
with Elmore; and, last of all, saw his
marble faceL-hQw changed!--as he lay in
his metallic coffin, March the 31st, 1865
All these likenesSes of this strange
man came WILDLY before me as looked
at the key of his door, and with them
came a host of recollections, some of
Which am now about to set DOWN.
Not that l have anything to tell which
others could not tell as well. or better
than myself. For it must not be in-
ierred because ne gave me the privilege
oFenterlng his mouse at any hour OF the
oay er nigne. ttat pleased me, tlat 4
Was we iiitihilte personal lrienu oiJoiin
IA. Daiileh MO- ne LOOK a snort-iived
iaiicy 10 me, anu gave me MS iatcii KEY;
tilit is hli. Whiie tne fancy lasted, a
tsea the Key put seldom: aud after 1t
uied OUT, not at all. DouDtless ne soon
forgot that ne had ever given It to me.
Ny ann is SIMPLY 10 put down IN cllron-
ologlcal orders q number or incidents
ana sayings Illustrative or the character
OF one VINO, IN some respects, resemblcd
ohn Randolph, or Roanoke, and who,
Ike Randolph, was OF a nature SO peca-
liar that the most trivial "reminiscences
can hardly fail to prove Interesting to
hundreds OF thousands inthe South, and
TO not few III the North. .Ha ai y.
NY acquaintance with him began iii
washington, after his return from
turin. lie registered his name. at
BroWn Hotei IN a small hand, simply
as "Mr. Danlei, Liverpool. Although
l lad never seen scrap OF his writing,
1 Knew the moment ! saw this name on
the register, that the man for Whom SO
many were anXlously looking, had ar
rived. Inc next evening was intro
duced to him.. had long been curious
to see ''the great editor,'' and; availing
myself OF MS animated conversation
with other VISITORS, eyed him lntently,
seeking IN the outward man some. indi-
eaton OF the extraordinary being with
IN. MY searcii was not III vain. The
poorest phvslognomist could not nave
seen Danlel's face, even tor moment,
without being attracted-I am tempted
10 say iaseinatedD by It.. True, Yeatways
ma what We are Taught 20, expect III a
face, ana often discover What does not
exist; Dut mere was q cotlntenance sing
lilarly marked-7a dark, refineds deeided-
~ Jeir,sh face. The nose was not very
large, and but slightly ac'..uiline; the
mourn tnln-nppeq, wldeS unpleasing,
and overhung by a heavy black nous
tacile; the cfiin square, but not proni-
nenti the cheeks TIN, and both cheeks
and ciiin covered by dense, coarse, jet
black, ciosely-trimmed beard; eye
brows very thick and black, shading
deep-set, rather small hazel eyes; head
as small as Byron's or Brougham's,
beautifully shaped, and surmounted by
passes OF hair, which in youth, hung
long and lank and black to his coat col
lar; but, in later life, wasworn close cut.
| Such was john Nj. Daniel as he sat be-
tore me in q room at Browns Hotel in