The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-11-24

through his favorite orchard of pear trees.
For these he has special fancy, and dis
courses with eloquence upon the different
varieties. Still bearing to the left, few
seconds walk brings you to the rear of the
main building, and just in front of the gar
dener's residence. And from this point
there is satisfactory view of all the taste
full out-houses. Now passing on in direct
route from sixth to third street, the garden
is soon entered, which abounds in good
things too numerous to mention. Moving
onward still, for several hundred yards, our
promenade is terminated by natural bluff
that overlooks third street Turn half round
to the left, and walk with face toward the
city, and for many rods there are vacant
lots, so beautifully located that bye and bye,
when the rich men of the town buy and
build, this particular locality will be unsur-
passed for attractiveness. Turning back on
third street we can pass through long lane
of fruit trees, whose interlacing branches
form shady vista, that cools the winds of
the hottest summers day, Passing once
again through the children's dell, and then
up the gently winding path, and here we are
at one of the main entrances of the pastors
residence. And now what change has
come over the brusque, careless, cold-hearted
man, as he appeared to us, at first view {!
What talker! His guest listens with
amazement at the volubiity of this many
sided man. Go with him over the elegant
dwelling, recently erected and planned
throughout, after his own notion. He dis
courses as fuently about architecture as
though building were his trade. Is it agri
culture, commerce, education, civil govern
ment, philosophy or divinity? upon all these
themes he talks with readiness and intelli
gence Just sit quiet and attend. You
shall be guided through many a labyrinth of
personal history, subtle argument, historical
illustration, while all will sparkle with racy
wit and rollicking fun. For he is a man of
boundless good humor, and gets off his
sharpest paragraphs when in the pleasantest
mood. He cudgels and annihilates foe
when his sides are shaking with laughter.
Mind-foOd from every direction has been
carefully gathered, and this purified and as
simulated is poured forth in exuberant cur
rents from the alembic of his own intellect.
Facts, argument, anecdote, humOr, denunci-
alton all intermingle. He has wonderful
endurance, both physical and mental
There is no man in Kentucky who can get
off so much work in single day, both for
variety and quality. The writer has listened
till the small hours of the night, and then
long before the breakfast hour there stood
the DIR. guiding the hand of some busy la
borer. He reminds one of the noble souled
Chalmers, whose great eye not only super
intended every thing in his own parish, but
was large enough to overlook all Scotland
beside; and who appeared to develope
strength and capacity for labor, in proper
ton as burdens were laid upon his shoulders.
What shall we say of DR.. Robinson as
preacher? He certainly breaches like no
one else, and yet as we listen, the wonder is,
that every man who enters the sacred desk
does not preach in exactly the same way
His method is expository and intensely sug-
gestive. No minister ever heard him who
did not gain material for sermon. The
sacred text is so explained that the hearer is
placed at once in immediate contact with
events that are past, We stand near to the
person. of Jesus as the Scribe and Pharisee
approach with questions to beguile and en-
trap. We follow .he company of suborned
witnesses into the judgment hall of PLATE.
We look with pitiless scorn upon the coun-
tenance of that cowardly time serving sa
trap. The character and events of the olden
time stand out before the eye on a canvass
so living that the whole is substantiated and
realized. There is no display, no effort at
effect, or at what the multitude call oratory
The speaker is far too elevated and sensible
for this; but impressions in the end are none
the less, but far the more powerful upon all
intelligent and we'll regulated minds. There
is elOquence in every discourse from begin
ming to end, but it is the eloquence of truth
and powerful thought. Nor is he by any
means devoid of fancy, but his delneations
remind one of those masters In painting,
whose pencils depicted with wonderful bold
ness and precision the salient outlines, but
left the minuti@ to the play of imagination.
DR.. Robinson obeys Lord Bacon's injunc-
tion, and never offers to enlighten a congre
cation, unless there is 'full man." Though
perfectly selfpossessed he never makes him
self little by Haunting his greatness in the
faces of the people. He is the freest man
from offensive presumption, and apparent
affectation, that the writer ever saw enter a
pulpit. Indifferent as to dress, with the
outward man little cared for, he goes to
work on his text in the most old-fashioned
way possible. A stranger here again would
feel disappointed at first. But let him be
patient till the preacher gets under way
And now if the hearer is sensible, he will
listen with increased delight, to !he very