Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1869-04-06
The Postmissress at Richmond.

~ II VIC VI ITeslueHI ordht . DCst HI'folh'-
u9ents thus far is that of Miss Eliza j..
Van Lew, to be postmistress at Richmond,
Virginia. The name of this lady will be
remembered with pleasure AMI gratitude
b. many now in Worcester, as well as by
others scattered through all parts of the
I coantry, who incucred the misfortune of
a. Enforced residence in Richmond during
the first year of the war. Though the
4tsict regulations of the military comman-
ders did not permit her to visit the pris-
; Gus in person, as she would gladly have
done, to minister to the necessities Of
1liose whom privation and hardship were
ringing daily to the gates of death, yet
lid Influence of her kindly and noble char
was felt and gratefully appreciated by
yexy many who never saw her face and by
a0tae who never heard her name. From
hef own means, unaided, so far as we
know, by others, she supplied frequently
md literally, food to the half-starved,
] elothing to the destitute, and appetizing
dolicacies to the sick, and those, who,
still in health, were pining for freedom,
and the comforts and refine ments of home,
IS we'll as for some occupation to beguile
tho tedium of Imprisonment, she provided
with books without stint from her library,
and, not forgetting Or scorning to minister
20 tho cravings Of what some people would
call q vitiated taste, but which, in such
circumstances, was almost as imperious as
4 necessity, she supplied all the prisons
slibsrslly with smoking tobacco.
Some officers of the 18th regiment will
recall dinner of several courses, admir-
ably cooked and elegantly served, which
Min Van Lew sent them from her own
tahle, and which they enjoyed with gus
Mai none can appreciate who have not
l{xd for months on rude and scanty pris-
MI larc. Another of her good deeds we
rl<at not forget to mention, as illustrates
ll(8 pleasingly not only her kindness of
& Hurt, but her refinement and delicacy of
ling. Among her gifts to the prisoners
~ Christmas day was beautiful boquet
of ohoice flowers, which, blooming i'll that
1jsMal place, made even the unsightly
pSleon walls wear for time look Of
6kcerfulness and the mcagre prison fare
6&4e q faint relish of the accustomed
0Efistmas feast, while their beauty and
ll1srancc, reminding many poor fellow
/ Of his distant home and dear friends who
were mourning his absence from the Christ
mas gatherings, yet lightencd for the mo-
ment the CALLING chain of his captivity,
and substituted temporarily some Of the
anicnities Of Christian society for the rude
uncouthness which men herded together
for months without occupation inevitably
CONTRACT.
We never knew with certainty whether
Min Van Lew was as loyal and patriotic,
11t6r our standard, as she was refined,
dly and generous; Or whether she be-
3I6Scd in the justice of the rebel cause ;
hive do know that her noble charity to
IA Fnn ortu' ate cost her many an lndigni-
nd insult from her acquaintance and
o(16rs in the city, most Of whom could not
tpe&k of the hated Yankee prisoners with
ouk X sheer ora taunt Sometime in JAN
I1( 1862, she was prevented by strin-
Eo1Iy executed order of Gen. Windcr from
nv {nrther effort to alleviate their condi-
i01N We believe that later in the war
! - Bad improved some opportunities of
wing her charitable Offices. She was
liGI|1 fstood to have considerable wealth,
IS we have been told, lost nearly all
turing the progress Of the war. Her
y and unpretending charities have
zen widely hcralded, and her name
most unknown, to the grateful recipi-
enIeof her bounty and the friends to whom
thoy have told the story of their hard.
shipS and the kindness of their unseen
fFio1d but her persistent benefcencc IN
the fAce of encouragement, rebufls, and
even insult, entities her name to a place
q Ne grateful memories of her country
~. Among the noble women whose
aeeds.pf self-forgotten mercy shine with a
pure md steady light amid the ftful and
lufid blenders of wa, Eliza L. Van Lew
may justly be ranked with Florence Night
ingnie md Clara Barton. Many Rich
mond prisoner of the winter of 1S6l-62
will hear with delight of the Presidents
publie Recognition of her goodness.
+ q. FAIR tresses mans imperial race