The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-26
!. VIRGINIA NEWS.
LETTER FROM xEx-rNcTov

correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch,
'''LExTNGToN''' TAKES LEAVE OF THE
, CONTROVERSY WITH MAYOR BENDER-
oNf---LECTURE BEFORE THE FRANKLIN
by COLONEL PREsToN--THE POET rs.
THE PAINTER IN DEsCRIPTIoN-GRA-
HAM SOCIETY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF OUR RAILROAD COMMITTEE ~, :. WIZ
ARE TO HAVE A MISUNDERSTANDING
SOCIETY sEvENTY-FoUR YEARS OLD
LEXINGTON, VA, January III. 1a7o.
We have read Mayor Henderson's last
see anything in it to which we could not
make a. triumphant rejoinder, NE are un-
willing to prolong the controversy, and shall
let his Honor have the last tag" We are
glad, however, that the tone of the Mayors
last is decidedly moro courteous, and gives
your correspondent opportunity to say (as
he does with pleasure) that in criticising
the Mayors decision in the special case
referred to we by no means meant to cite
this as fair specimen of his decisions,
which, we have been informed, are gene
rally very just. And we do not hesitate to
say that the present Mayor is, on the whole,
the best we could get. from those in our
community who are willing to take the iron
| clad and we are not surprised to hear
(what we did not know before) that promi-
nent citizens solicited kim to take the Office
when it was understood that we must have
military appointee. -.
Colonel J. T.. L. Preston lectured before
the Franklin Society on Friday evening last
on Descriptive Poetry" His theme was
| we'll chosen and admirably treated. lie
illustrated his subject with a number of Sc
| lections from the masters, concluding with
Poe's Raven. In illustrating the descrip.
tive powers of the poet and the painter he
read Tennyson's "Maud," and then I'M
| yelled Maud" executed by Colonel Will
liam d. Washington, Professor of Fine ART
in Virginia Military Institute. The paint
ing was exquisite, and excited the I'M
bounded admiration of the audience. The
lecturer well remarked that Mr.. Tennyso1
himself would scarcely be willing for hi
description of MAUD" to come into com
parison with this splendid creation of Colo
mel Washington. But he then read Tenny
sons Brook" and said that the painte
would scarcely be willing to enter the list
with the poet in that inimitable descrip
ton. = /!
He paid touching tribute to Edgar Poe
who was his school-fellow and intimat
friend, and who had even then begun t
exhibit his wonderful genius. =.
The lecture afforded q rare treat Ito tn
intelligent audience present. Your CORE
spondent was prevented by sickness from
| attending the Graham Society celebration
last week, but hears on all hands that j
was decidedly creditable to all concerned
You were fortunate in having competen
| hand to "make note on it," is
Our railroad committee have returned
perfectly delighted with their trip. They
say the oysters met them at Burkeyille OF
their way down by special train, and tina
both in Petersburg and Norfolk they wer,
treated like princes. They did not brins
the railroad in their vest pockets, but say
it is bound to come, and that at no distan
day. ~ ~ ~ -. J..
/ While the worthy editor of the Gazett
was absent on his railroad rampage hi
assistant hoisted turnpilte flag. and mad
an able argument to show that Rockbridg
ought to 60 to work at once. to run q maca
damized road from Staunton to Buchanan
The Franklin Society was first organized
in l796-though it did not get its charte
until lsl6-and has therefore been in ex
fistence seUenty.four gears. Is there anothe
literary society in the State that can trac
an unbroken existence for that length Q
time? - ..... - /.f. LEXINGTON.
| LoNGEyITY.-Mrs. Catharipe FulwideT