Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-14
FRoM A MEMPHIAN.
What and Vine He Sees at Hsmpdsn- SIdney
College, Va.
washington, LaFayetts, Lee and Jackson
Virginia Gtnlus and GentlIity, Etc.

HAMPDEN=SIDNEY COLLEGE, VA,
September 8, 1879.
Editors Appedz-About a fortnight since
I first came TO this quiet and delightful
place, and have foundm more in it to inter
est me than is to be seen either in cities
or at watering places" Indeed, II Is az
Inst such a sequestered and outrageous
retreat as this that one finds the only
pleasing contrast with the noise and
crowd and never ceasing stir of the city.
This is historic sOil-W ashington and
LAFAYETTE were as familiar with it IN the
old Revolution as Lee and Stonewall
Jackson became in their still more heroic
struggles of our ewn times. Dear as are
the names of the former, they have no
such place in the hearts of Nirginians as
their immortal successors. The portraits
OF these latter are in almost every house,
and their names everywhere inspire SEN
timents Of profound veneration and love.
From the college on the hill, the father OF
General Joseph f. Johnson ran away
when a youth, to Join the Colonial army,
mourning thereby the high dispteasure OF
his father, who sympathiz7d with the
mother country. The patriotism n Val
or of the Youthful revoIutioDist of ISL
was transmitted faithfully to the gallant
chieftain of 1861. So our o johnson
came honestly by his greatness.
To the French legion under Count de
Rochambeau, Virginia and the whole
world are indebted for q OF the ablest
physicians and surgeons on this conti-
nent. Dr.. John P. Mettauer. His father,
Or. Francis Joseph Mettauer, came over
from France, as a surgeon, in that legion,
and when, after the capture OF York, his
command was marching near by this place
be was Induced by his numerous admirers
among the elite Of Virginia to make his
home near the court house Of this Prince
Edward) county, which is still the resi-
dence of his son, DR.. John p, who,
though now upward of eighty years
old, enjoys a reputation, not only
abroad but at hOme-fOr remarkable skill
in his profession, and for every quality
that honors human nature. In his young
er DAYS he had the practice of seven coun-
ties, vet he abated nothing from his stud
les, and his name became authority in
Europe as well as here in matters of CHI
~rurgical science. Had he remained in
Philadelphia, where he once studied and
practiced, be would now be acknowledged
as the head of his profession. l never
saw a man who was so remarkable an OK
ception TO the maxim that a great man lis
never hOnored in his own country and
among his own kim" he is honored here
not only for his intellect and ability, but
for the noble charity of his heart. People
/ say, what a pity be should ever de-
4L0 IL 01LLNL 14NLe@ "a Aao
Life Of Stonewal1 Jackson, " is n of the
professors here-another pattern of ge-
MUS, learning, patriotism and u~nbounded
charity. / have a late instance of the lat
ter. He was about starting on his only
horse to Farmville, seven miles distant, to
preach, but hearing that an old negro
woman, q of his quOndsm slaves, who
lives several miles from him, was III, he
l gives up his horse for Mrs. Dabney to use
in carrying nourishment to the old negro,
while he walked to Farmville TO attend to
his sacred calling. Do Radical negropho-
lists DO hkeWise2
Speaking OF Radicals, reminds me of
what is faithfully related of the late
Judge Of this circuit. 1t was the last day
Of the last term of his Court-when, too,
not only he, but the Radical dynasty
itself-had its last sitting on that bench.
Impressed with the sOlemnity of the &C.
c~ssion, and overlooking with bad whisky,
he ordered the Sheriff to adjourn the
Court IN the following formula, which, if
anything were strange IL the latter days,
might have seemed so to the Presbyterian
ears that heard il: "Sherin, adjourn this
GOd-damped, bel-fred Court, from the
birth Of Jesus Christ to the resurrection
Of julius Cesar
Perhaps the Judge fancied he saw at
the distant and dismal period TO which he
adjourned his party having an v
whelming majority in the internal por-
tons Of apaee, by which he and his con-
fzvaes might hope to retain uninterrupted
possession, da PeTpetsO, Of the seats as
signed them.
But 1 am sorry I desecratsd by writing
of so Eo9l a thing as RsIicslism, the. pure
atmosphene Of College Hill, and the table
Of an old Virginia gentleman. There, /
have exercised it by these last words.
/ wonder If one of the alumni Of Hamb-
den-Sidney, who is now an eminent law
yer and orator in Memphis, remembers
the eloquent orsttea pronounced by him
in Prince Edward courthouse on the oc-
CASTOR Of the ~obsequies of a slanderous old
1 sPinstar's ef6gy, which he and his fellow
students had Just barhed in front OF her
residence. Ii Is mentioned here - the
best speech exer made in that courthouse,
and perhaps even the splendid efforts ol
his matUrer years have never excelIed it,
Yours, NJ.