Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-07-09

THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS, at So per
annum-payable in advance.
TIE LATE GEN. GEO. H. THOMAS, u. A
Gov. Letoher in reply to a note addressed to
him by Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, asking tor lntor-
nation on the subject, states as follows
Between the lst of Decem Der, 1860, and
the Is: OF March, 1861, Col. William Gillian.
then professor in the Virginia Military To-
stitute, and who had been associated with Gen.
George II. Thomas at West Point, received
letter from him, dated New York, enclosing
one to General Smith, the Superintendent OF
the Virginia Military Institute Ia copy (which
is herewith appeRded.) Col. GiIham present.
ed this letter to Gen. Smith, who was then
confined to bis bed by sickness tie directed
Col. Gillian to write to Gen. Thomas and say
to him that there was no vacancy at that time
in the Faculty Of the Institute, but that If be
desired position in Virginia the office of chiet
of ordnance (then recently orsanlz=d), with
the rank aud pay of a colonel OF cavalry, Was
vacant, aud that his claims were such that no
doubt existed that l, as Governor of Virginia,
would confer the appolu ument upon him 1t be
desired it, TO this letter Col Gillian received
reply substantially as follows: he asked
whether the appointment was dependent upon
the mutations Of political parties In Virginia;
and if not, but was permanent, he would be
this letter we're communicated by Col. Gillian
TO the Superintendent, the latter addressed
strong letter 10 NE, urging me to confer the ap
pointmept of chief OF ordnance upon Thomas.
At the same tine he (the Superntendent)wro
q letter to Dr. Thomas 8. Urquhart, Senator in
the Legislature from the county Of Southamp-
ton (Thomas's native county, making known
to him what he had done, and suggesting 10
DR.. Urauhart to sustain the letter to me BY his
own personal aud official influence. The cor.
respondence between Gilham and Thomas lett
10 doubt upon the miEd of Gllham, or Of the
Superintendent, or myself, hat the sympathies
of Thomas were with the South iu the then
approaching struggle. The appointment was
made out for Thomas and be was notified Of
the fact.
The following is the letter Of Gen. Thomas
to Col. +. II. Smith Superintendent Of the
Virginia Military Institute, dated, "New York
Hotel, Is, 1861.
New YORK CITY, Jan. ls, 1861.
Dear Sir In looking over the flies Of the
National lntelligepcer this morning met with
your advertisement tor Commandant OF
Cadets and Instructor of Tactics at the Insti.
tute. 1t not already filled, | will be under OBJ.
legations if you will inform me what salary and
allowances pertain to the situation, as from
present appearances | fear it will soon be ne
cessary for me 10 be looking up some meaos OF
support. Very respectfully your obedient
servant, GEORGE Fl. THOMAS,
Major, United States Army.
COMMUNICATED.
Though youBg man, have fortunately
learned to respect age. wisdom, and experience
Hence, please publish the following extract,
which find in my common place book.
JUvENIs.
OLD FoeY.-It is the custom of certain
heather savage tribes to turn the aged out 10
die, when they can be OF no further service TO
others, and are even rendered. through lnhrml
~, incapable of taking care Of themselves.
The indications are that an enlightened Chris
tian nation is approaching an extreme OF civil.
Zation which threatens to meet this OF barbar-
ism-nay, even to outdo the heartless savage
in this respect. Young America iu the ntensi-
y of his egoism and selt-sufhciency, has ap-
piled the contemptous epithet, "O.d Fogy.I
to the men who have by hard battling with ad
versity, and serious study Of fe's lessons,
learned such wisdom as they could only acquire
by experience. He regards the 'hoary head
pot as Grown OF gory'--bu an evidence
of second childhood, and would push aside the
grey haired sire from posts OF responsibility and
trust, that he forsooth-the gldJy youth-may
have room TO expand his imaginary genius, and
which, 10 his own opinion, he is so abundanty
endowed, and in which he so far excels his pre-.
JeceSsorS.
And while We would be the last to deprecate
the proper spirit Of growth and enterprise.
of public energy and improvement which We
ara proud and delighted to see springiDg up
all around US and while We reioico at new
inventions of all kinds for saving time and
labor yet wc do very deepy deplore this
fashion of crying down every body past the
prime CT life as an old togy, just because they
sre old. The man who has spent lite time
in world so full OF cares and tolls as this
with an uniarnished name anda fair fame
deserves to be honoIed-revcrenced and held
I'D BY youpger men as an example for their
children TO follow. At least let the young re-
member that time flies, and before they realize
it they, too, wi belong to the class thy now
hold 10 utter cantempt, and doing as they would
be done by, they will cease their sensecss talk
of old icgIes aud old togyism.
BRIDES AND BRIDEaRooMs.- A correspond
art of the Boston Journal, writing from Sara
rcga, says:-
Saratoga seems to be the Paradise Of young
brides aud bridegrooms this season. Congress
Hall has been fairly ruu down by the new ar
rivals, and the parlors have been monopolized
by the turtle doves, who have Attracted great
interest by their billing and cooiug. Eight
couples have been qusrtered in the house, and
the Interest they created never tired. The
elevator is very attractive and Frenchy affair.
1t !s more elegant thau the Empress barouche.
Ii Is a tavorite resort of bridal parties, aud
their conlug and going up aud down, are watch.
ed with great interest by the State visitors at
the springs.
To accommodate the Increasing travel bri
dal car has been placed on the Saratoga road,
ard connects with Troy and New York, l. is