The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-01-18
DOMESTIC MISCELLANY.


Prof HOlcOmbes Grafton on General Lee.-By in'
yitatiou of the Ladies of the Lee Monument As
ISOLATION Prot. Holcombe delivered in this city on
Thursday, the 18th, au Grafton on the Lite and
virtues of General r. E. Lee A large and highly
intelligent audience assembled In the Second Bap-
list Church. Mr.. Holcombe was introduced by
the Rev. DR.. HOge, who made the following re
marks:
when, Just three months ago to day, it became
Known in this city that General Robert h. Lee was
no more, we felt that the cup OF our bereaVed
Commonwealth was now full, and, for tlme IN
orr all absorbing sorrow, we scarcely thought OF
consolation. But before our tears were dry we
remembered that-impovished as we were In other
things-all was not lost while the memory OF such
a man remained as our perpetual. possession, ana
the rr9cious heritage of our children forever
Now, no more patriotic or plous duty devoiVes
on the sons of the South than 10 perpeuate IN MS
tory and portray for the good OF coming generations
the noble deeds aud traits of character which made
our Lee the foremost man of all the time ana l
know Of no one who can enter upon this hla task
with more willing mind and loving heart than
our distinguished felow-citzen, Prof james L.
HOcOmbe, whom | now have the honor to intro
duce 10 you"
The grafton more than filed public expectation.
As it will be delivered in Lexington on the 10th,
and perhaps in other places afterwards, it would
not be proper to give any extended report. A few
extracts from the notice in the Wing will give our
readers some idea of the successive pictures pre-
sented to the delighted audience.
All through the story of 1.-THE almost per-
feet life of General Lee, the orator connected
him with Washington, making them but different
DEVELOPMENTS of the highest type OF virtue and
g4sriotssrl
IA. SaIried rs 0ack to wn,re 80 IN bis ~ she q
made Washington his model, aud followed h}m
through life as he Obeyed the dictates OF duty
Let his name go down to future ages, said he, and
let it live in the echoes Of the remotest tradition
{" Roll from soul to SOUL and grow forever and for
ever"
The grand unse6shness which showed itself in
all of his deeds was beautifully portrayed and in
this the orator placed our Lee in the sphere above
that attained by military glory or any earthly sue
cesS-where virtue triumphs over all the sugges-
tions of ambition and interest.
The next most impressive picture Of his grafton
was where COL Lee, in 81, after the terrible strug
gle between his love for the Union and his duty to
his native State, resigned his commission, and,
although offered at the Federal Capital positions
that soldiers ambition could covet, returned to
Virginia TO share her fortunes be they what they
might. We saw him again with modest yet COM
handing mieD, before the Convention of Virginia,
presided over by the venerable Janney. Virginia
then placed In his hand a sword, aud sent him
forth as commander Of her forces. In sketching
the military achievements of General Lee from 90
until be sheathed his sword at Appomattox, the
orator drew striking comparisons between his
great battles and those of Napoleon, Marlborough
and Wellington, neither of whom ever fought
against such odds and disadvantages. He could
never have obtained the appellation of 1.-The Iron
Duke" for he filed that ideal which men in all
ages have pronounced human perfeetion-unitlng
the sottness Of woman with the sterner qualities of
the true hero" From spur to plume star of
tournament.
Friends Of Temperance. Petersburg Inder
reports the proceedings of a meeting of the
Friends of Temperance, in that city, Wednes
day night, at which there was large attendance:
A number of suggestions were presented, and
interesting speeches were made by Revs. G. II.
Hall John Miller T. b Stroud, f. H. Ruther-
ford, VIM. h. Hatcher, j E Hutson, j. B. Lau
rens, John A. Jefferson and Mr.. f. NJ. Wright,
Rev. MIR. Miller suggested the propriety of es
tablshing an lnebriate Asylum in our State, and
to this end he thought effort should be at once
naugurated to petition the Legislature for such an
institution This recommendation was favorably
received by some, while others thought that prompt
action was necessary in order to save the young
men from forming habits OF lntemperance, and, II
possible reform the drunkard. The terrible raw
ages Of the monster evil were recognized and de-
precated by all, and the trouble of the speakers
seemed to be what was best to recommend to ar
rest the progress of intemperance in our city.
A deep interest was awakened by the remarks
OF che speakers, and 1t is believed good results will
follow
Weather Reports-The Secretary of War, in &C
cOrdance with a recent law has appointed ser.
geant to reside at the principal cities of the United
States, for the purpose of systematic observation
of the weather tracing the route Of storms and an
tlcipating their approach. Each observer is sup
piled with thermometer, barometer. hygrometer
Ito measure mOisture thermometer Ito measure
force OF WIND, a ware scientifically arranged and
other instruments. Three times day, telegrapbic
reports are to be sent from each station to Wash
ingtOn City, copies of the reports being also fur.
nished to the other stations. By these systematic
reports the direction OF storms can be known and
their appearance anticipated by several hours
The system was inaugurated in October last and
cannot be said to be as yet in full working order.
The Lee Memorial Ceremonies, in Winchester, will
take place on Thursday, January 18th, ISL
Orator-Col +. W. NJ. Holiday Poet-Danel
B, Lucas, Esq. Musical Director-Prof j. H.
Hewitt. The survivors of the late Confederate
Army and the public generally, are invited to at
tend.
The Rural Messenger is the name of first class
weekly agricultural journal which has Just com
menced publication at Petersburg, edited by Mr..
Thomas Peasants.
rODpYcnY rrrnrS