The Hillsborough recorder., 1872-02-21
POOR TOW WOODWARD.
MS SAD sToRy AsToLD BY MEMBER OF
THEyIReIsrA LEoIsLATURn.

| 70 the Editor Of tie Neso York Saa.
! have been very much panied by readin,
an account in your paper Of the death o
Thomas o. Woodward. The young mar
was we'll known to me. We both started
in life together. We entered the old field
schoolhouse side by side, and went from the
schoolhousc to the county printing Office il
Suffolk, Va.-the Christian Sun. W.
tsmained together in this Office about tive
| years, when we parted for fields unknown
70 each other. Seyeralyears after our se.
paration--I think it was in / eS6 II chanc.
ed to be in New ferk, having shipped on q
coasting vessel in Norfolk, Va. bound tc
that city. There / met Woodward again,
just as your correspondent described him,
the gay silk neck tie, the patent leather
boots, and broadcloth coat. lie was then
on the New York Tribune.
Tom was raised we'll. lie received good
and religious training in his youth. Ills
father was man noted for his piety, d
Methodist preacher BY profession. though
be died when Tom was small lad. The
example he set was plainly visible in the
boy until he found his way to New York
city. There his feet wandered from the
path his pious parents taught them TO tread.
fon's mother il sill living, though she Is
very old. think she has passed the eigh-
tieth year Of her age. | chanced TO be in
Suffolk, Va. when the sad news reached
her that her boy was dead. lie had been
dead to her for years. for she had neither
seen nor heard from him in four years.
When the paper came with the account Of
her sons suiierings in bis last days, it was
more than she could stand. She wept as
Rachel did IN Ranlah for her children. and
would not be comfortcd. Many prayers
did she utter in behalf Of those who had
been kind to him in his dying moments.
and especially for the kind reporter Of the
Sun.
Thomas q. Woodward bad many friends
in Virginia. His brother. who IS whole
sale merchant III Portsmouth. was IN New
York last fall. and used every effort to find
him. He searched for him over the city.
and aayeyised for him through the press II
The city. but all 70 no purpose. lie could
not be found. Ii he had only intimaici
bis condition, be would have been cared for
BY bis brother and every want supplied.
merely write this in defence Of the FL
mily. to show to the people of New York
that bis mother and friends did not know
his whereabouts. Respectfully. &c.
@. W. LASSIfER.
House Of Delegates. Richmond, Va.
DEEDS or VIOLENCE. These seem TO
be constantly multiplying all over the land.
An unusual number Of homicides have
stained the records Of the old year. and g.
pcciaIly its closing aud festive hours. This
is owing to two things, mainly. First the
intemperateiudulgenec in strong drink aud
second. the pernicious habit Of wearing con-
cealeI weapons. We are glad to observe
that the press Is speaking out on this sub.
jet at last. We have referred 10 the mat
ter heretofore, and urged the passage Of pc
nal caactmenls against wearing concealed
weapons. Nothing but this will ever cor
rect the evil II any one has reason to ap.
prehend personal assault, let him wear bis
arms openly. Bot the practice Of wearing
upon our person concealed deadly weapons.
on ordinary occasions, 10 be used perhaps
upon slight and trivial provoca,ion, under
d sudden paroxysm o. passion. with results
that may forever mar our own happiness.
send soul hurriedly 70 its dread account,
and clothe households in mourning. il al
unjustifible as il i cowardly. We trust
tho press viii speak out on this subject nm
Ill our Legislature shall apply the proper
remedy in stern penal laws.
.is FoUR Days You DIE. "A young
gentleman Of tLis city was 10 start for lii
tie town near Cincinnati. last Tuesday. for
the purpose Of returning home with his SIS
-. z. a ~