The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-14
The Oil Star.--A Promising xaNns
Man Falls.
From The Alban! Argus, July

FROM me Albany Argus, july I.
\ prominent pastor Of one of our city
churches relates the following incident witt
Request 10 withhold the names and dates :
"tne day ~ ! was coming ont 0i chitrCh
the sexton Informed me that he hat, much
diiiicil''y in preventing Il drunken man from
coming III during The services 10 have. as he
Mid. II chat with the pastor calling him
iainiliarly by his tr>t lalncl. Said the SEX
toe, lie is now waiting for you On the
street, but would advise You to -, Gut the
M'cR entrance, and thus Snvo much annoy
ahrr' My curiosity wa. pXcitcd to see tie
'i'ii Who was ii Determined To speak with
llle. Ont on the sidewalk he stood. watch
lNS The door, and when | appeared he came
'o'Whru With Il he>ilating step, putting out
his band Ind calling me by my given name
saw before me an addressed. haggard,
:la+-liaircd man, his face covered with
l'hes of dissipation. From the Sunkcn.
Redeemed ewes ! recalled something that
seemed familiar. He was nearly over the
effects of liquor, and u sense Of shame was
beginning to come over him. In Il stam-
m"iIn% tone of voice he made himself
kuo"n. TO my great astonishment, it WAS
fa"ne other than tic talented b, the ora
Cor and prize-Spcaker of our university
class. Twenty-0ne years ago he was the
most promising. brilliant man at the large
NatFersity of h. Students and protrs.
sors all anticipated future Of triumph for
mn. He took the best prizes, graduated
al the head Of his class, went into law
olfce with very distinguished lawyer, and
after year or more was sent to the LegiSa-
turc. From that time we lost sight of him.
Atith class looked forward anXiously to his
progress. For years | looked over the names
oi new aSprants in the field of politics for his
name, but was disappointed. His fall to his
present cond ton was but the old story of
temptation and weakness. We stood there
OH the sidewalk, and with much the old spirit
aud grace he told me his story. | rcmon-
strated with him, and offered, if he would re-
iorni, TO help him. lie listened, and said in
a sad tone, Impossible; am too far down
The track to return | gave him some
money, and arranged to meet him Monday
al my study, but he did not come The next
Gay received note of thanks from him,
telling me he was going away--neyer to re-
turn. and perhaps he could yet redeem some
oi The lost time. Six months after | be-
came strangely interested in the morning
lapers description of drowned man.
a'ter reading it carefully a second time
was convinced it was none other
''"h D. On MS person was t0und Il
manuscript copy OF poem of Byron, which
knew to be his fayorite, and one that he
carried about with him. No one identified
ni'il, and he was inferred in the potter's
hcid. His nearest relatives had long ceased
70 care for or recognize him. Lately visited
ahe village where his dead body was found,
ana with some difficulty discovered the grave.
ordering simple head-bnard to mark the
pace, came away. Now ] nm collecting
iahds from my classmates to erect Il mOnrl-
lleht over BIS Iauper grave. Next
month four OF us will go down and pay the
I'st tribute TO one OF the finest-cnltnred in
y n'ierts and the greatest natural gennses ]
l'aVe ever met, and yet one who, with every
nnuIsaii,ase nIs for fame and wealth, wrecked
iIliiseii 50 completely that lac accomplished
,,oliiiiig and hardly atraee Of him pow re-
Mails upon the ealth,', s=s,