The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-02
Bible or Christopher Yaldafarss famous ed1-
ton OF the Decan,eron, for the substantial


ton OF the Decanaeron, for the substantial
reason that beyond all cavil oil bibtiopote or
bibtiophfle it was one OF the few unique
books to be found in the world.
Once more at home he resumed active edi-
torial control Of the Messenger, but found
time to contribute some charming rerS-de-
Societk to Harper's and and other maga-
zines. He also delivered through the chiess
southern cities series of lectures. Those
best remembered are " European Journal
ISM" detailed and wonderfully interest
ing account Of the elmer life" OF such
commanding papers as the London Times,
1eseqrcph, Standdrd and Ners, and the
F" Life and Geaius OF Edgar a. Poe, pre-
duction for which DIR. Thompson was fully
and painfully prepared by an intimate ac-
quaintance with that
BRILLIANT BUT UNFORTUNATE MAN.
In 1860 Mr.. Thompson felt himself obliged
to resign the conduct Of the Messenger to
assume control of the Southern Field and
Preside, published ut Augusta, Ga. 1t was
during his soiourn at Augusta TINT he pre-
pared an ode for the Alumni dinner Of the
University Of Virginia--a poem which
should be treasured particularly by the sttl-
dents of that day for the numerous personal
"reminiscences, pleasant yet mournfui,
mand the interest Of the general reader
alike by its points and pathos and by the
wonderful power it exhibits OF sudden
transition from Joy TO sorrow. The line
you are reading Mt one moment may be
brimming with fun,
"Tut changes anon to funeral hymn,
And the laughter is mocking, the sunlight grows
dim"
Often when recurring to its rippling
laughter and sudden overcasts have been
reminded OF the incident given in the
Olives OF the Painters" !" which tells us that
when Peter Of Cortona was engaged on
picture for the Pitt Palace the Grand Duke
Ferdinand particularly admired the repre-
sentation OF a geeping child. Has your
Majesty mind to see how easy it Is to make
this very child Laugh?" said the painter.
And, suiting the action to the word, the
artist merely depressed the corner OF the
lips and the inner extremity Of the eye
but the moment before to be breaking ap-
peared now to be in danger Of bursting his
sides with laughter. $50 magic is the
touch OF the artist, painter, poet, or orator."
With the first note OF war Mr.. Thompson
returned to Virginia. For about three
years he wrote regularly for the daily and
weekly press, and composed those stirring
battle-pieces which won applause even
across the seas, and some OF which will live
with our language. will only mention
two: The Burial Of Latane, - trembling
with pity, touched with pathos," is full Of
the lights and shades OF that fearful strife
which for four years shook this land and
fixed the gaze Of the world; it has its own
touching inner story-inspired gifted
southern painter CWashington) to the pro-
duction Of an illustrative picture, which,
well engraved, is now the ornament OF
thousands OF our homes. deem my
self especially fortunate that our friend
kindly wrote for me In that Pc
culiar and distinct calligraphy which
we all so well remember the four descrip-
tive stanzas which placed beneath the pic
tllre attest its origin, and will perpetuate
the happy union between the art that "can
only steal q glance from Time" and the
glowing aoords that will never die. The
other poem Is the noble threnody on Stuart,
which I have always regarded as Thomp-
sons masterpiece. 1t has melody, o SAD
yet stately step, a beauty OF conception, o
felicity of illustration, and an exquisite per-
lection of plan and purposes that, in my
humble Judgment, places it far beyond and
high above anything else that he ever wrote.
Long after reading it the "wailing trumpet
and the tolling bell % still sound In the ear.
Again and again you hear the "silyer bugles
blow" In dream or fancy your eye still
catches Stuart's /" sabre's flash, Like foun-
tain's spray,O and 'tthe Cid rides erect se-
dately, even as in life he did," II Mr.
Thompson had written no other poem than
this he would have established for himself,
il friendship Is not too partial, the name OF
true poet.
Time will not serve me to more than hint
the remaining features Of our friends life.
You all remember how he declined under
sickness and sorrows until he was again or
dered abroad-so feeble that he must needs
be carried in the arms of friends aboard the
steamer at Wilmington. In England he soon
revived sufficiently to become contributor
for the IndeI, many of his articles receiving
the unwonted honor Of being copied in the
London Times. With returning health he
soon was able to mingle once more with lite
rary men, though much OF his pleasure was
diminished by the fact that death had been
busy during his last ten years. absence. blrs.
Browning and Macaulay were dead; but
saddest of all he missed the hearty grasp OF
the hand that penned the NeoDcon'es, but
Thackeray's accomplished daughter, with
hereditary friendship, gave him cordial wei
come. He frequently visited Tennyson at
Farringford, and Carlyle never grew tired
of talking Of the South and its fortunes.
Again the picture darkens-the cause nc
loved 80 well iailed-the resource OF the
Inde1 was cut otf-it was but O precarlous
livelihood that he could earn by contriou-
tions to the metropolitan press, and by
writing into and giving forms to the crude
memoirs OF gallant Prussian's experience
T. xI, 10 aIar rnfn
In 1865 he returned to New York, and was
soon invited by William Young, the former
editor of the Albion, to join in editing pa
per called Every Afternoon. The venture
was unsuccessful, not from lack OF high III
erary merit, but because 1t did not contain
the latest telegrams and the most recent scan
dals. He was now invited to become literary
editor OF the New York Ecening Post, out
not, it is proper to say, until he had frankly
and fully declared to its honorable and mag
unanimous chief the part he had played In
the past, and his unabated devotion to the
South. These were accepted as honest dif-
ferences OF opinion, and it is o pleasure to
state that during lhe whole OF his connection
with the Post, no book was ever piaced IN
his hand for review or criticism which could
possibly wound his feelings. A delicacy so
rare and so creditable should not go un-
marked and unappreciated.
Here, Mr.. Thompson and his friends
thought, he had reached point and place
which not only ensured a competent sup
port, but gave promise OF increasing re-
ward not only in salary but in the leisure
afforded for other work. He wrote nume-
rous articles for Harper, Scribner, and the
Gaiaxu. It was during this period that he
manifested in remarkable degree that as
similatiye power which was so marked
feature of bis mind. In three TRANSACTIONS
- e~;4hs,,tl,, ard oapoftyfty fha