The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-02

= = = = = II. ----=--=z-- =--:
.'.zs ~ D. 1873.
his own memorable words for 8: lamented
Latane, saying that we
Left him with his fame, his country, and his God.'
we'll understand, my friends, that this
is not the proper time or place for that full me-
mortal which the genius and virtues Of JOHN,
r. THOMSON demand and must receive to-
day. AS we dedicate this simple and yet
beautiful and appropriate monument to his
memory 1t is enough to recall rapidly the
leading and moulding incidents OF his life,
and pay.
ta3t;. THE LOVING TRIBUTE
clearly due to spirit so bright and pure as
his. 5
JOHN THOMPSON was born in October,
1928, and after thorough preparatory edu-
cation in the best schools OF his native city
Riehmond--spent several years at the Uni
versity of Virginia. After an intermission
Of two years he returned to that institution,
where he graduated in law, and cheated
himself for short period with the vain
imagination that he would devote himself
to the plodding profession; but he soon
found that this would be but an endless war
with every thought and impulse Of his ma
ture, and I have but little doubt that in
analogy with Pope's Clerk,
"Who.pens stanza when he should engross,"
that If the fly-leayes Of Mr.. THoMPsON's law
books were carefully examined they would
disclose more rhapsodies than references,
and more citations OF Cupid than of Coke.
Accordingly, he felt that he must exactly
reverse Blackstone's course, and say Fare
well" to the law, and hail to the L" Muse"
And it was well that Mr.. THOMPSON recog-
nized so speedily the true bent OF his nature
and followed so readily the congenial course
of his heart and intellect. For we almost
say without eXaggeration that Literature
marked him for her own from birth. have
often heard from the lips of his honored pa
rents an account OF his
ISsAsTIATE APPETITE FOR BOOKS
from youth upwards, frequently neglectlng
those sports so cheering and seductive to
his companions to some new volume which
had fallen into his hands, and always ex-
hibiting q wonderful retention Of the salient
points Of everything he read.
This change Of profession was signalized
by the assumption Of the editorial control of
the Southern Literary Messenger, and it is
to our lasting shame as a people that this
periodical did not become great and per-
manent success. Alas! that it should be
said, and yet it is obviously and mournfully
true, that as people we too long worshiped
politics as our only and all-eXacting Muse !!
Unreasonable and unjust in our criticisms
it would seem that our people expected that
one single brain was to furnish forth each
month some sixty pages of infinite variety
OF reading matter, careful critiques, pleasant
stories, ode, epic elegy, and all to titillate
and tempt the appetite already faded, and
made more and more morbid by feeding
upon those political feasts where he who
"peppers the highest is surest to please"
1t is stated, truthiully, as I believe, that
Professor Wilson Tor Christopher North, as
he is more familiarly and atfectionately
known) and Lockhart once entered into
GENEROUS RIVALRY,
attested by some trifing wager, US to the
extent and versatility of their respective
intellectual powers, as they should be de-
monstrated by each in turn bringing out q
No. OF BlackUoodS Magazine, every arti-
Gle of which-grave, gay, lively, and Sc
yere-was to be the product of the writer's
own brain. I have never been fortunate
enough to learn with any certainty which
were these curious exhibitions OF mental
variety. Nor do suppose that either OF
these writers was sufficiently pleased with
the product OF their pens to make another
similar effort; and. yet, as intimated already,
this substantially was the hard lot thrown
by our people upon the young editor OF the
Southern Literary Messenger in declining to
aid him as they should have done both by
constant contributions and by such generous
pecuniary aid as would have enabled the
editor to enlist the best talent OF the whole
country. Shame, say again, to us; but
honor, all honor, to that devoted, enlight-
ened, patriotic man who, weak and delicate
in body, but healthy and robust in spirit,
struggled on through sixteen weary years
in this unequal and thankless contest, ever
striving to build up the
LIBERATION OF THE SOUTH,
but speaking with slight exceptioD) to
apathetic ears. During this period, how
ever, he had what Mrs. Kemblc would call
ga Year OF Consolation" About 1854 he
went to Europe, and / am sure there must
be many among my hearers who recall with
exquisite pleasure the Notes OF Travel he
sent back. Hackneyed rs the theme is, and
usually so suggestive OF Murray's Guide
Book as the fountain of inspiration, under
Mr.. Thompson's glowing touch it woke a
new life and developed unexpected beauties.
think I may safely say that no one who
ever visited Europe saw more, remembered
more wildly, or described more accurately
and pleasantly the striking sights OF Eng
land and the Continent. Another delightful
feature Of this "Year Of Consolation was
the pleasant acquaintance (soon ripening
into friendship which his refinement, bright
eyed observation, and scholarly culture won
for him with many Of the foremost men OF
letters in England and elsewhere. Renew
ing slight acquaintance made with Dick
ems when in this country he met for the first
time Bulwer, who greeted the then unknown
Young Hterateur with kindness and cor
diality not usual to that self-sustainlng
writer. Mr.. Thompson had the good for
tune to visit England's greatest historian,
and I am happy to see that.
THE "HOUR WITH HACAULAY"
spent in his bachelor chambers in "The
Albany" a paper full Of charming strokes
OF description and OF the characteristic
conversation OF that mental millionaire, has
recently been reproduced by one Of the
largest publishing-houses in Philadelphia in
bringing out new edition OF Macaulay's
works. In Florence Mr.. Thompson natll-
rally made the acquaintance Of the Brown
ines. and was always q welcome guest at
" "Casa-Guid y; and | well remember the
fact that when Mr.. Thompson pointed out
to Mrs. Browning that the musical line In
Poe's Craven" where the "sound " Is,
indeed, Gan echo to the sense"
"The sken, sad, uncertain rttstling OF each purple
curtain<'' ....
had obviously been suggested by line IN
"Aurora Leigh" the true poetess at once
exclaimed, with all the grace OF her sex, !" 1
deem 1t an honor, never to be forgotten, that
any words Of mine should be embalmed IN
that immortal poem." Returning to Eng