The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-31
Patrick County Visits Richmond.

Yours, Z. SHARP.
Patrick County Visits Richmond.
PATRICK COUNTY, Va. December ID, 1871.
Editors Dispatch: The scenes OF beauty
and splendor OF our capital city, the eX'
ctcment attending the rctissembling OF ouI
Legislature, listening to patriotic speeches
about paying our State debt; the meeting
with and talking to so many great men; the
high-living OF our metropolitan hotels; in
tho enjoyment OF so much beauty, honor,
and luxury, plain countryman lcses his
identity, and lmagiEes for the while that he,
too, might be lawgivcr and a statesman
but how soon such vain thoughts are dis
missed when we return to the stern realities
of life, and the everyday routine of homo
in the back-woods. We then wonder at our
presumption in thinking that great men
statesmen, heroes, and divines-are only
men st last, and as we approach them, lose
much Of that imaginary awe we attach to
them.s How pleasant it is to meet with
old friends, to witness the smile OF
recognition, and to hear the old Virginia
greeting. We visited the Capitol to look in
upon the assembled wisdom OF our State.
| Speaker A lien seems rather awkward in his
new position; is a tne-looking man, and
| will, with I little experience. make fine
presiding officer. Governor Thomas looks
sage and dignifcd. and adorns his position.
We were much pleased with the personnel
OF the present Legislature; have never
seen so many new mcn-strange faces.
We came to the conclusion that 1t would
prove to be emphatically 4 working body
ard great blessing to our State unless
they permit some minor questions OF party
organization to cause 4 schism and disturb
their unity or some ambitious design OF as
piring politicians to defeat their plans and
prove re-brand in the ranks OF the great
Conservative party.
We had the pleasure OF meeting and
conversing with our old congressman,
Hon. Thomas S. Bocock, still pleasant and
agreeable, still possessing that magnetism
that used to attach his friends so nearly to
him as when he was the NcStor Of the great
Democratic party Of the South, the wise
statesman, the accomplished speaker OF the
Confederate Congress, the idol OF Virginia.
We saw the Hon. James Barbour. lie looks
well and youthful. We heard him speak.
Yhe occasion was not OF sufficient impor-
tance to cali out his great powers. At the
proper time he will speak, splendidly, wise
Iy, calmly, eloquently, and for his country.
We saw Major Daniel; he looks as calm
and as fresh as morning in May. he
shows no signs Of chagrin or modification
ot hic recent defeat TOO pntt ivti,, tvv 1uyal
to his party and true to his State, to consider
personal ambition in this emergency. We
heard Parson Massey speak. Hc seems all
aglow with the idea Of q speedy and salts
factory settlement of our great financial
question. we heard Fowler and Fulkcr-
son, of the Southwest. They speak after
the manner Of our western men-ftlll oi
force and vim. They are strong men, and
Us true to their State rs the needle TO the
pole. The latter, Colonel Fukerson, with
that other good and true man, Senator
DickerSon, descended from our best Patrick
stock. Many other good and true men we
would like to mention, but would make
our letter entirely too long; but | must
add that saw Governor kemper. He is
looking we'll and youthful, and is good for
several campaigns yet, though he complains
OF being oyerworkcd and wants rest. We
also visited the library-every Virginian
ought to visit that hall, and there renew his
vows upon the altar OF his State. What
feelings OF pride till the Virginian's heart
rs lie looks around him and bebolds the
grand galaxy Of great men whose portraits
adorn that gallery; and the Patrick mans
heart beats with peculiar pride rs he gazes
long and admiringly upon the youthful,
handsome face OF our own peerless chief
tain-Stuart. This reminds us Of the men
we saw from our own section OF the State
first, the Hoa. Thomas S. Flournoy. Like
| the sun, as she puts on all her splendor Just
before she sets, so that great Virginian looks
unusually cheerful and bright in the evening
| OF his life, and gives promise Of many
years yet Of usefulness to bis country. We
saw that astute tinancier, Industrious bust
ness-map, warm-hearted Christian gentle
man, Major Sutherin. There is assadnes:
resting upon his handsome face caused by
recent heavy bereayements that draw hi:
friends very tenderly towards him. W.
saw his railroad-now nearly completed
connecting the little town Sutherlin, on tht
Richmond and Danyille railroad, with Mil
! ton, North Carolina. This is lasting mon
ument to his industry, libcrality, and capa
city. He expects to have his road completed
| by the 1st OF next January.
The Major SAYS he wants to build q mar
row-gauge railroad through the counties o.
Henry and Patrick, and If any man in tht
State can accomplish so great an enterprise
he is the man.
We must not forget to tell about meeting
some OF the friends OF our youth. We call
| ed on II. X. E., of the Dispatch. Like the
writer. he is getting gray-otherwise look:
youthful, and his heart seems as warm as
when we first met him in Norfolk twenty
five years ago. We called on our old friend
and temperance associate Colonel Thomas
J. Evans. We knocked at his door anG
recognized his well-known voice as he In
yited us in. lie looks as genial as when
first we met in our youth. We talked about
The DAYS long past and the friends we then
knew. He assured us "that he had made
many new friends, but the old ones still re-
tanned place near his heart" and his
warm greeting and sympathetic eye told us
how true were his words. l also called to
see another friend OF "lang syne," the
worthy and efficient president OF the Rich
mond and Danyile railroad. He met US
with that same pleasant smile that used
to greet us q will not say how many
wears ago). and us we witnessed his devotion
TO business we felt that all the honors he had
received had been bestowed upon worthy
gentleman. I would like to tell OF others
with whom ] met, and say kind word Oh
remembrance, but this letter is already too
long. 1t has given me pleasure to write
this; beg you to publish it. TO man
VINO has to struggle hard with the stern
realities OF life-with adverse fortune-with
whom many friends have proven untrue,
who can occasionally 90 of, from the scenes
OF his conflict and meet up with the friends
OF bis youth. to hear from them words OF
comfort, expressions OF continued goodwill
and OF confidence, 1t strengthens our faith
In mans humanity, and we feel like return
ing to renew our battle with the conflicts OF
life with energy, zeal, and hepe.
PATRICK.