The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-10
Judge Lays Appeal for the Bedford
UpucEf.

sussc Lay y Appear LOT the kseuIof'
BeneGt.
At the close OF the Mozart musical
Thursday night an auction sale Of seats 70
Mr.. Redford's benefit was conducted b,
Mr.. Il. Il. Cook, with gratifying results
The earnest appeal OF Judge LAY in intro
ducing the effort was as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen,-lt should hav,
been and was so arranged that words from
lips far more eloquent end persuasive thar
mine should seek to awake you TO Il gene
rous emulation this evening in aid Of one
too well known and appreciated by you tC
need an eulogy from me. 1t has happened
otherwise, and ii falls suddenly to my lot tc
discharge this grateful duty. However i'm.
perfectly l may do so, there shall at least be
the merit OF breyify.
But few nights since this crowded hall
was thrilled by and It's walls drunk in
words from eloquent lips, which told OF 4
nations suffering; that far of, across the
sea, in "Old Ireland" "the Green Isle"-
"the Emerald OF the grim want
and famine was the sad lot OF her tenantry,
aud that people was suffering and needed
aid; people, too, that we have loved for
their reckless fun and for their lavish SYM
pathies; land which has furnished us
some OF Our best, most useful. and patriotic
! citizens. May mention 4 name or two a.?
We have Kelley, a Dooley, and
a Pat Moore, "the Rose, the Sham
rock, and the Shllaleh." Such tales
OF suffering ever excite virtuous emo
tlOns, and remind Us that nations a. well as
individuals are brethren. May the lingering
vibrations Of those burning words OF elo-
quence this evening serve as inspiration to
my voice and 10 your hearts. II may be
that this famine and disease may prove the
closing days OF Ireland's destiny, and thar
many OF her sons and daughters may seek
refuge on our hospitable shores. II so let it
not be to them as with the children Of Israel
OF old, that they " hanged their harps upon
the willows" and refused to sing "the
Lords song in q strange land" and to un-
sympathetic ears, but let us encourage them
to sing and to feel the song OF their sweetest
bard slightly changed
Tho the last glimpse of Erin with sorrow see,
Yet wherever am shall seem Erin to me;
In exile thy bosom stall stll be my home,
And make me my climate wherever roam.n
But while we are called upon to share a
nations grief, we should not forget our own
individual claims for sympathy IN our
midst. Indeed, my friends, while these ma
tIonal caamities and periodical grieis bring
sorrow and suffering to those involved,
may they not prove 10 lis blessings
in disguise, recalling Ms from the
din and tumuts OF life, lifting us
from the seething caldron Of political
apimOsities, and above the rival and selfish
claims for place or power, social or in bu>i-
NESS polity, to a broad platform of charity,
where "One touch OF Nature makes the
world akin" May they not come to Us rs
visitors from above, bidding back the de-
mons OF discOrd, with all the coarser pas
siOns OF our nature, and welcoming an
angel OF peace, ayOwing all that is swecter,
softer, and more generous within us. Thus
4 tale Of sorrow shall be to Us rs Il melody,
the chord Of which being struck will
vbrate in harmony through every manly
and sympathetic bosom.
70 such a tale | ask you 10 listen to-
night, and to respond literally 20 its ap-
peal. 1t is not for charity; simply to dis
charge a debt OF gratitude due by us all |
cannot here enlarge. The "vaSe" is deli
cate, and will not bear rough handling. |
would not ">hatter" 1t, nor mar its deli.
cate tiDts by too plain allulSon. You VIII
understand me.
Tonight we are nearer home in our tale
Of sorrow, and our range Is more contract
ed. A voice rarely absent-always missed
when absent-frOm our musical reunions i
not here tonight; one whose heart and
sweetly-cutivated voice have had part IN
every work OF charity when called for
without regard TO sect, class, or condition
OF life, volunteered, or given with such an
absence OF parade rs scarcely to convey the
idea OF a favor, is not here tonight. And
why? Full OF professional and personal
worth, esteemed by us all. endeared to his
friends, ere yet he has reached the summit
OF the hill OF life our friend Johnnie
RedfOrd has been stricken by the hand
OF disease, with cause for much ap-
prehenson. 1t may be. and is hoped. that
before it fasten upon him visit TO The
"Sunny South" the Gland OF dOwers,"
with the healing balm Of its gentle climate
to that perennial fountain OF health peopled
by the SpaniardS in our early history--may
rally his shattered forces and r. store him to
his friends and family in bis normal health
and yigOr Under Gods blessing we believe
it can be accomplished il be act in time.
Yet he is not blessed with means above bis
wants. and temporarily he is disabled. His
friends must enable him to incur the cost OF
travel and to provide for the comfort OF his
family in his prOtracted absence.
TO this end ask you TO contribute by a
liberal encouragement OF the compliment
tary musicale to be given him by his friends
in this hall on Monday night EeXt-H. NJ.
{. Pinafore. But If | have failed to inn
press you, there is voice to come after me
more eloquent than mine. "GOing, gong,
gone" | introduce to YOU our venerable
and esteemed citizen, Mr.. L. Il. Cook, auc-
tioneer, not too old, however, to feel for
such sorrows and to aid them as best he
may. Hear him for bis cause. His elo-
quence YOU cannot resist. With pathos he
will move you to tears, with Jokes TO laugh
ter, and, unlike other orators. either you
prefer, his motto being, "You pay your
money, you take your choice"
But my old friend, ! am told in conf
dencc. is slightly irascible. Slow or mea-
gre bidding irritates him, but a quick and
generous bidding will spread perennial
smile upon his counteDace. And that smile,
from such cause, let me LAY to yoil se'
riously, Will radiate sunshine into heart;
bowed down with sorrow and apprehen'
sion this night, imparting all the priSmati1
hues OF The Rainbow OF Hope. So mote il
be. Amen.