Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-05-25
GENERAL CoLToN's LECTURE.

The people of this community were
favored, on Tuesday evening last with fine
lecture by Gen. George Cotton, of Annapolis,
one of old Maryland's distinguished sons
General Cotton is essentially self-made man,
and one who is well known in his native
State. His life has been one of great use
fulness, and his steady adherence to prin>
eiple and duty throughout has earned for him
NO small degree of success. He came upon
the invitation of some of our citizens, to give
the youths of our community the benefit of
his experience, and we may safely say also,
to furnish the fine audience which received
him, with those pleasant emotions which
spring from combined eloquence and wit
He was introduced by the Hon. Jas. 81.
Grove in the inimitable manner peculiar to
that gentleman, from whom speech, how>
ever brief, is always acceptable to our people
He spoke with fervor of the important part
that General Cotton had borne in the resto>
ration of the Democracy of Maryland, and
commended him to the audience as faithful
patriot and one who had been the architect
OF his own fortunes. The lecture itself was
full of anecdotes and witticisms which con-
gulsed the listeners, but across this flow of
humor would sometimes float the strength
and beauty ofgraver thought, and the pathos
Of sentiments and the keen thrusts of wit ,werc
intermingled throughout like we sometimes
see the sunshine and shadows on the sward.
After happy introduction, he related to the
audience brief history of his early lire-the
death of his parents-his poverty-his trials
and temptation-his labors and hardships-
his victories and defeats-his early love AM
marriage, an account interesting in tho ex-
treme, from the earnestness and eloquence with
which it was told, and the sincerity OF motive
which Induced the relation, which was. as
he said, not in spirit of vain glory, but
that those who heard him, and had yet the
great drama of life yet before them, might
be stimulated to fight manfully to attain 'as
high degree of usefulness as possible, and
become leaders in the great battle of the
future. The meeting for the first time of the
girl OF his heart, was described with great
detail and considerable humor. Her home
was cottage by the side of small stream.
There he found her often, and they would
take walks along tho shaded banks. One
evening he sought her while sitting on the
porch. He took her hand in his, and asked
her to become his wife. He would not weary
the audience with the details. "You know
how it is yourself" he said In conclusi on,
he spoke of the dignity of labor, and the ne
cessity of each individual being actustod by
sense of duty. Human happiness, he said,
could only be attained by acting up to the
requirements of conscience. The closer we
follow in the line of principle, the greater
the comfort we receive. We would fail sig.
nally if We attempted to convey an idea of
the force and beauty of his lecture by giving
extracts therefrom. 1t was replcte with good
sense, good morals, and fine preccpts, and we
think sunk deeply into the minds of the au>
dlence. We can but return our thanks. on the
part of the community, to the distinguished
gentleman for his kindness in giving US that
evening many of the bright flowers of his
fancy, and so much of his practical good
sense. We hope to hear him again.