Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-05-22
1oeture of Gen. George Cotton.

General Cotton ct MARYLAND delivered
lecture in Charles Washington Hall" in
this place, Oh Tuesday evening. the 18th inst,
TO a large ana attentive audIence-aH Of
l whom. we have reason to believe, were graft
fed and amused by the racy expressions, true
,o-hfe illustrations aud genuine sentiments
uttered by the lecturer. AS II Is Gen. Cs first
appearance among US. we trust II may not be
hls last; but that az no distant day he may
repeat the entertainment which has given such
universal satisfaction. We should especially
be pleased TO hear him daring the approaching
Presidential campaign.
Hon. James H. Grove, ia introducing the
sneaker. said ladies aud gentlemen it is with
sincere pleasure that introduce 10 you one
Of Mar, lands favorite sons. And think the
audience will bear with me, if in the fulluess
Of ny admiration for my distinguished friend
should say 20 these young people that they
| have presented 10 them gentleman in every
+ sense self-made man. And / hcre he will
pardon me in making some reference TO his
early history. In elry life left helpless
boy with no other aid or favor than that flash
/ ing Intellect and noble genius given 10 him by
a superior power; by virtue of genius, energy
and will he has risen TO that transcendent
/ point Of spleudor IN lis State that jusifes us
10 emulatug his virtues. From oescurty he
has risen 10 a most conspicuous place, from
poverty 10 opulence. all the result of his own
energy aud perseverance, He hoped the young
gentlemen present would prof, by the exam
pie Of his friend. Gen. Cotton, tho "a native
Of MARYLAND, spent some Of his earlier years
in this State. but as Mary lander he referred
with pride aud pleasure 10 those blustry days
when. as the Captain Of the good old ship OF
State, lie endeayorcd to right her under poll
tcal maelstrom, aud after the storm was over
lie could be seen standiss at the masthead
clinging to the stars and stripes Ills course
in lS65-66-6I-when the people Of Maryland
were robbed Of their rights and liberties and
the State suffering iutolerable political thrsl-
dom is well remembered. as II, IN the Bay side
be gave 10 US the kcy-note which was echoed
and re-echoCd from one end Of the State 10 the
other lie more than any other man contri-
buteG 70 tear the shackles from her limbs 10
1868. and make US once more freemen. When
those terrible storms passed over as, causing
stout hearts 10 fail aud cheeks 10 blanch with
fear. the words Of encouragement came from
the Republican Arg;tS Of Annapolis, edited by
Gen. Cotton, exhortiug the weak 10 make one
strike for liberty, giving forth no uncertain
sound lie hoped this DEPRESSION from the
usual rules Of Introduction woald be excused,
bu. he could not allow these things 10 pass un
noticed, aud now had the pleasure OF present
ing 70 the au Hence GenI. George Cotton, OF
Mary land. nho would announce his own sub
iect, and with which he was sure they would
be grstifed.
GIN COLTON's ADDRESS was such O MIN
Cling Of wit aud humoT with gravity aud pa
thos that il would be utterly impossible to
give even a synopsis of il that would convey
fair impression TO those who were 50 unfor-
tuuate as to be absent or prove 10 any degree
satisfactory 10 those who were present and
bad the pleasure Of hearing it. Ia abiding
10 hlr Groves highly complimentary intro
duction Of him he said "nUw, after such an
b introduction as that. what 60 You suppose a
little fellow ike am can say Why, | would
veil my face in modes;y before this intelligent
audience, but FOR the fac. that could say more
Of my distinguished friend lie has done me
great honor, indeel. aud showered upon me
cOmmeuLat0n which | certainly don Z deserve;
but thoo, you know you can't stop people
from talking. / have been long time in the
world aud have about come TO the conclu-
sion lhst as long a. they have tongues they
they talk" lie then referred 10 himself as
part Ylrginian." He lived, when boy, 10
stanton. "Oh." said he. "hOw remember
tina. Qpiet old town uestled between the hills
and mountains remember the Badvins,
the Sluarts, the Striblngs and many other
meD Of high distinction there. | left there
e0J never saw ID again for thirty years-until
after the close Of that terrible in,ernecine war
which plugged tue land 10 blood | went
there. inquired for the people who had shown
ne favors when a boy. OF all those who
were heads Of families al that time and who
still Survived. | could count upon my fugers
euds. They were g0ue-dead in the ceme-
tsries snd the tall grass grows green over
them. The younger Ones too, thA. knew
bad grown up, and 10 the strength Of pride
and manhood had gone down in the red tide
u battle. The hand Of ruthless war bad
swept hem from the laud-braye men had
gone down 70 the grave aud noble women
wept over them. Then inquired If any re-
mcmbercd me but / could not get a single
man 90 recollsel the Boy Of thirty years ago.
aud cams 10 The conclusion that whatever
other people Nigh, be, didn't amount to
much, aoYhow."
Ho noticed that men everywhere were en-
gaged in the same oheci-the pursuit Of hap
piuess and lhe statesman, the artist, the mari
ner. and the soldier all pursue their various
callings from the feeling that they are by doing
their duty on the way 10 happiness. He be-
heyed duty is religion. A great many differ
sas classes Of people 10 this word-some
from 60 oficious desire 10 help are always
putting their foot 10 H." Another class, al
ways bent on attaining their en1, allow no
obstacle 20 impede their way. Let your aim
be high aud keep 1t. as your polar star. ever
in yew-regaTd moi rocks. winds OF quick
sands. Yet another class are easily cast down
BY peclniary embarrassment. Some resor. to
suiclde-s bad way outof trouble; face it out
do your 6es, to pay your debts, and il you
csu't let lie other party bear part Of the
trouble.
lie alluded 90 his own history Lefi at ten
years so orphan, dependent on
lis own exeriious Tor lis daily bread, with 90
eye to watch but the one which never slum-
bers. no arm 70 help but the ll-powerful,-
be apprenuced himself, learned trade, ap-
Piled himself faithfully, aud attained to what /
men call fortune. lie had been blessed be- 4
yond his deserts and also had known sorrow.
Death had entered his home circle and robbed .
him Of his teuderest blossoms But in all his /
trials he had never known a night so dark
that IL was net followed by bright day, no
ofnuR G., fi5rk sh-t a -