The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-24
4 Remsnssceuce ~ We Oiden Times
R<t.Sors Sfovntoa Spectator:

:. EacIe Caveru,o in stanton, on the 4th
day Of July, 1896. to celebrate the fiftieth
anniversary OF the Declaration OF American
Irdcpendence, I ask place In your columns
Tor brief notice Of an incident OF the occa-
siou which may be interesting to some OF
your readers.
a. that time some OF those gallant men
u no oad fought In the battles OF the kevo-
lnfion sti,l survived, and II was the invaria-
Bic habit OF the people throughout the coun.
trv 10 celebrate the 4th Of july and the 22d
az February--the birthdays Of the nation
and OF Wasbipgton-by military parades,
orations. barbecues, dinners. and balls.
The dftieih anniversary OF the greatest
event OF our history was deemed especially
worthy OF commemoration, and doubt not
fthougn do not distinctly remember that
such was the fact) that the usual military
dlsrlay was made on that day In stanton.
But one portion Of the ceremonial made an
impression on my Youthful mind, which Is
almost as fresh In my memory as II II had
occurred but few months ago.
IL had been arranged by the leading gen.
titmen Of the town that public dinner
wac 10 be given at the Eagle Tavern"
which was situated on the corner OF Beyer-
10 ana Market streets, on the site where the
Spectator ONCE now stands.
The company assembled at the usual
time ia the public room OF the tavern, and
the table was set out In q long porch in the
rear OF the building. When dinner was an
uouuced the company was invited into the
porch. and here the assembly was organ
lied by the appointment OF my father, the
fate Judge Archibald Stuart, as president,
and Hon. John II. Peyton as vice-presi.
dent. The company were then seated, and
partook OF a substantial meal, served up in
the simple style OF the period. Wine was
soon introduced. and toasts were the order
OF the day.
According 10 the custom which then
prevailed, committee was appointed
in advance TO prepare series OF toasts.
or sentiments" as they were sometimes
called. and to designate the gentlemen who
we're to respond 10 them as they were an
nouuced. Copies OF these toasts, which
were generally thirteen In number, cor
responding with the number OF the orig!-
nal States, were placed In the hands OF the
: president and vice-prcsident. who sat at
tho head and foot Of the table.
At the proper time the president read
slowly, and in an audible voice, each toast,
and 1t was tben read from the other end Of
the table ty the vice.president, and suita-
Die responses were made by the gentlemen
selected to perform that duty.
The first toast was almost invariably,
-sTbe Day we Celebrate" with the addition
OF some terseIy-expressed sentiment con-
nected with It. Then followed other tOasts
10 the "Soldiers Of The Revolution" the
4sFTamers of the Constitution the "Me-
mory OF Washington" sour Glorious Wo-
men, &c. The last regular toast was al
ways complimentary TO the ladies.
After the regular tOasts had been drunk,
every gentleman was at liberty to volunteer
"a sentiment; and generally every gen.
rleman OF any prominence al the table was
called upon for toast.
may here ado, that reports Of these cell
ebrations were regularly published In the
Richmond ENQUIRER and Wing, then the
lending newspapers OF the Stale; and the
ioasis were regularly scanned by the public
men OF the day as the best index OF the
drift OF the opinion OF the people. Indeed,
Mr.. jefferson remarked TO friend that the
toasts on those festive occasions revealed
more clearly the current Of public seni-
ment than the more studied utterances OF
The press.
Among the guests who assembled at the
celebration held At the Eagle Tavern" on
the 4th Of July, 1926, were most OF the
PROMINENT tutD VI tue tOWU
well remember that Daniel Shelley, Chap
man johnson, Brisc0e u. Baldwin, Thomas
J. Niche, William Kinney, n. Z. Kinney,
and other citizens OF the town were OF the
number, and, / think, General Robert
P0rterfield, James Bell, Charles A. Stuart,
and others of the same class from the coun-
try were present.
The occasion was marked by biIarity.
The speeches were brief, spirited, and APP
propriate. Anecdotes were told. There
were brilliant flashes OF wit and fancy, aud
all were in good bumor and seemed to en-
Joy themselves.
10 this way the day was passed until
nearly sundowD, and the company were
preparing to separate, with mutual felicita-
tons on the pleasure which they had en-
joyed, and the expression OF hope that they
might meet to commemorate many returns
OF The suspicious day. AT this stage OF the
proceeding some one came into the porch,
and in low tone communicated TO Mr.. Chap
man johnson something which seemed to
make a deep impression on him. j, who
was then youth preparing myself to enter
The University, sat, with few other young
companions, near the foot OF the table, and
being on the opposite side from Mr. john
con, had full view Of his face, and. al
though l did not know the nature OF the
communication, could not fail to observe
The grave expression OF his c0untenance.
The mystery was soon solved. Mr.. John
son rose, and in fitting terms announced TO
the company that news had Just reached
him OF the death. near noon on that day, OF
Thomas Jefferson. After few remarks
OIL the life, character, and public services
OF Mr.. jefferson, Mr.. johnson requested oil
x,rooopt 70 nil thafr UiaeSpe doe ra6 m
offer a sentiment. This was done. He
and remain standing. While we thus
stood, deeply impressed with the soIem-
nifty OF the event which had been thus
Unexpectedly announced, Mr.. johnson
offered the following sentiment: 1.-THE
memory OF Thomas Jefferson. author
Of the Declaration Of Independence
Though the mortal man may never witness
another celebration of the day which his
pen has so much illustrated, his immortal
spirit will be present and inspire the last
anthem which halIows its memory"
The sentiment was purely imprcmptu.
he did not take time to commit 1t to
paper. He gave II to us as 1t came gush.
jng up, like living waters, from the
fountain of his great heart. and 1t found
response in the heart Of every one
who was present. As for myself, every
word that be uttered became, as II were, !
engrossed on the tablets Of my memory,
and after the lapse OF more than fifty-four |
years l feel that am able to report Mr.. |
Johnson's toast not only with substantial, |
hut with literal. accuracy.
Respectfully yours. &c.
ALEX. ii. ii. STUART.