The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-03
"She was "a form Of life and light,
That seen became q part OF sieht'
And rose whcTe'er ! turned mine cie
Tho mnrninC-Star of memory


The menu was excellent, comprising every
conceivable delicacy. heic were, more
over. several old Virginia dishes that foTcl-
blv brought back the M nories OF other DAYS
70 those whose ewes had not feasted on the
grateful sight for yca's. The way III which
the hoecake disappeared was sufficient to
convince even the most careless observer
that a Vjreinian'S taste Deyer dcgenerales.
The pleasure Of The first banquet Oi tue
Society WAS 10 a certain extent marred by
the tedious length IN which seNerai olu
s,aoers answered 10 toasts. Determined TO
avoid his disagreeable feature, the Ha'laSc'
ment confined all speaking 10 one GRAFTON,
TO be delivered by Or. II. y. Holland. ana
and his remarks showed the wisdom OF thell
choice. His little twenty-minuieS speech
was really q brilliant production. HIS va
rious nraiseS of the subject he had taken,
I. The old Vi,eiuia Gentleman were re-
ceiyed with prolonged applause and hearty
,auph,er. | cannot refrain from giving you
q few extracts from his speech--space alone
nrohibiting me from presenting II Ia It's
entirety. He started ont by making re"
remarks on the comparative merits OF Dorth-
erncrs and sOutheTntrs, expressing MS WISH
that instead Of one seeing tier own
merits and the others faults, they would re-
verse the operation and see their own iaultS
and the others good qualities. Then would
| each section be more prosperous, napier
| for "thc prlcking numbness OF preluuice
| nj tLe ration's tXlremi,ies comes from de-
| fectiye circulation of it's blood. AS much
as the South needs the spirit OF progress
The North needs the spirit OF Conservatism.
st. Vitus's dance is as bad a. lethargy. The
South needs % constant infusion OF north
ern men to frc,hcn up its slower life. And
has it nothing TO give Ia exchange: NO ele-
ment that would supply lack in life Of The
North. and counteract our too feveilsh IN
dusiry; our morbidiy indviduaIislic ana
atomzing temper; our love OF change i0i
the sake Of change; Our mania for reforms
traits which are beginning to show WITH
their Increasing spread how hostile they are
TO all permanency Of institutions Might
not the northern character, admirable a.
it is, be improved by more lciSurely
tone; by q higher estimate OF the
heart as an organ OF manliness by
a deeper veneratlon of the past, {
tranquiller acceptance Of the general reason
That Incorporates itself in customs, and even
a somewhat BourbOnic unwiliDgness to Ii
disturbed by every unGccredittd opinion
that peddlerhke rings the dOOr-bell OF The
mind, asking an opportunity to prove IL
pinchbeck wares finer than any hereditary
gold OF belief? "Genilemen there are IL
many lands, but none ever made so much o.
his gentiIity as lac OF Old Virginia. VIII
him it was an heritage, a fortune, rank
the top and crown oi creation. To cultivate
its duties. manners, sentiments, instincts
was his study, bis delight, almost his reli
gion. The character could not be obtained
by any who were not born TO its distinction
Any one might be honest. brave, upright
generous, gentleman like but the wore
gentleman he used in its original sense to
denote man Of genus whose quality
came from his stock. Now and ther
u plough-hoise may win a race. but The
course is only for tboroughbred>. An ole
Virginia gentleman could not become ;
snOb. The deepest possible degradation o.
| his pride could not reach that depth. III,
had little respect for mere iitular rank. Hi
insisted without ado on purity Of blood, be
cause he believed that thereby might be bes
transmitted and preserved purity Of man
hood. Was he altogether wrong! judge
by the fruits! Know you any community
where the same idea does not prevail thai
has produced us many stocks which scor,
as many generations OF magnificent men anC
women as have made illu,trious the name Of
Botelcr, and BaIlit, and Johnston. anC
Proctor. aud Harrison, and Rives, and Blu
ford, aud Pendleton, and Cabell, and Stuait
and Monroe, and Cfittenden, and Bfecken
ridge, ana Marshall, and Leef" :" Fol
woman his respect was more than courte
Gus; 1t was something deyoul. Her dell