Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-01-17
Alexandria Gazette and Virginia Advertiser
W. w, Archer.


W. o,ry WITH pleasure from The Rchmoad
Stsa&a1d The 70 l;wiGs wi! u.cSi:ol lriD
ute 10 tho Torth, cborey add ability of v.
W. Archer, e;q., The Richmond cores
pendent Of The G.zattc, whose letters, over
the signature of SrcDgbo~. alSa5s attracted
attention sud were go generally copied By The
papers throughout! tic State:
Tbs daily press has already conveyed TO the
Richmond public the gratifying intelligence
that Mr.. w. W. Archer, Of the local staff Of
the Richmond State, has drawc The third prize
$l.0O0l for the third best essay ia advocacy Of
tue Helper scheme fer the construction of
doubl, track longitudinal steel railway through
North, Central and South Americas |. is
hardly competent that Wo should enter into the
details of TIC scheme, ard therefore we do not
propose to do go. The prizo essays, together
with tho circumstances leading to their pEepa-
| ration. Will bo published ln pamphlet form, ard
Of tho rracicability Of tie Helper idea the
public must Judge for themselves. Of Mr..
Archer 1t ls, however, our purpose 70 say somo.
thing. His triumph is not Only matter OF
generalization for his friends, but for tho Viz
giria press-aud We 20 not too far 10 saying fer
| The State. Uoder al conditions which hcdgcd
about the competition. Mr. Archcr's success is
tho SUCCESS OF Virginia brain, aud cDiIles him
| to prominent pt lion 10 tho republic OF let
ters. Ho hes won 10 this fight ''by bis owo
might" and it is duo to tho public that they
| shou'd know moro of him than his modesty
| would ever disclose. W. W. Archer-or "Wi-
lio' Archcr-is self made man 10 literature,
but 10 family springs from tho best stock 10
Virginia. lie is q son Of Dabnev w. Archer;
nephew of tho late DR.. Juoius w. Alclcr, OF
Ill, NJ.
| tho artist, and grandson Of William =. Shcp.
psrd, fer many years Chamberlain Of the city,
His geDeslogY Iuus beck through his patcrnal
and maternal ate ,stors aud through intermar-
riage 10 tho purtl; blood Of which Virginia can
boast But of this in tho present sketch there
| is little pertinent. Willie Archer vas bern, VIC
thick, 10 this ,acd ntvcr had day = school
| ing 10 his HE. Owing to the v.c,ssiiuacs OF
| tic war he WAS debarred tho advantages CT the
capital ct carly mental training" end what be
acquired of education was ia the family circle
| such tduoatlon IS is usually waiting 10 di:ci
pllne aad is practically nil But he was not Of
| the nature to allow the Disadvantages to ovtr
balance tho advantages 10 tho lght lGr liviog.
| From nero childhood he developed 40 nmbi
tious spirit. Ills rradiltc ion vas for literature,
and seven years ego resulted 10 ti3 scckicg and
obtaining position Oh tho Kiohmoud Wing.
| Serving through tho several rorortcral eTaia
.ionl 10 very short limo he btc.me city cdi
| tor of that paper snd distinguished himsclt IS
much by his Judgment az by hia sO,C.i oonri
buttons TO the !oca' columns. During bis o,a
peotion with tho Wing he conceived tho idea
o! studying photography. At that p,rici ih:rc
| was no phAuoGr4pa3 teacher in hy c;iy, Oh i
va sticngly Sdgsei bin against il Is G waste
Of time and sn ibve.tmpot fer occ,siots which
would never occar, lie nevertheless rcrs, v,rcd,
VAS two ycarl ago official PHOTOGRAPHERS for the
House Ct Delegates. ard is 10 coy the mast
proficient hard 10 that Grt On tEo Virginia
prtss, L,Aving tho Wing. Willie Archer bu
camo the correspondent CT several Stale pnp,Is,
and over the signature CT "Slrnngbot!" vas
extensively quoted for his graceful and vigorous
style and bis aCumcn and bodua:s 10 treat
log political affairs. Ho oorrcsponded Tor tho
Alezat dtla GeZAtto, tho Petersburg Pcs, tho
| Petersburg N 5ws, and the Dsnvl.lo Pet. acd
cll staff OF tho St,,o As d roportarial
s?ecitl:sI hc has been ma kod slcc IS 10
everything be hos undertaken. His ciarc
terislo is thorougbnoEs. nod no kss proven
that his talent is varied. He is tho youngest
man on tho city press, having barely passed
twonty. sovon years, YET his m alter If COLLECTED
| you'd display an astonishing range Of reading
and study. His preparation for competition in
tho Helper prizs struggle involved gevon months
of tho C 0sest application, and he carried off tho
third honor with the acknowledged stst mont
that his youth initiated against him. In high!
matter he is memo the loss entitled to rCcogni-
ton Some Of lis fancy sketches hsvo already
passed into tho literature of :hs day IS
models Of elegant composition. No is {.
bright example OF what energy and puci;
eupplomented by brain aad ambition en-
accomplish. Lie Is quiet modest littlo g5ntIo.
man, bu! tho bushcl is not m,do that will
conceal Ii, light; and wo sTo eslisG6l that his
last achievement is but the esrneat IF future
enviable reputation. Ia tho carly part of his
Journalistic career everything interviewed TO die.
courage him and mako him seek come other &C
cupa!loa, but no obstacle seemed too gros! for
him. He possessed in 40 extraordinary degree
tho faculty Of graphing with difficulty on the
threshold Ho was and is thoroughly III low;
with his profession, and for his years has been
one Of the most diligent and aprric!ativ sta
denis within tho range of our acquaintance -"