The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-02-22
teliiptation 70 draw a brief contrast


Comparisons are odious, but the
same cannot justly be said of con.
trasts. Things and persons wholly
different admit of no Comparison,
and yet may be contrasted without
belittling either or any of them.
There are no pointsof RESEMBLANCE
between the two Senators from the
Fifth District, cerkiinly, none dis,
cernible to ordinary intelligences.
They were originally cast in wide.
ly different molds Dissimilar pur.
suits and surroundings in life have
tended 10 increase, Or make more
profound this original difference
They have nothingin common, il
you except a position in the State
Senate, nor is tliis tlisIsrence confined
toany one element of.tsing; On any. II. /.
one channel Of thought or action. 1t
applies with equal force TO their
mental, moral and physical natures,
using these terms in their philosoph-
ical sense. The special admirers Of
one are not apt to waste much admi.
ration upon the other; and rice rc,sd.,
For instance, tits second nature in
DR.. Barbee to be general and polite,
in outward manner while it seems
to require a painful effort, on the
part of Judge Brown, to stoop from
a sort of stilled dignity down to ordis
nary every day ciyility And yet, 1
could not, if my life depended upon
if, say which Of the two really had
the kindlier or more sympathetic ma
ture. l have heard generous deeds
attributed to both. Again, Judge
Brown carries about with him a cold,
almost sneering face, while chat Of
the Doctor beams on you like dream
of Falstaff. But who knows how
much the presence Of physical pain,
bravely endured, may have to do
with the former, or in what degree q
strong constitution and robust health
may affect the latter2
Intellectually, Judge Brown has
been thought by some to be without
a peer in the Senate; whilst others,
Of equal discernment, have pro
nounced him vastly over-rated. No
one is-apt 60 under-ra,e, or ovtr-fate,
the abilities Of DR.. Barbee. His mind
can be read like u book. But bucks
sometimes have most excellent and
instructive reading matter in them.
Judge Brown came to the Senate
with State reputation. And yet
during two winters Of this term, he
has conceived no measure of much
Importance, and made no speech that
has lived beyond the hour.
DR.. Barbee came as a sort Of green
back joke. And yet he has won the
respect of his brother Senators, and,
by the Exercise of a wise discretion,
gained influence in a body where he
was the solitary representative Of his
political party.
Judge Brown looks as unchangea-
bic as rock-and yet no man in the
State has changed his political party
oftener. And yet when twitted with
his variable attecedents, he retorts
that the changes were made by the
parties and not by him. True, no.
body believes this but himself but
that he does sincerely believe it,
seems indisputabIe.
DR.. Barbee has made some changes
but he laughingly attributes them
TO his ready disposition, when he
finds himself in the wrong, to repent
and be baptized in the new faith.
Judge Brown is feared by some of
the Senators, respected by all and
beloved by none.
DR.. Barbee is beloved by all, re.
spected by the most, perhaps all, and
feared by noho.
In brief, Judge Brown isa political
and intellectual sphynx-an un-
known quantity to the world at large,
and perhaps a mystery to himself.
While DR.. Barbee is bay window,
through which he can look at the
world, and the world look at him, on
and from all sides.
| would be unjust, did | nut add To
the sketch of Judge Brown, the fact,
that his opinions ON all subjects car
ry with them great weight, Para.
doxical as it may seem, il Is never
- a 4. =. L t..