The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-22


NO. l27.
akindly, genial humor, and in anecdott
Ehe was quite master. His life in th
midst OF public affairs had been long, an
Ehis acquaintance with distinguished me
Aextensiye, and of these his recollection
'Gwas excellent even In the midst OF hi
&sickness. From that sickness he never ey
Spected to recover. Sometimes, indeed. h
&talked hopefully; that was his disposition
Hbut he never expected TO recover. and wa
1prepared to meet death with forttude.
q so good, so tender, so true that h
Hsleeps well who can doubtl
q His Connection With the Virginia
q Press Association.
81 The Virginia Press Association was or
9ganized at the Exchange Hotel, in this city
Gin March, 1874. Many OF the visiting Jour
8nailsts were entertained at Zetelle's (Banl
Aand Eleventh streets) by Mr.. Cowardln.
q referring 10 this affair, the editor OF Oh,
fredericksburg Star said 1.-THE entertain
4ment was specially agreeable. and, by tn,
WAY, we were never more disappointed il
~ man than We were in Mr.. Cowardin
3Neyer having met him before. we pictured
Ito our mind that he was staid, strait
&laced old gentleman, never having anything
Sto say TO anybody except upon questions o
Sfcderal or State policy. We We're agrecabl,
Esurprised to find him most entcrtainint
Egentleman, full OF wit, yiyacious. and. ir
&deed, possessing all the essential qualifica
xtions to make social gathering exceeding
Sly pleasant"
y In February, 1916, Mr.. Cowardin wa
unanimously elected president Of the As
XSocation, and held the position for two
2terms. lie was then elected an honorary
4member. At the annual meeting in 1880
ISthe late Mr.. st. Andrew offered the follow
Ming resolution, which was adopted
q "ReS0lred, |, That we respectfully ten
,5der to our esteemed eX-president. the Hon
SJameS A. COwardln, Of the Richmond
q 3DiSpdtch, the assurance Of our deep sym
Spathy, and our earnest hope that he may
1speedily recover his health and strength.
q 80. That the Chair nominate commit
Of five TO convey the above resolution
ato the Hon. !. A. Cowardin."
a The President appointed Messrs. j. T
:sLoycll, 4. Monteiro, J. A. II. st. Andrew
xWilliam TowneS, and John Creme. who
Hdischargcd the duty assigned 10 them.
q Mr.. st. Andrew, who offered the resolu
#tion, preceded Mr.. Cowardin to the gray,
{more than year ago.
A The Tribute Of an Old Friend.
q After many days Of illness, but unaccom.
3panicd with suffering, James 4. Cowardin,
& fthe senior editor OF the Richmond DiSpatch,
gsunk to rest yesterday afternoon, his life
swOrk done-such workl-thc excellence and
suScfulness Of which j. known by the found
Eing and successful conduct OF this papcr.
4An ardent desire on his part 10 gee ana re-
aysit the scenes Of his carly youth. and a
Zdim hope that the Salubriou+ climate OF the
smOuntains would ameliorate his bodily
2condition, induced a visit last summer to
athe Tlot Springs, Bath county, Va. Mr.
4 eCowardin was born in Bath county in 1871,
Eof highly respectable parentage, being
sclOscly related tC the Lewis family It i
supposed that his family were somewhat
SStraitcned in circumstances, as wc know
sthat at an carly age he was dOmicilcd at
gOanV'le. lie served "a printer apurer
stice on the RCdHOhe Sentinel, aud from
5Danyillc went to Lynchburg, and from
sLynchhurg came 10 Richmond The
zwritcr has often heard MIR. Cowardin speak
soi his early experiences in liic-the adyen-
4tures OF hlS ancestors in their mOuntlin
shomc. then so near the Indians that they
y ywerc more than once competed 10 take re-
Huge from a savage foe 10y crossing the
tBlue Ridge at Rocktish gap; OF his own
Experience in the Warm-Sprng Valley. its
swondrous tepid waters, it, lovely fertile
2yallcyS, and the grand and sublime sur
, 3rounding mountain scenery; OF his home
Tin Danville-and we may add here by way
5of encouragement TO the young, and OF
ercmndcr of the past and it, imperfect syS-
Item OF transportation, with what delight
. .he has spoken OF trips that he was required
30 make to Milton to procure paper forl
.the newspaper. The picture was before,
tmc-a little barefoot boy, not twelve years
snld. mounted sometimes barebacko.. and,
sbIinging back a roll Of blank paper much
2hrgcr than himself. How much the thrill
3ing stories told him 10y his parent, 0f their
{carly adventurous age, the mountain scene
! ry which surrounded his blrth and early
Einfincy. and the early struggles at the
aprintina-oili in Dlnyillc, and the occa-
4 asional responsibilities thrown on him inI
he,c rides may have contributed 10 formI
9and expand his character, il - not my pur-I
3po,c now to enlarge upon. IL may be- di.-i
gcprned in the entire absence Of all sham,
4 he charms and perspicuty oi hi- writing, !
: his contempt OF false, unmeritOriOus Orna-
Slnrnt. and his energy and decision in cycryl
autcrprise upon which he afterwards en-
lbarkcd.
The propretOrs Of the newspaper del
; stcrminlng 10 remove 10 Lynchhurg, Nr.l
4 7Cowardin. rs a necessary part OF the print,
}ine-prcss. was transferred 10 that town.
sIIrre hc continued Is printer and sub,
Seditor TO assist i'm the preparation OF the
3Jefers0nidp, a new spaper OF Nidc->proldI
siniuence. founded by Dr. Cabcll, and edited
lbv hi, ,on-in-law, Mr.. X. Il. Cralle. Mr..
D. ralle wa- among the first literary chl-l
sractcrs Of that day, a great admlger OF JohnI
a.. Calhoun, who hOnOrod him with his.
confidence and friendship, and bcqucaihcdI
It, him the esteemed privilege OF 'ditingi
3CahOun's speeches and writings. II J. biI
athis work that Mr.. Crallc Is best known tO
fthe present generation. \ fcw years after
aMr. Cr:llle Was called 10 take charge OF a
apapcr in Richmond. 1t was during time
SOf great political excitement growing out
5oi the partial disruption Of the then Re
5publcan party and the formation of the
5.bckson, or Democratic, and the Wing
3parties. Mr.. COwardin, of course, could
1not be spared by Mr.. Crallc. Subsequently
isit wa. proposed by Mr.. Ritchle to establish
ka newspaper not political in its character,
5called the COmpiier. Mr. Richie found H.
sNlr. Cowmdin first valuable assistant and
ultimately partner in conducting this
siournal This paper did not suit the taste
sor temDeramCnt OF Mr.. COWardin. IL re-
4mired too much the Use Of scissor ana
xtoo little Of the brain. IN the year Isl,
Sbelng then the proprietor Of the comYufr
awith ylr. Davis, he formed partnership
nwith Mr.. William G. Darlington, young
9man Of great talents and acquirement-,
Swhose early death was u sad di7appoInt-
fment OF iustly-cherished expectations
gand the paper, undcr the ncw and more
&ambitious name of the Times 0nd COM
3piLer, made it, appearance as a political
&naner nnder the cditOr.hip Of Wlllllm I.