The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-30
sketeh OF His Life" Mozis Addums- ~ Let.
ters-Editor Southern Literary Mes
senger-Librarian. &c&c

cNeT-IcnucT anu cO0Sluefatc friend General
James Mcdonald asl his literary executors,
and had named most Of the list Of pail
bearers, leaving to his wife the duty Of
adding few others.
A CHRISTIANS DEATH.
His sufferings, which were at times very
grieyous, he bore with meekness and forti-
tude, and he died an earnest Christian.
"Tell my friends when ] am gone" said
he during hls illness, /" that have no fears.
and that ! am willing to suffer whatever
the Father sends, and that / have implicit
faith in His promises"
But few hours before the end came DR..
Peterkin was at his bedside and talked and
prayed with him. He was in the full pos
session OF his senses and responded most
heartily and understandIngly to the minis
ter's comforting words. He had from time
to time said that be felt as II broken to
pieces; and whenever his wife would n
answer 10 his longing glances and uneasy
movements inquire what be wanted. he
would say Crest" About $3.50 O'Clock
the hour he awaited came. He asked bis
wife to raise him up little, and as she
took him in her arms with look OF love
and farewel in his eyes his spirit fed from
its tenement and from this world OF sorrow
and suffering to enter into the tranScendant
joys OF the home provided for those who
die in the Lord.
LOVE OF FAMILY.
Lying upon his bed. his form wasted and
worn by disease-re1uced. in fact, almost
TO skeleton-his face bore the INTEL gent
yet sad look that was habitua with HIM;
for though he had made thousands laugh,
though his writings were brimming over
with wit and fun. be was not man Of
saneuine disposition. Stubborn dyspepsia.
much Oyer-wCrk, and troubles OF his own
and Of his beloved State, often made him
gloomy, and but for the happiness vouch-
safed him in his domestic relations-iii the
love OF his brave, noble wife and Affection
ate children-he would not have cared to
struggle on as he did.
But he had especially of late spent
much time in prayer, and had learn
ed to love God. Death, which tore
him from the midst Of his beloved
family, he welcomed not only because
il was a release from his suherings,
but because he thought it was better for
all. His was generous, unSelfsh, loving
nature. May the neycr-ending bliss Of
eternal life be his
sketch of His Life.
George William Bagby was born in Buck
ingham county, Va, August l3, 1928. He
was the son OF a Lynchburg merchant, and
was fitted for college at the Edge Hill
School. Princeton, y. j.; then undar the
care OF DR.. John 5. Hart, afterwards pro-
fessor OF Rhetoric and the English Lam
guage and Literature in the College OF New
Jersey. In 1S43 he entered Delaware
College, Newark, Del, but left it
at the end of his sophomore year
and began the study of medicine,
taking his degree at the University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He practiced
but little. The bent of his mind as he
early recognized, was strongly towards
literature in general, and journalism in
particular. The medical title. however,
has grown to be a familiar part Of his name.
He became in 1853 editor Of the Lynchburg
Ddiv Express, and was for several years
Washington correspondent OF the New
Orleans Crescent. the Charleston HercurH
and Richmond Dispatch. Subsequently he
contributed several papers to Harper'S
Maqazine, including one entitled "My
Vile, and Ny Theory About Wives" and
to the Atlantic Monthly an article on
" w aSblnglOu tltN.
MOZIs ADDUMs.
His letters signed Mozis Addums, where
in the words were spelt phonetically, Civ
ing quantity picturesque descriptions OF
life and conversations in Virginia and
Washington, though by no means the pro-
ductions the Doctor most prided himself
on, vet gave him his most extended repu-
tation. aud by this name he is known fGr
and wide.
In 1860 he succeeded John Il. Thomp-
son as editor of the Southern Literary
MESSENGER, which he continued TO edit
until near the close Of the war, being at the
same time associate editor of the Richmond
Whi1. as well as correspondent Of the
Charleston Mercury, the Mobile Register,
the Memphis Appeal, and the Columbus
(Ga) Sun. besides contributing to the Rich
mond Examiner and the Southern Illus
trated NerS.
1t is not surprising that the work
which he performed at this time,
so extensive, varied, and eXacting,
to overwork and seriously
affected his eyes, if it did not dis
order his whole frame. After all, how
ever. his loss proved the gain OF his coun-
trvnen. if not his own, for this excessive
literary labor, apart from the eXtraordina-
nv services directly preceding it, ocea-
stoned him in 1865 to relnquish the tripod
forthe platform, where he eXerted his fine
powers with good effect.
AS LECTURER.
Asa lecturer he was distinguished Tor
deIicacy Of humor, force OF pathos, and
grsphic power. Perhaps his most success
ful lectures were Bacon and Greens; or,
The Native Virginian y; "Woman-
Folks" "An Apology for Fools" "llG-
NOR and Nonsense" the last OF which was
first delivered at Richmond in the winter
of 1s76-'77, and was pronounced by some
iudges his every best production" III
was certainly marvel Of just delineation.
with exquisite humoT and
tmred with delicious pathos. His lecture
NJ 1.-THE Virginia Negro-Past and Pre-
sent was prepared for the North. where
he delivered il: but the general subject
heino in that section considerably less pop
mar in the lecture-hall than on the hust-
Ines. he failed sufficiently to interest MS
,udience. and consequently soon laid the
lecture aside. Meanwhile popular, II not
financial, success crowned his other works,
among the best known and most admired
,I which may be mentioned, in addition to
hose already specified, "What | DID
With Nv Fifty Millions " and :" Meekins's
Twinses.u the latter published IN Rich
nond in 1871. .,,,.p,
in late wears. "Rubensten at the Piano y
md "Miss Kellogg in Fra Diavolo "
we're Of his best. The former .has be-
,ome accepted as standard piece. OF
humorous work, and is 10 be found in
many reading and sketch-books OF wide
,Ircnlation in the North. The hitter,
.hough not so well known, is charming
jttIe production descriptive OF Miss hel-
ogg in the bedroom scene In Fra Dnyoio
~ nlayed at the Richmond Theatre.