Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-05-06
UNION SPECTATOR AND GENERAL ADVERTISER


quent requests having been made by Geol-
been thought desirable to reprint limited
number of copies.''
The failure to continue Professor Rogers
in the field long enough to finish his de-
signs, and then reproduce his whole work
in enduring shape for the archives of the
State, has been long profoundly deplored,
and now the delinquency of public obliga
ton has been met by private benefaction.
The concluding paragraph of the introduce
ton is as follows =
"In the preparation of this work, and in
the revision of proofs as we'll as by many
valuable suggestions, the editor has been
very greatly aided by Mr.. Jed Hotchkiss,
Of Staunton, Virginia, and by DR.. R. E.
Rogers. She also desires to record her OBJ
legation to Professor Niles and other friends
at the Institute of Technology, for their
kind interest in the work.
III Marlborough St., Boston, 1924
Having had access to some of the COM
munications which these publications have
called out, we should fail, if passed by, to
render duty to the readers of the SPEC
TAToR to reproduce extracts from one to
Mrs. Rogers of venerated statesman, a
contemporary of Professor Rogers, who en-
tered upon his distinguished career nearly
fifty years ago as a member of the Leeisla-
ture which was SO directly associated with
the early labors of the eminent philosopher.
1t need not be said reference is made to the
Hon. Alex. Fl. H. Stuart, who with the ex-
ception of VIM. M. Burwell and Elk Gov
ernor Wyndham Robertson, is perhaps, be-
ing one of the youngest, the only survivor
of long catalogue of distinguished Vir-
ginians with whom be was associated in
State affairs. In the great works of prog
ress and development, the records of the
State associate with Mr.. Stuart, Mr.. Bur-
well, and Governor Robertson, Gov. Gil
mer, Dorman. Anderson, Preston, Witch
er, Patrick, Segar, Tunstall, Wall, Seymour,
Massie, Southall, Caperton, Rhodes, john
son, Toler, Harper, Leyburn, Bondurant,
Eau kner, VIM. NJ. Peyton, Moore, Bruce,
and a long list of eminent men representing
constituencies of advanced views, bearing
share in these important movements, but
to whom length of days, as with their liv-
ing associates, were not allotted to witness
the display which has been made of the re-
sources of the State. OF the reproduction
Of Mr.. Stuart's letter to Mrs. Rogers of
22nd of April, 1885, he knows nothing un-
til he observes it in these columns. He
writes as follows
''My recollections of Professor Rogers
reaches back sixty years, to a period v hen
| was pupil of his venerable father, DR..
Patrick K Rogers, of William and Mary
College, of Virginia, who was young gen
tleman, who had recently graduated wit.
distinction at that institution
''Many years afterwards, 1 was men,
Der of the General Assembly of Virginia
when he, then Professor of Natural Phi.
iosophy in the University of Virginia, APP
peared before the House of Delegates
making provision for Geological Survey
of the State.
"His address to the House of Delegates
on that occasion was one of the most logi-
cal, impressive, and eloquent arguments,
ever heard. Every one was convinced by
his reasoning and delighted with his ora
tory, and there was hardly a show of opposi.
ton TO views. The legislation which he
proposed was passed by very large MAORI
ty, and he was chosen to take charge of the
work. The volume which you have now
given to the public embodies the result of
his labors in this great field of pfilosophie
investigation, and | am snre it will consti-
tute perm nent memorial of his fame, as
well as prove to be of incalculable value to
the people of what then constituted the
State Of Virginia.
''In later years, after he had removed
from Virginia, my personal intercourse with
Professor Rogers was only occasional. but
still frequent enough to keep alive the kind
feelings which had sprung UP in our youth,
and to intensity my admiration for his char
acter as a philosopher, a scholor, and gen
tleman."
The people of the two States, and partic-
ularly the young men upon whom future
responsibilities are to fall, have now the
opportunity of learning from the instruc-
tion of the 'Father of American Geology"
how vast and how wonderful are the re-
sources of our natural wealth, and how
betli ttiO OiIO WOi AS Vi tilo SIc.stOI Ildut
known through science and its teachings.
For the diffusion of this knowledge, which
they now have, they should remember more
than generation have importuned in vain.
The people can now become familiar with
it, and if our schools shall desire textbooks
obtained from it's abundance, the public
gratitude will have occasion for renewed
expr ssions.
The data upon which this review could
go on indefinitely is abundant, but it is
time to stop. To reproduce these works
has been no ordinary labor. Our towns
man, Major Jed Hotchkiss, has, with al his
spirit, zeal, ability, and dete mination,
toiied day and night for its accomplish
ment. That has been most completely OBJ
tanned. He has, and will continue to re-
ceive, distinguished recognition for it, and
from none more sincerely than the widow
Of the deceased philosopher.
NARROW ESCAPE OF A LADY.-On Mon
day evening of last week, Mrs. James NJ
= II Y