Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-28
AS MAJOR STILES KNEW HIM.
Sos Less Tender Than strong-Contrastini
Phases of Chnrncter.


Major Robert Stiles upon being in
formed OF MIR. Ellysons death was
greatly shocked and grieyed.
III. X. Ellyson dead 2" he exclaim-
ed, lit seems impossible, and if 1t be
true, then life, one OF the strongest
in and of and for the city Is dead foI
no man loved Richmond more OF
thought moro wisely or lived more
earnestly for her welfure than he"
'He was" continued Major Stiles,
essentially, always, and everywhere q
clear headed, strong mana man who,
knowing his own mind and having the
courage OF his own convictions, and us
3convictions being, moreover, the out
come and conclusion of q practical sense
that was almost unerring, WAS pro
nounced and influential, if not control
ling, in every department OF life-at
fhome, in his business Office, In politics,
in his own church and in church coun-
ellis, as a citizen generally, and as per
sonal friend. / have never met man
.who seemed to me to emhody more OF
4 TINT sort of wisdom and that type OF
character which we are wont to attribute
7 10 'the fathers "a man to whom men
Hooked up and 10y whom they expected TO
! be controlled. There were few men who
cared less than he for mere rhetoric or
the mere gracos Of speech, yet fewer
( still who habitually made use OF as
strong, terse, and effective English.
; 4" His whole life was lived, as 1t were,
in the public eye. few citizens OF
Richmond having been as generally
known for as long succession
of years, but the famous don
-mayoralty contest was perhaps It's
most prominent and trying episode.
Z Having been by bis side much of that
eventful period night and day, as the
commander of a battalion OF young men
raised to preserve the peace and pro-
tect the property of the city, | can bear
testimony 10 the imperturUable courage
and cooness of Mayor tllyson, which on
more than one occasion saved his be-
loved Richmond from serious outhreak
and loss Of lie.
NOT LESS TENDER THAN STRONG.
! "What have thus far said Of him is
familiar truth 70 most men, but some
will wonder when say Mr.. Ellyson was
not less tender than strong. Nevertheless
il is true ] have myself more than
once seen his face Shfusei, his eye.
moistened, and lis lips quiverlng wltl
,impressible emotion. suffer me to close
these brief words about my friend With
the recital Of tender and pretty Incl
dent that brings out all this loyable side
OF his nature:
"Severai Chris.mases ago. when my
1.-TWO eldest little ones were very little, !
lgot myself into very great straits by
writing them letter TO Santa Claus and
sending it up the chimney asking for
two kittens, one for each OF the chill
.dren, and further foolishly cut of every
avenue Of escape by bringing home with
lme day or two later. ostensibly from
the post, an impresslye-looking docu-
sment dated lice Palace and signed
i Santa Claus. sealed with large red seals
pasted on and pendsntirom it. The letter
contained the pictures OF four beautiful
lkittens, from which their kind friend,
4 Old n ick, asked the children to select
two and to return to him the pictures OF
the two they did not want. / never saw
more reverent delight upon any human
scountenances than beamed upon my ba-
3bies' faces when / unfoIded and read the
letter and produced the pictures, sup
posed to be Of four kittens that moment
NESTING in cosy quarters In the Ice
Palace aforesaid. Ii WAS only after the
}choice was made in dead earnest that ]
5began to realize what deadly trap ]
shad sprung upon my own neck.
- was then living at Bon Air and
dime bestowed next morning upon a lit
/ tie colored citizen only resulted in bring
ling me at night the disquieting informa-
tion that no prototypes Of the electkt' !
tens dwelt anywhere thereabouta a
ilarger expenditure Of small change in
lRichmond next day produced only like
results and Christmas drew on space.
lQhuGlmn axe came. and thGagepjp& q!