Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-01-15
MEMORIES OF O'BANNoNS MULE.
TFith Mirth, Melody, Poetry aud Prose
the ChdFlesfOlCR Men la Nelc York
City Recall the Old Home.
NEW YORK. Jan. 9. 1890.

If the editor of the FREE PRESS could
have happened in the principal dining room
at the club house of the Southern Society
on the evening of January 2nd there would
have been unfolded to his eyes sight to
make his heart happy Around a large Ia
BILE was party of men who, few years ago,
were barefooted boys running through the
streets of Charlestown. They had come to-
gether in answer to a call from Mr.. }. ii.
Beall, for the purpose of eating good din
ner, telling of their successes III New YORK
and recalling memories of the happy days
of childhood, youth and early manhood.
Every man present had known the trials OF
adversely and had wrestled with poverty.
Every member of the party is now holding
some position that promises in the future to
bring measure of fame and a reasonable
portion of that, the love of which, is the
root Of all evil"
For four hours, with bright and loving
words from her exiled sons, was the quiet
little village in the Valley of Virginia call
ed back to our minds. No citizen of the
old town, how much he might have wished
otherwise, could have helped being proud
of the little party assembled for such apur-
pose.
1t gives me pleasure to mention the fact
that two members Of the party were at one
time "deyils" in the FREE Press office.
Those present were Mr.. James NJ. Ma
son. chairman; Mr.. Philip Cooke Kennedy,
of the Sta en- Island Rapid Transit Co; Mr..
w. Abbott Bentley, of Wreaks & Loines
Mr.. Joseph Henry Beal Produce Exchange
Stenographer; Mr.. Maxwell Mcknight, of
the New York Central Railroad Mr.. Tur-
ner Ashby Beall, Assistant Superintendent
of the New York Produce Exchange Elk
Consul W. de Hertburn Washington; Mr..
Thos. d. Beall, of the New York Daily
Ne,cs reportorial staff; Mr.. Andrew Ken
nedy, of the Eagle Oil Co.; Mr. w. H. La
Boytearx, of Wreaks & Loines, and Mr..
Arson A. Gard, of 5. H. Cards Sons.
Full justice WAS done regular old Vir-
ginia dinner, after which a letter of regret
was read from Mr.. Charles Broadway Rouss,
who was expected to reply to the toast
"Charlestownians in Finance; or, The Hot
Shot Ka,h Sistem, Five Per Sent Profit
The Chairman stated that he could recol-
lect when boy of getting a stick and
penny every morning before he started to
school. The stick was used to keep off
dog, and the penny was to re-Purchase his
marbles from Charley Rouss, who always
won, not only from him, but from all the
other bows at the old Winchester Academy.
The first toast: New York City-the
Home of our Adoption" was responded to
by Mr.. 7. Ashby Beali. This was followed
bv a poem: "Charlestown, Old and New,
from the pen of Mr. Philip Cooke Kennedy.
As it is worthy of space in any newspaper,
| send it along without further comment.
When printed, Mr. Kennedy's poem will
speak for itself. and will carry along with
it the impression that he does honor to his
illustrious ancestry.
Mr.. Kennedy said Gentlemen, before |
spring this on you, would like to make
some apologies | am reminded of that ed
itnr i'm Richmond who started up manu-
factory for paragraphs for the opening OF
after dinner speeches One was that the
only consolation the Prophet Daniel had
when he saw the lions whetting their teeth
was that he would not be called upon to
make a speech after the repast That Is
lust how feel. wrote this at the sOlicita-
ton of Mr.. Harry Beall, and when L took
il down to the office and asked Mr.. Ashby
Beall to read it. he did it so well that must
ask him to do 50 now, as heis the only elo-
cutionist in the crowd"
Mr.. r. A. Beall then read the following
poem:
CuARLEsTOwN- AND NEW.
We gather round this festive board tonight
To celebrate with speech and song and verse
That Southern nest, from which we winged
our fight
Rich in our hopes, but poor as miceinp purse.
Our thoughts turn back along the path of
And cling with keen delight to all it yields;
Beyond the time, when, torn by hopes and
fears
We first began to think of other fields
Back to the days when some of us were boys,
lust old enough to hate To 20 70 school;
When some of US vet PLAYED with baby TOYS
And found ourselves committed TO Home
Rule
Among the pictures drawn by MemOry's hand
Stands, bald and firm, our ancient seat OF
Where few escaped "The Captains repri-
Where heads were filled with Greek, and
hearts with yearning.
Those hard oak benches where we sat and
sQuirmpd
Those switches whistling thro the ambient
air;
Those much carved desks, have each and all
affirmed
That Learuiug's Temple was erected there.
Those Jolly swims We had in Eyitts Run
Where We damned the waters quiet tiow
Were stolen joys and stops put to our fun,
When We were damned by millers down be-
low
The Blindman's Buff We PLAYED upon the
lot"
When none of US were kept in after
school ~
The fights we had when passions oft grew hot;
The stolen rides on lannon's hOary mule
/ These thing. hiring uleosant thorphts upon