Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-02
WERE FAvoaAeLY IMPRESSED.
The Mechanical Engineers Pleased with
Their Richmond visit.

III Is therefore, ErhllIyluk w hHoW thse
the expressions OF appreciation of Rich
moud's hospitality which fell go generally
from the lips of the visitors during their
stay were not mere words" and passing
courtesies. but were genuine and echoed
sentiments that abide. Proof that this
was the case has been forthcoming not only
in letters received from fellow-members by
members of the society residing here, but
in articles contributed by some OF the wish
tors to the press. Among these articles Is
one by Mr.. J. +. Holloway which appears
in the last issue of The Iron Trade Ktrts'o.
Mr.. Holloway was by common consent
rather regarded as the wit OF the society,
but his letter shows that there Is deep un-
iercurrent in his character.
wHoLE-soULEp HOSPITALITY.
Mr.. Holloway, after explaining that he
knew that the engineers and their better
halves would be gratifed to see an
acknowledgment of the wbole-souled,
hospitable manner in which the society
were received by Richmond's best citizens,
SAYS:
The eloquent address in which his Honor
J. TAYLOR Ellyson, Mayor of Richmond,
greeted aud welcomed the engineers and
their guests to their city, if wider known,
would have warmed other hearts As 1t did
those who llstened 10 him. His reference
TO the old times, in which the Young men
of Virginia were trained 30 politics. TO dis
cussions Of taxation and finance, ETC.,
while ID had in tone and thought q shade
OF tender recollection. was soon changed
20 a cherry hopefulness for the future, now
that the rising generation were being
taught in msnua-t training schools and me-
chenical nstitutions 10 direct their
thoughts and energies in other and more
useful occupations.
Il wish, too, some one coulthave drawn
O pen-picture Of che recepton given the
engineers and their wives by bis Excel
lency Governor Philip W. Mckinney and
his estimable wife IN the colonial mansion
which for a HUNDRED years has sheltered
the successive Governors of the Old Do
miuion, and i'll whose halls the beauty and
chivalry of its ancient families had gather
ed generation after generation. AS the
guests passed 20 and fro, meeting here and
there gray-haired representative men and
women, aud looked on the ancient por-
traits that hung upon the walls, there
would cume ever and anon thoughts OF the
scenes that had been enacted; thoughts OF
the gallant youths who IN the long age
whispered tales Of love that evoked smiles
from beauteous eyes now dImmed with age
or closed in death. Aliens rs were we all
to the old Commonwealth, the warm grasp
Of the hand, the beamtng eye, and the
spoken words left no doubt OF our welcome
TO their homes.
THE soBEE AT THE rIEDEGAR.
Il wish. too, some one could have
sketched the scene within the old Irede-
car Iron-Works, works whose history US
a famous machine and gun-foundry reaches
back TO time when the oideSt marn be'
present was wrestling with the old-tlnt
tools as an apprentice.
Here, in a large upper room from which
the machine-tools had for q time been re-
moved, theshafts and pulleys only showing
what il had been, with freshly -whitewashed
walls and beams to garnish it for the festi-
val. long lines of tables were spread with 8
bounteous feast Of good things. both solid
and fluid: and while the Tredegar Works
like many another old-timer, has had It's
ups and downs, all voted it glorious sue
cess that day. After long and vigorous
onslaught, such as only engineers can
make when Widespread tables tempt them
there camo halt, aud knife and fork and
busy tongues held silence while the ven.
cradle precedent Of the company. General
Anderson, who at the age of eighty years
looked backward over a life spent with.
IN its webs, and in charge in varl-
GUS capacities of its affairs, gave al
tho request of the guests present briei
history of the establishment. Outlining
its early beginning, and naming It's
founders, he spoke of HIS lifelong con
nection with its management. and ~ ne
called up with tender recollection his as
sociates and meted out TO each his award
of praise for all they Ind done to tighten
his labors in the past; and as he recited
how the grave had long since claimed Sc
many of them, his voice grew low and
treinulous, and the stiffness that reigneC
all about gave testimony that In Other
hearts by-gone remeu brances brought
back tender thoughts az well, Response:
by President Obeylin Smith and Others re.
vived the duties and scenes OF the present
TO such ON extent that the very rakters were
made to ring with cheers for General An
derson, the Tredegar Works, and Its EN-
ployes.
THE RECEPTION AND srpPED.
After this sought-for correspondent
had we'll accomplished the description ol
these scenes and events, / would have had
him try his hand az describing the recep
tion and supper given by the citizens under
the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce
in tho Richmond Theatre. The parquet oi
which was foored over and its balconies
and boxes decorated for the occasion
Here again Virginia's capital turned out
its handsome women and most notod busi
ness men, and TO soft mrrslG lSht-trippinl
feet wove inyolute curves over the newly
laid foor, in which the gallentry o.
the mechanical engineers found scop'
and pleasure in leading out th'
daughters of the sunny South. In an sd
joining building elegantly arranged sup
per-tables invited attontion-and received
1t, too. Amid the merry clatter OF plates
that were 6lled and handed about by th'
businessmen Of Richmond, who, 30 Jeal
Gus were they of the honor of here enter
tanning the American Society OF Meehani
cal Engineers, that even in the arrange
ment and decorations of the tables they
would not permit woman's hand o.
woman's taste to share it with them
There was ceaseless running ACCOMPANY
ment of conversation, the burden OF which
was how beautiful. bow tasteful
down THE RIVER.
Mr.. Holloway also describes the trip o
the engineers down James river TO th'
monitors and the discovery in his party o
the engineer who had worked the turre
machinery of one of the ironclads DARN;
the siege Of Charleston, and concludes hi
letter as follows: =,
THE luncheons have been eaten, tn
band has gone ashore, and the mechanics
engineers who had the good fortune to at
tend the Richmond meeting of 1880 hav'
scattered far and wide, but be they whsr
they may they will long hold in pleasan
remembrance the hospitable welcome ans
kindly entertainment they received IN Viz
pinins capital, and mono win wish NOR
earnestly than they that in the future
aided by the genius and skin Of the engi
neer and the labors of the artisan, ther
shall rise above the ruins of by-gon,
dynasty splendid city. where weaitl
wrung from the hidden treasures of eartl
shall bless not only its possessors but q
well the entire community and the work
at large"
Omcers Elected.