Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-22
THE RICHMOND DIsPATCH-SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 22 1891


and. bv -. I think IL Is as fine o. any
thing we saw ali the way round
"0h. travellin' teaches me lot, you
know" &C.. &c. -,
This young gentleman bad recelyea
the immessurable advantages OF nrsV-
rate education.n
Fortunately. Yirginians have adhered 70
the examples Of their forefathers WIZ a
confidence and PRIDE enjoyed oy no oynys
people, and to-day we speak tho Ehgiisn
uD the" Wits of Queen Anne; since Au -
olson and Steele the English lsnglags na'
not improved in force or IN elegance;
When new objects have been created
new names have necessarily been added to
the vocabulary OF the language. But INC
purity and dignity of expression OF that
day lives with as now.
When Mr. NJ. A. was IN this country
several years ago he visited the New Eng
land and Northern States before he came
TO Richmond. ,
After his visit here he was entertained
in Washington 10y distinguished gentie-
man OF New England. A number Oh the
elite of that portion OF our country were
nresent and eyincsd n natural desire TO
learn what impression had been MADE
upon him by his intercourse with our pe9-
pis. and thew questioned HIM TO that emu
Finally a gentleman from Boston said
PRAY Mr. A., in what part OF our
country have you found yourself most AZ
homeY Where are the people most congo
NAL TO your English tastes
oh, in the SOuth-in Virginia, IN
Richmond" 81. II
Some years ago, when thouight OF
visiting America. [ asked my friend Lnach-
eray where | would most enjoy myself ana
and myself most at home He replied
'Oh, in the South. Go 20 Charleston go
TO Richmond. and there you Will DO ~
home indeed
" Accordingly, when it was determined
that would lecture in Richmond l re-
ceiyed letter from General A. asking me
TO make my home with him while in that
city. | accepted his invitation ana tound
him awaiting me with his carriage at inc
depot. He took me 10 his house, ana
there | was az home indeed. There l
heard Of York and OF Lancaster, OF Nor
folk and Of Suffolk. of Essex and OF west
moreland. Aud there for the, FIRST time
since came 10 America | heard pure Eng
llsh spoken ,-.-.
After be left the table his interlocutors
expressed themselves very much dlsap,,
pointed in him. Said he was narrow.
We ere more tenacious Of respect Tor our
ancestors, for their manners, ther haolt5
Of life, their modes of EXPRESSION ana
their LOFTY sentiment VI IAhhhyOA VIVA
any people on earth. u-
Therefore we adhere tenaciOusly to the
pronunciation Of our words as 1t was IN
the DAYS OF Johnston and Addison, Steele
and the others. Doubtless good Queen
Anne ~ spoke the English language "a IL l5
to-day spoken by Vlrginian gentlemen ana
ladies'. and pride of race has preserved
US from the vulgar slang prevalent Deyonu
our northrrn borders, ?,
The revelations Of the Iranby Croft
scandals show US that the heir apparent &c
the crown of England and his intimgte'
are given 10 such license with tho Enghsl
language a. would shame any gentleman %
Virginia to use, and well would 1t be toI
the English people were their rulers ano
lawmakers lcentious only IN their IAN
guage.
As yet no serious invasion OF our pure
| time-honOred English "a spoken hereaoou'
| for more than two centuries has come
Now and then young gentleman hR'
our friend whom BlackwOOd quotes, Wh'
has received the immeasurable advantages
os hrst-rate educatiOn,' returns from
| brief sojouru in England, as even from th'
outskirts OF the four hundred" and say,
| thanks" instead Of the courteous
| thank you, sir,"-Of his people-ant
| teaches Us how we should walk and tall
and dress. But such instances are rare
! and so long ns our young men study 9h'
| emulate those typical old Nlrginians Let
| and Johnston. VINO wrote and spoke pure
| English as their fathers did FOR all then
generations, their walk and conversation
will be worthy Of cid Virginia.
DABNEY II. MAURY.