The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-01-22
Died in His QSrd Year.

Died in His o3rd Year.
Rev. Alfred Augustus EslSridge died in
Staunton at o'clock last Friday after
noon, January 1G, 1891, at the residence
of his son-in law, Mai. James W. New
ton. He was probably the Oldest person
| in the city, his exact age at death being
SO years, 10 months and 16 days. The
cause of his death was congestion of the
lungs, produced by cold that set in
about Christmas and continued to grow
worse. He walked up to the Methodist
school on Sundays with comparative reg
ularity until the beginning of this last
illness, and until a few days before his
death he walked out occasi onaly on the
streets. Last May he assisted in the ad-
ministration of the Lords Supper at the
Methodist church. Excepting his last
Illness he was seriously sick but once in
his adult life, about two years ago.
The funeral took place at the Metho-
dist church at II O'clock last Sunday
morning. attended by a congregation
that crowded the church. In compli-
ance with request of the deceased, the
funeral sermon was preached by Rev.
DR.. j. S. Gardner, pastor of the Staun-
ton Methodist church several years ago
but now stationed at Charestown, JET
ferson county, ". Va. He read as first
lesson the ninetieth Psalm, beginning
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place
parts Of the fifteenth chapter of first
Corinthians, beginning with the verse
but now is Christ risen from the dead,
and become the first fruits of them that
slept" His text was the sixth, seventh
and eighth verses of the fourth chapter
of Paul's first epistle TO Timothy, begin
ming with the words For | am now
ready to be offered" His sermon was 4
solemn but Inspiring address upon the
long Christian service of the deceased
and his triumphant death. A few APP
propriate remarks were added by the
pastor, Rev. j. L. Williams. and the
closing prayer was made by Rev. J. w
Wolfe, of Greenyille Three hymns of
the church, one of them ASLEEP in Je
sus," were sung very softly and sweetiy
by the choir, With Mrs. J. W. Bryant as
leading soprano and r. E. Tnnleriake rs
tenor The funeral as a whole was Il
very impressive service, made SO by the
holy example of the deceased during his
life.
The remains were buried in Thornrose
n ! I. 4 r.
of the deceased, who died about two
years ago. His sons, Alfred and Beverly
b. Eslridge, and his sonsin law, Maj. j.
w. Newton, and Prof John A. Kern of
Randolph Macon College-served as pail
bearers i'll compliance with a request of
the deceased. They were assisted by j
Howard Wayt and P. n. Powell, with
Rev. j. w. Wolfe and A. II. Simpson as
honorary pallbearers. Another son.
Charles w. Eskridge, a dentist at Acade
my, Pocahontas county, w. Va, was tel
egraphed for, but could not be reached
in time to secure his attendance at the
funeral. All the five children of the de
ceased are living, and all were present
except Charles. They are the three sons
named above and the wives of Maj. New
was the first wife, who before her mar
riage was Miss NJ. V. Buchanan of Rock
bridge. The second wife was Mrs. Ann
E. Weems, of Eiicott City, Md.
Mr.. Eskridge was born March /, 1893,
at Centreville, Fairfax county, Va. He
became n minister of the Methodist
church in 1928, 60 years ago. and was ad
mitted to the Baltimore Conference in
/ 1880. Before his retirement a few years
ago from the active work of the minis
try, he served as pastor of many church
| eS in his conference, and was known and
loved throughout it's bounds. He was
indeed a ripe sheaf gathered now to be
forever with the Iord''
Pearl Of Pekin Opera.
On Saturday evening of this week,
January "a, the people of Staunton will
he entertained in the Opera House by
the original and only Pearl of Pekin
opera troupe, one of the leading opera
companies now travelling in America.
The company contains about fortyfve
persons, including Bertha Fisch Louis
Harrison and other celebrated opera per
formers. On account of the heavy eX-
pense involved in maintaining SO large
a troupe, the Pearl of Pekin is usually
played exclusively in cities larger than
Staunton. The company is brought to
Staunton this time by its appreciation
of kindness shown those of its members
who were injured here ia the railroad
accident last April. 1t will come from
Norfolk to Staunten,sa and on leaving here
will play first at Buffalo, N. Y, Seats
are now on sale at divers book store.
The New York Herald, mentioning the
Pearl OF Pekin's run of $50 nights in New
York city, says of it:
1.-The success of the Pearl of Pekin at
the Bijou Opera House is one of the most
substantial in the annals of that favorite
! house, and nothing in the career of this
theatre has proved so satisfactory for the
management. 1t is universally acknow
lodged to be the greatest sight in costum
| ing that has ever been seen the New
York boards. The piece is delightfully."-
fresh, piquant and amusing, and the
music most tuneful and catchy
A few days ago some OF the produce
raisers from the northwest part of Au-
gusta county commenced shipping their
produce to Clifton Forge. One dealer
shipped a lot of fowls and butter to that
point few days ago, and others will
seek Il market in the same direction.
The Marie Greenwood Comic Opera
Company played 1.-The Hermit Tuesday
night before an audience that filled the
Staunton opera house to its utmost seat
ing capacity. People generally were
well pleased with the performances Miss
Greenwood has a voice of great compass,