Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-16
AN EVENING WITH BYRD.
Mrs. Terhune's Talk on Fine Old vir-
eInia Gentleman.

The threatening weather of yesterday
afternoon did not prevent the assembling
in the parlors of the Executive Mansion
of large and cultivated audience to hear
the talk of Mrs Terhune marian Harland)
on =" A fine old Virginia gentleman" Inc
entertainment was for the benefit of Old
Dominion Chapter OF the Daughters OF the
American Revolution.
Mr.. Roosevelt Page introduced the DIS
tinguished authoress in graceful speech.
winch set forth the Directs of the organi-
zatIon in whose behalf Mrs. Terhune gave
her time and talents on this occasion. His
remarks were a very happy preface TO the
paper of the evening. both In respect OF
the information they conveyed and the
emphasis they impaired 70 the necessity
OF encouraging the work OF the daughters.
ESSENTIALLY TALK.
Mrs. Terhune did not deliver lecture.
What she said was essentially talk, IN
which every auditor felt himself or herself
the object of personal attention from O
charming conversationalist. She chose as
an embodiment of a fine old Virginia gen.
tleman William Evelyn Byrd (the second).
She etarted with the contention that no
matter where the first of name who came
TO Virginia might hail from the
shoot OF the second generation
would be essentially a VirgiDian-that
if ever child was cradled on the bosom
of Virginia. no matter where IT went, It's
pulse would beat Quicker and warmer
glow would come into its heart at the
sound of the name of the old mother. She
gave vivid picture of Westover Of the
olden time, the portraiture group around
the Byrd of Kneiler, and treated most
pleasantly the list Of Virginia's colonial
Governors, according to Spottswood the
greatest need of praise.
CAPTIVATING SKETCH.
Then taking up the Westover manu-
scripts, Mrs. Terhune used their coloring
lights and shadows in presenting most
captivating sketch of Byrd. While it was
true, as she stated. that much of the mate
rial from which she had drawn was ia
miliar TO many of her auditors. the end TO
which it was treated was not only original
but exemplfied the perfection OF artistic
literary mosaic. Byrd, his humor, his witt
csms. his criticism upon the action OF the
crown, his structures upon things that
were not Virginian. were caught up with
fine, but strong threads of Mrs. Terhune's
own intense Virginia sentiment and woven
into biographical tapestry which illus
trated most strikingly and proved the
lady's contention.
Mrs. Terhune closed with beautiful
tribute to Richmond and an impressive
lesson regarding what the city owed to the
memory of Byrd.
Mr. j. Allston Cabell. on behalf of the
chapter, rendered the thanks of the or
ganIzation to Mrs. Terhune. His remarks
were as appropriate as an epilogue as were
Mr.. Pages as preface TO the lady's most
ENJOYABLE and instructive talk.
Mrs. Terhune wore for the first time yes
terday afternoon badge she had been
presented with by the National Mary
Washington Monument Association. IL
consists of gold star. In the center of the
diverse of which is in relief a head oi
Mary Washington. the points of the star
bearing IN enamel the initials of the title
of the association. Ga the field of the re-
verse are the Washington heraldic colors