Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-12

love and hers before they close IN the
sleep OF the just made perfect. Her head
II frosted with the SHOWS OF many WIN
ters: her life currents have wasted be-
p.ath the guns of many summers. her
stap totters and her eyes look dimiy on
tho world and her voice Is tremuious and
low. But her heart r. as warm as when
she stooped In the noisy hum of day ana
the silent watches OF the night by the
dying soldiers couch and bathed MS
wounds with hand az loving az the
prayer she cent TO heaven for the cause
she mourns. Her sunset h near al naha'
and ali It's spleudors are deeds OF good
meas ana OF charity, and many soldier
watches n with a tear IN his eye. and n
prayer in has heart, and sends a dressing
4, her who In sickness and IN death was
the truest and the tsncsrest mother a
soldier could ever know"
ysrtlx is II not truth the poet sings;
"'Tjs only noble TO be goody' Ana was
Il not the conviction OF this truth that
fashioned this woman's life and made II
such that the people OF this city set her
on a hrl above the rest and pointed 70
her feet as place where all might go
and learn the virtues OF pure, useful
and an unselfsh life? And did not Jeher-
son Davis do fitting and knightly homage
whom no went and bowed at her bedside
10 receive her dying kiss?
MARTHA CAMBRIDGE BIBB
Is the youngest OF the children of Bena-
iah 8. Bibb and Sophia Gilmer. In her
her mother had constant and entnusi-
astic co-laborer In philanthropic and pa
triotIc work. and when that woman OF
blessed memory died her mantle descended
upon the daughter. who was chosen BY
the Ladies' Memorial Association TO fiil
the Office so long held by her mother.
Yon towering column on Capitol Hili,
overlooking this beautiful city. and the
winding river and fertile fields and wood
ed plains beyond. attests how faithfully
she and the devoted women who have
been her most efficient allies have carried
on the work begun by her whose sacred
duet lies I'm tho battle-ground near by.
There for ages will that column stand,
splendid testimonial Of Alabama's low
ing remembrance OF those who gave their
lives in her defence, and of the eonsecra-
ton OF Southern women TO the memory
OF the heroes OF lost but not dishonored
cause. "'Tis the Cause, not the fate OF
the Cause. that is glorious"
But Il Is not IN her labOrs for the
memorial cause alone that Mrs. Bibb H.
illustrates the beautiful character OF her
mother and the lofty qualities Of her
father She has taken her mothers place
as one Of the faithful workers of the
church Of which she has been member
from her girlhood, and where she has
played the organ and trained the choir
for many years. freely giving this SER
vice as "A thank Offering for the blessings
and consolation received at its holy altar.
She Is daily going about doing good. visit
ing the sick, comforting the sorrowing.
strengthening the weak. helping the help
less; for II Is thus, she thinks, she can
best show her love for the Master. Her
husband, Colonel Joseph Il. Bibb (who was
also her cousin was-as became the hus-
band OF such a woman-a man OF lofty
and chlvalric mold. He was a lawyer of
fine ability and powers OF oratory, which
he was ever ready to use in advancing
| others 10 political preferment that he al
ways declined to accept himself.
Time and again was office offered him.
l-t neither before the war nor when he
was urged to leave the army 10 take a
place In the Legislature, nor yet again
after the war. would he accept II. His
intense and ardent patriotism would not
permit him to leave the post Of danger at
| the front TO take a safer place in the
! peaceful halls of legislation, even when
the people, in their desire TO have him do
so, had gone so far as to have his name
printed on the election tickets. He was
colonel OF the Twenty-third Alabama
Regiment. and was recommended by Gen
eral Joseph Il. Johnston for appointment
IA brigsdisr-general, but the war closed
before the appointment could be made
Colonel Bibb commanded his regiment IN
the last battle Of the war, at Bentonvllle
! though in such poor health at the time
that he had to be brought home in an
ambulance. He died of consumption, re-
sultng from wound received In his
| lungs al Nashville. He left two sons
both OF whom. by their mothers good
management OF the remnant of n large
estate left by the ravages Of war, have
| been literally educated and fiji prominent
and useful places in the business, pro.
I fessional and social life OF Montgomery.
\ fhe elder, DIT w. q. Bib. Is a talented
| physician. and a gentleman OF ..he lite
| rary culture. He married n daughter
Of Ex-Governor Porter of Tennessee. The
younger son. Captain Peyton b. Bibb.
! was educated az tfs United States Naval
Academy at Annapolis, and after serving
| in the Mediterranean and Pacific cruises
resigned and has since been actively en-.
gagged as president of the iron-works anC
| Of the Southern Exposition at Montgom-
cry and In other important commercial and
| Industrial enterprises. He married Misi
Josie Martin. Of Augusta, Ga. a lady
/ NuOSt grace anu beauty ulSllilEu lSllcl ItI
/ even in that city. so long and Justly IA
nous for the beauty OF its women. Sh,
I Is a granddaughter Of Mr.. Edward Thorn
as. one Of the founders of the Augusta
| Factory and for some time president OF
/ the Bank Of Augusta, and whose wifi
was granddaughter Of General Elijaf
! Clarke, Of Revolutionary fame.
HER EDUCATION
Mrs. Blbb received her education al the
| hands of that distinguished instructor
and eloquent divine, the late Chancellor
/ 4. A. Lipscomb, who was for some time
a member OF her fathers household, and
! to this fact Is doubtless due, to con-
| siderable extent, her taste for elevatinf
| literature. and her graceful style In
writing. The high estimation in which she
is held abroad. as well as at home. is
evidenced by her having been requested
by the Hermitage Association of Tennes
see 10 accept the regency for Alabama
and by the Association Of the Daughter.
OF the Revolution 10 accept the regency
OF her State for that body, but the duties
OF her position as president Of the Ladies
| Memorial Association OF Alabama, which
! has not yet quite finished it's work, con
| strained her to decline the proffereC
honors. She properly and becOmmgly
cherishes the honorable record Of her an
| cestors for she holds with Macaulay
that those who take no pride In thu
noble achievements OF remote ancestors
will never achieve anything worthy tC
be remembered with pride hy remote de
scendants She still lives in her fathers
old-time southern mansion, under whose
| hospitable roof Stephens and Toombs
and the brothers Cobb (Howell and T
r. R) We're won't TO assemble witt
other southern leaders in the days wher
Montgomery was the Confederate capt
tai. and many and interesting are hel
| "reminiscences Of them and other ceie
brated personages with whom she wal
brought into frequent contact by theil
intimate acquaintance and association
| with her honored parents.
Time and Mrs Bib seem to have en-
| tered into a compact that has prevented
the years from leaving on her the usua
traces OF their flight over mortal heads
but even were Il otherwise she would still
sway the minds and hearts of others b,
the blended gentleness and vivacity o.
her manner. and by those small, swee
courtesles of life which so charmingly
manifest the nobility of her character.
TfIADDEUS X. OGLESBN.
1T WAS HER PHOTOGRAPH.