The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-09
PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA
As THEY ARE PORTRAYED BIZ
THOMAs NELSON PAGE.
A Reply to His Article Which Appeared In
The Times Of Last Sunday by Mr.
Carlton Mccarthy.

On the Sd Of April, 1898, we were greete'
by an article from the pen OF Ihonias
Nelson Page. in The Times, when ads
no brightness to the sal memories u
that awful anniversary. on this day.
the anniversary OF still another Gay' the
saddest and proudest in the life OF tnou-
sands of the sons of Virginia, impelled
by a serse Of duty almost Irresistible, DIT
n.ch fearing TO offend, by esssyirg 10
deferd, a proud and noble people. l VIII
review this remarkable collection OF con-
Predictions. i%nsinuations and damaging re-
Elections In Virginia Long Ago.
That the author is peculiarly unfor-
tunate in the role of 'Virginidn,' ana
that in some mysterious way his nina
revels in Cisrlaring the defects OF MS
mother" State, is evidenced in the out
set by an entirely novel suggestion that
the very name Of the State is suggestive
Of the only questionable characteristic
of "the Queen"
He next proceeds to show that the very
first families of Virginia fastened 10
name everything after their cowardly
King and a long line of forgotten Prince
lings." \ mild intimation that our lore
fathers were "boCtlicks."
Coming Gown TO Hanover we are told
that here the gentry" were pleased TO
settle, and that "civilization' stopped
where the colonial church was located,
and that the road TO that church was
lined with the residences Of gentle peo-
ple." who were limited in their nomen-
| clature to Minor. Berkeley, holland, Cook,
Fontaine, Nelson and Page, all descended
from old colonial families.
Tftct bara Mr. Dapa kindly CtOnC 70 saw
that il was after he went to college that
he learned the useful, though TO him
| startling fact, that a man might possibly
be a gentleman without being an Epis-
| copalienl lie tells us. too, that member
ship Of that Congregation was a de-
signation of quality whatever that is.
We are next told that there was only
one way to raise m~oney-sel negroes
and that was not reputable II this
statement is true the people Of Virginia
have never been slandered and nobody
has ever written them down too low
and all "reputable' people. therefore, we
suppose, were monoyless. But the
author remembers one slave auc-
ton. That one, however, drew out
the tendercst efforts Of the family
to save their servants from the
misfortune Of bad masters and TO reduce
the hardsrips OF the stern necessity 10
the minimum. This incident would not
be noticed here, but for the fact that IL
paves the way for the author to remark
that the incident. together with a book
found I'm the umber-room inclined him
TO abolition" LAS the twig is inclined so
the tree is bent"
The author now solemnly admits that
he read Uncle Toms Cabin" when a
child" and asserts that he has not read
It since. but. relying upon the prodigious
infantile powers employed in the pc
rusal Of the book. now asserts that 1T is
a great book and was a tremendous en-
CINE in the history Of this country He
has mo quarrel with Uncle Toms Cabin"
though he admits that the foundation Of
the fabric Of the story is a lie.
Many thoughtful men and women have
read that book. applying mature minds
and honest hearts TO its study, and have
declared IL TO be ingeniously and malici-
ously false.
Mr.. Page. having told us about all the
noticeable" people (see the list hereto
fore given. tells us sadly that they are
all, or nearly all. gone now" This SEN
tence is the only ray of cheerfulness in
the story. Blessed word. nearly" Sup
pose they were all" gonel But no. we
know they are not all gone: Mr.. Page is
among US. and preserves at least two Of
the worthy names of the past. Let us
nope liltNF Will 0ulll'f ~ lA'sfA ft AAAN
mass Of nameless people Of the State
from oblivion.
Let us now hear the conclusion Of this
whole matter. Having been at great
length introduced 10 the gentry" we
are permitted TO glance at two classes"
who lived near and about them. The
author mildly designates them as poor
whites" and the middle class" but in
n0cently enough. and with a natural ten
dency TO the negro. he tells us that the
negroes" gave them the names by which
they were generally known-to-wit: Half
strainers" and poor white trash This
may interest and please a certain class
Of citizens in a certain section or the
country. and may be merchantable among
them. but surely the vendor OF such wares
can scarcely hope 20 pose successfully
as the friend Of Virginia and play broker
in the line Of such epithets.
The author now tells us, and l Freely
give the thought an independent para
graph. that the negro knew only one
thing meaner than a poor white man,
and that thing waN a poor white mans
negro" Thus. again, the gentle folks
negro IS made TO tell the world now lsno-
bile were these poor WITHSTAND TO do
it with infinite contempt
Let MS skip a paragraph interJected
here about the middle class and follo"
tho fate Of the poor whites" as the
author finally disposes Of them. He says
they were notable" and gives their
names. which he says were the names
Of the English gentry" The men were
"sometimes" tall. slender, straight as
an arrow. with features wonderfully clear
cut: the girls with figures and faces,
"when fresh" that Cooked as II they had
come ont of a hall rather than a hut.
Rut still. Of course. mere poor white
trash" The author introduces some
comments on the possible origin OF these
people with this strange admission: MY
opinion as 10 their origin Is only a sur
mise" He is at least candid enough 10
cav that his opinion is worthless, Deihs
only "a surmise," but IS not carelul
eno,ch 10 avoid an ~insinuation against
the whole tribe which daubs the picture
Of the fresh yoS1g girl who came from a
hu- decked by nature with charms WHICH
declare the hall" 10 be her home.
He then tells us that the men OF the
"roor white trash" made capital soldiers
during the war. fighting like heroes.
heaven knows for no special personal
good 10 themselves, deserted when they
got tired and went back when they got
reaCy."
Jusr a moment mere while we ask a
question. DO mean. low. degraded people
6cht "like heroes for no reward, Tor
no gain for no selfish reason. but simply
IN obedience TO the demands of their
.aa Ia a haF0 who