The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-16
Reply to Mr.. Mccarthy.

Reply to Mr.. Mccarthy.
Editor Times:
Having read Mr.. McCarthy's review Of
the article, I'm Old Virginia" by Thomas
Nelson Page. 1 beg permission of The
Times to say a few words about this
author. / do not propose TO write a de-
Tense OF him. / do not believe he NEEDS
one, but ] think this an opportune mo-
ment 10 say something TO Virginians
about this countryman OF theirs, who has
given his time and talents for the glory
of Virginia.
shall first recall Mr.. McCarthy's spicy
critique 10 the minds Of those readers
who may have forgotten IL. In consisted
OF numerous quotations from I'm Old
Virginia." which were connected by a
few words of disappearing comment. In
this the reviewer remarked. among other
things. that it is apparently Mr.. Pages
object to put his country in her worse
light before the public Toward the end
OF the review he intimates that Mr.. Page
means TO be the champion Of his coun-
try but that, because of his dull percep
lions and rude handling of the subject he
fails ANONYMOUSLY" to comprehend and
protray the true greatness Of his people.
Cribs is said of the author of "Marse
Chan and 'Mch Lady" Of the man,
who through those epics in prose treats
the finest and most delicate emotions with
the light, sure touch of genius, and makes
them ring clear and true in the simple
language of an old negro) Mr.. Mccarthy
further courteously suggests that Mr..
Page writes simply on the strength of his
own memory. and that as he was child
at the time of the war, he does not know
as much about olden times he imagines
he does Mr.. Page is not an historian in
the strict use OF the word, he seldom
states facts and dates, but he is certainly
no mere romancer. he gives us types of
what one can see, he has learnt by care
frl reaseach, what ne earnestly believes
and what he is satisfied history will estab-
lish," as he says I'm the preface to his col
lections of essays. The spirit Of his works
Is truth, though he teaches II through the
powerful medium of romance.
I think Mr.. Mccarthy misunderstands
the author. IL ne supposes that Mr.. Page
regards her loyalty to her sovereigns as
a defect Of Colonial Virginia. On the con-
trary he points out loyalty as a laudable
trait OF Virginia, which has chung to her
through all of her changes. Again, imag-
inc that, far from despising or ridculing
the people who represent our peasant
class Mr.. Page asks us to be proud with
him that their characteristics should be
so marked as 10 bring them into notice
a distinction OF which their class can
rarely boast. He gives us. with keen APP
probation of the artistic an intensely
picturesque sketch of him. a sketch which
throws into bold prominence that strange
beauty and grace that Is yet noticeable
among them. and which has for back
ground the foil of their station and edu-
cation.
Mr.. Page does not attempt to be their
'biogi apher." he merely gives us a vivid
glimpse ar their personality, endeavoring
60 explain the contradiction offered by
their appearance and their position. He
suggests that they are. perhaps. de-
scended from the English gentry. the
names of which class some of them bear
and that they have degenerated because
OF the hardships OF life in new country.
This is only surmise on the part of Mr.
Page. and. therefore, Mr.. Mccarthy deems
II worthless, but even the "surmise" Of
an earnest student on a subject OF his
faithful studies cannot be entirely value
less
Mr.. Page is certainly not one Of these
men the reviewer describes as, hopeless,
helpless and useless" who are continually
regretting the indolent life of the past He
is one OF the most useful men in his
State. and although he honors and i'm
mortalizes the past, he does not regret
IL. He says in his essay, 1.-The Want of a
History: II belong 10 the new order Of
Southern life. l am one Of those who
can feel the thrill of new energies fill
my heart; / think i can see and admit
the incalculable waste, the narrow limita-
lions OF the old. j give my loyal adher-
ence TO the present with all its fresh
and glorious possibilities; but / shall never
forget" he goes on TO say. that il is to
the Old South that the New South owes
all that is best and nobest In its being.p
He seeks TO record for this and future
generation something about that part
OF the past one. which, but for his own
pen and those OF a few of his fellow
novelests. would soon Def orgotten.
lie sIeaks little OF the working class
or people. because as he says, they were
In no way notable" He uses the most
marked types OF ante-bellum days TO rep
resent the social life az that oeriod. The
two personages ne brings into greatest
prominence are the landed proprietor and
the old family servant. This is. perhans
because both have disappeared. or "neor-
ly'' disappeared In the "New South THE
OLD family darkies ere replaced by non
descrlpt band OF native whites. negroes
ana Immigrants: the aristocracv Of the
counties that depended on their blood for
social position. is fast being supplanted
py better class" into which each man
must night his way by means of his own
brains and merits '
the present 10 without doubt the better
state OF society IN a free and Democratic
country. but there II q certain beauty ana
pstnos IN the old relation OF servant "a
master that We have lost. ana must re-
ss<' TINS rsAAtion Of slave 10 owner Mr..