Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-06-20
"Not to hide in a hedge.
Nor for n train attendant
But Tor the glorious prlvlIt &C
OF being independent.

When he looked with loving and
dying eyes upon those for whom he
had toiled and wrought, the knowledge
of duty performed and rewarded, the
knowledge that he had chained up the
wolf which would otherwise have bark
ed at the doors of wife and children,
gave repose to lis last moments
which even the laggards in life's bat
tie will not begrudge him.
Few, except those who knew him in
the abandon Of the unmatched social
hours, were aware how ripe and rich a
scholar he was. Not alone learned in
his profession, and up in all the poll
tics of the day, but he had also explor-
ed literature to its sources and return
ed laden with its treasures.
"And over all romance and song
A classic beauty throwing,
With iaureled Clio at his side,
Her storicd pages showing"
He was thoroughly, fearless mar,
brave after the manner Of the
English race from which he sprang.
1t will be remembered by many that
silly impressions prevailed before
the war among our people as to the
quality and character of their courage.
We tried to persuade ourselves that
dash, elan, were our characteristics,
and that we English Of the English
had, by some mysterious alchemy, been
converted into French. The war dis
PEELED this silly fancy, and forced us to
verify the old tradition Of our race,
that "while other tribes were made
from earth and water, the gods had
hewed the Saxon from the Harzberg
rock" All who served with this man
will tell you that he proved his pedi-
gree, and upon every field his place
was always near the flashing OF the
guns.
If there was one passion more than
another, however, which dominated his
soul, inspired and colored his life, it
was his love for his State and his peo-
pie. This dcathless passion came to
him in boyhood, attended him through
manhood, and hovered around his dy-
ing pillow. He admired Virginia in his
youth, when he proudly believed her
to be tribe of Judah, from whose hand
the imperial scepter would never de-
part; he found he loved her most in
adversely, when she crouched like an
old wounded lioness licking her sores.
This man fought not for the "Consti-
tutional freedom, /" nor any other barren
jangle or dull formula Of lawyers and
doctrinaires; he would not and could
not have died for the rule in Shelleys
case,n or for problem in geometry.
Even slavery left by itself, and not as
sociated with freedom for Virginia,
would have never unsheathed his
sword. He fought for and sought inde-
pendence and freedom forever, for him
self and his people, from union with the
North and their people. He fought
that his country might not be their
country, and their gods might not be
his gods, and when he failed and the
dire calamity came upon him, he ac-
cepted only what he could not avert,
but never soiled his lips with false and
fawning professions.
Too honest or too proud to ieign
A love he never cherished
Beyond Nirgnia's border land
His patriotism porishcd.
While others hailed in distant lands
The eagles dusky pinion,
He only saw the royal bird
Stoop DER his Old Dominion"
He loved too passionately to love broadly.
To be- part ola vast nation, rich enough 10
corrupt and strong enough to bully 4 planet,
inspired no patriotism i'll him. Nothing
could console him for seeing Virginia lost i'll
this huge wen of nations, and Stiicd in the
sea of cxcrement which the sewerage OF
Europe is discharging upon its shores.
In his last hours, when the reins had drop
ped from the hands of the enfecblcd will, al
the wandering thoughts had 10 guide but the
heart, muilled words of command were ever
breaking from his lips, men were marching,
squadrons forming and moving where
"The rifles ring and the bullets sing
And the black bomb whistlcd DER us.
Where the flashing steel and the musket's
peal
All joined in the battle chorus"
Through all his dreams there seemed to
shine in upon him the sad face of the torn
and crushed rose he had worn in his heart
since a boy
1t is well known to all, except to the dull
soul of cant and bigOtry, that the astounding,
the unjust termination of our war shocked
or Shook down the faith of many of the sim
cerest and dcvoutest believers. 1t is possibly
true that there are some who yet stare into
the black abyss with blood-shot eyes, because
this strange event still "passcth all under
standing" but it is gratifying beyond cx-
preston to those who loved him 10 learn that
the terrible sorrow which had vcxcd 50 niary
braips distorted so many brows, and broken
50 many hearts had passed from him, that
light had come to him from that undiscover-
ed country, from whose bourn no traveller re-
turns, and that when he CROSSED over the
river lie rested under the shade"
Kinsman, comrade, friend, farewell!
Warrenton, Va, April 4, 1898.
DENTISTRY.