Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-06
COLONEL BIGGER GIVEN A WATCH
Mr.. Nicol Makes the Presentation OF
Rehalf Of the House.

had arrived, and Speaker Ryan was about
Ia yacatc the chair. when Hon. II. G.
Nlcol. the grave but gifted member from
| Prince william. asked recognition. AZ he
arose and addressed the presiding officer,
Mr.. Eicol, who will soon leave the legls-
| lative halls to serve the State In
higher sphere. opened handsome plush
case, revealing u magnificent gold watch
| and chain.
The interested spectators saw that there
! was about TO be presentation but the
| question in their minds was who was
| to be the lucky recipient. This was set
| tied In the first sentence OF Mr.. Nicofs
| speech. He said:
"Mr Speaker, Before the session OF
| is93-'9i passes into history, In behalf OF
! the members OF the House OF Delegates
| | desire to present this beautiful watch
| TO our honored and accomplished Clerk
| Colonel John Bell Bigger. as silgnt
| testimor ial and memorial OF our esteem
| and love. .
1--WE esteem him because he Is a true
| Northumberland TO the grand old COM
| monwealth In war ard peace. when war
| rude alarm was sounded he was num-
bercd among the heroic defenders OF MS
native land. When the white-winged anger
| Of peace smiled and baniShed the demon
OF war, WIN Spltll HhDi'N'" N"'
| Bigger returned to the useful arocailons
| Of life.
COLONEL BIGGER'S RECORD.
| Elected Clerk OF the House OF Dele
! gates in 1865. he has so remained con-
| tnuously. except during the sessions or
| 1880 and iSSl-'s2. During those terrible
and shameful years OF Readiuster. Ma
hone. Republican, nondescript rule In
which the virtue and intelligence OF the
| state was in eclipse. John Bell Bigger
did not 'stoop - conquer. but STOOD
| cree: and unyieldirg, as Leonidas al the
pass of Thermopolae. Wei do / remem-
! Der how during that period he wandered
| about these halls and corridors as a lost
| snirit vet as firm 10 Democracy, though
| her future then seemed dark and uncer-
| tain. as the everlasting mountains 10 their
| foundations.
"When the sunlight Of abiding victory
again illumined the Democratic banner
| In 1SS3 he was restored 20 his accustomed
Mace as clerk Of the House of Delegates
and Keeper of the Rolls. where ever since
| he has distinguished himself in his prompt
and efficient discharge OF every duty.
"As n clerk John Bell Bigger Is with
ouf q peer. lie has genius Tor the
business. In his vocation he towers IKE
| the Peaks of otter unapproached ana IN
approachable.
However. this present is mainly me-
mortal Of our love. The genial quanues
of John Bell Blgger's soul-unruiiied'
calm. polite. accommodating ahke 10 the
most obscure and prominent member
have so cndeared him 10 our aHecuohS
mat this watch is but a slight expression
Of our appreciation. -.-,- ,,,
"Receive II. not for its intrinsic WORTH
hut for the love and esteem 1t indicates.
Sbould shadows ever darken your pain
way look on II and be revived, for IL
shall be n reminder of your own many
acts of Kindness by which you Frightened
the lives of others.
ONLY THE SOUL LIVES.
'In this transitory life. where chahse ID
written on the flowers. the sea OF human
life the face Of nature, and the heavens
nothing seems substantial Time in its re-
lentlass march alike domolishes the
eubliuest climaxes Of perfection and the
most insicnificant achievements, but. ,he
shirt. the soul. and fragrance OF "A klhd
act immortal still breathes and can never
die.
Receive this watch as a birthday pres
ont for this day YOU have reached an
other milestone in the march OF HE.
However. Age. cannot wither you, nor
Won. the sun is in the western heavens.
and the shadows incline TO the eastward
vet may It mark the passing hours III
many, many happy years To come As
Virgil said Of Augustus caesar: serum
In coelo redeas'-may you return late mo
Heaven However, when on the dlal as
hands indicate life Is ended, may your Jour
nal come up Alright before the great Judge
and be approved In Heaven, and when me
he
beyond. may every member and officer
Of this House respond Present and live
In the eternal brightness. glory, and hap
riness Of that day that shall know no
adjournment
COLONEL BIGGER'S RESPONSE.
Liberal and long applause marked the
close Of Mr.. Nicors touching speech. As
Mr.. John S Harwood. with his happy
countenance beaming with smiles bore the
elnrant memento to the Clerks desk, Col
0nel Bigger arose to express his graft
tude for this manifestation of confidence
and esteem. He said
"Nr. Speaker and friends Of the House.
On Saturday night last about the hour
of midnight | was at my office desk sur
rounded by my staff when Mr.. Brenna-
man, on behalf of his fellow clerks and
himself, presented to me a magnificent
solid oak chair with velvet cushion seat
as n token Of their esteem for their chief
felt grateful for this evidence OF their
friendship. as it showed that those who
had been with me night and day in all
my moments of anxious business worry
and strain Of mind had found me thought
full of their comfort. and now when |
am the recipient of this splendid gold
watch and chain presented to me by you
with whom | have had long continuous
legislative association, my heart throbs
with increased gratitude for this evidence
OF your confidence. / will wear il next
10 my heart, and If its vibrations will
reasonate as long as the pusations Of
my heart will gratefully respond, per-
petual motion is at last ac-
complished (Applause) God knows
that my greatest pride is to faith
fully discharge the duties of a public
trust. and for any service l have done
the State she has generously responded
To each OF you / say goodbye. May
peace and prosperity always abide with
you. and when | shall be the recording
angel in the General Assembly OF the
frst-bOrn may YOU all be there where
TO adjournment will ever break In upon
the joyful days of the everlasting ses-
sion"
HIS TRIBUTE TO WOMAN.
The Colone, said, in conclusion, that II
any success had attended him in his
earnest endeavOr to fulfil the obligations
Of duty In life II was owing 10 the
examples which lovely women had placed
before him, and he was animated by the
spirit which controlled them in their zeal.
Does any falter let him turn
To some brave maiden's eyes
And catch the holy fires that burn
In those sublunar skies
Oh, could YOU like you women feel,
And in their spirit march.
n day would see your lines of steel
Beneath the victors arch
He concluded by saying that this day
would be ever pleasantly remembered
The watch IL a very handsome li-karat
Eigin movement timepiece beautifully en-
graVed. On the inner case is inscribed
the Following. ITO Clerk John Bell Big
ger by the House of Delegates, 1894"
Inc pendant Is a handsome gold Iocket.
SET with diamond STAR. On the reverse
sue appears the monogram J. Il. b.