Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-28

the autnof peatn, comprise All tnat hfS
been given TO the world. He was the
victim Of nervous disorder cngendered
by the wound already mentioned. and died
comparatively young The spirit OF letty
frmness, which was his characteristic,
stll marks the paper which he founded.
In 1870, being at the time owner ana
editor OF the Petersburg Index, / received
a letter one day which led TO the rem
forcement OF the Virginia press by the
addition Of n powerful Intellect Inc
Writer stated hts case 10 be That OF an
educated man OF literary taste ana haul''
tied down by circumstances 10 inc irk-
some drudgcry of a subordinate country
railroad station. and deteriorating In
body and mind from the unCongcniality
Of surroundings and employment The
letter closed with "a request for newspaper
work gave reference TO several or my
friends. and was signed John Hampton
Chaubcrlaync. The name was familiar 20
mo In connection with an exceptionally
brilliant graduation at the University OF
virginia. and as that Of dashing young
officer Of artillery In the Confederate SER
vice. but | had no personal acquaintance
With the bearer. Brief inquiry brought
the conviction that here was a man to
rescue whom from distasteful occupation
would be q profitable indulgence OF sym
patty.
. week later Chamberlaync Joined the
STAFF Of the Index as a writer of leading
articles. evincng fun grown capacity from
the very FIRST day OF trial. Genius was
stamped upon every lin" he wrote. He
did not possess the editorial faculty which
distinguished Daniel. his judgment OF men
and anairs was erratic. but he had in ex-
q. ont % cue xtttf
His scholarship was vast for his years.
and his information 50 Varied and accu-
rate as 10 furnish constant surprises 10
his associates Where and how had he ac-
cumulatel IL all? lie was versatile, fer
tile in illustration. strong in argument, Of
quick and flashing wit. handled language
with The deNtcTity OF a casuiSt. was Vcrscl
in al the suhtilities Of expression which
CAV" force ana beauty to literary compost
tons and his capacity for production
seemed loun1less.
That the mind so lavishly endowed
lacked the exquisite balance with which
nature crowns a perfect intellect was Ia
mentally true. but I'm spite Of this organic
dffcct-tOo often associated with prodigal
gifts and multi-various attainmcnts-
Chambcr,ayne attained without effort and
maintained until his early death an emil
hence in Journalism which few men reach
t'l!0NEN 2 Il'ffliflf OF INli. lie lOAltifl
the Richmond state. and achieved for il
prominent and prOftabl" position ere he
died. fair specimen ~ Chamherlayne
powers Is 10 be found In his memorial
Grafton on General Lee. delivered before
the Society OF the Army Of Northern Viz
giuia about 1871. For breadth and philOso-
ply Of treatment. for profound analysis
% character. and for sonorou' statelness
ana simplicity Of eloqucnce. I know Of
aries The last few years Of his career
were spent I'm feverish activity. The era
was ono Of great political excitement. and
he threw himself into the contest with
Jealous heart. which FASTENED his end.
or my contemporaries IN the great
journalistic battles Of the reconstruction
period but few survive Tho death-roll
IS long ana DISTINGUISHED. Gregory. the
two Ncnahles. Holt Wilson. Cowar1in,
Hone. Maurice Smith. Macdonald. Little.
Kelly. Moseley, Suowien Lynn, Bagby
ami a host of others. or the survivors.
most have lJil aside the editorial har-
moss Most notable Of the exceptions IS
tho veteran Yost. who for half a century
welded a trenchlnt pen. ana Is today
the aNlcst political diSputant in Viz
e'nl. If not IN the South. while Of those
who yct live two have adopted other
pursuits: one highly ana deservc1ly dis
tnclishel claims notice at my hands.
Robert W. Hughes. now United states
judge If the Eastern District OF Virginia,
was mentioned IN 4 previous article Of
nine as one OF the strongest members OF
the Examiners staff After the war
Colonel Hughes was an early convert %
TIE Republican party. and when the con-
test for supremacy I'm new Virginia was
L., ~ b.. Al M
established in Richmond as an advocate
Oc Republican measures. he WAS installed
as the editor. Ills ability was signally
displayed In the years that followed,
as he did. sineic-hanied the
entire press Of the state. The fight was
an unequal one. his record was against
him, the vast majority Of the native
whites resented as hostile - their in
terosts the views he e.pouscd. but the
Of his writings gained
hearing and the stoutneSs Of his conten-
ton commanded respect
Public feeling ran high, the language
of the husunss and the press was habitu-
ally Incorporate. Reviewing now with
Iispassionate mind the incidents Of that
period. | can SEQ that the tolerance OF
the majority reached to the very verge OF
persecution, that the Republican editor
bore himself under the goais Of isolation
and rcprOach with a scif-cOntrOl that was
remarkable. and that the controversial
talent that could shine under such cir
cUmsta1ces was far abOV, the ordinary
plane. The lapse Of time since then gives
ne leave without indeicacy 10 recall tho
episode of that period, In which Colonel
Hughes was my antagonist in a formal
combat. Our diff rences have long been
recuuciled with sincerity which cffacci
all sting from my recollection Of the az
fair. ana II costs no effort To say that in
tia heat of youth and political ardor I
was BETRAYED into language uuprOVoked
ana uNjusUnable In the meeting that IN
sued fortune. not SO blind as usual. award
cd her degree with poetic justice.
Judge Hughes gives now L. legal de-
cisions the mastery luCidity oR.statemcnt
and Cogency OF reasoning which once
made him SO effective as q journalist. His
papers now as tncn. are models Of sym
metrical construction. logical deduction,
and lirnpid, vigorous English. In these
he is facile prnccps among those
with whom ! have measured pens in the
days gone by.
WILLIAM l.. CAMERON.