Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-25
EVENING WITH BISHOP ALEXANDER
A WeiiKnown Richmond Editor Enter
taincd Mt the Episcopal Palace.

| taincd Mt the Episcopal Palace.
| Mr.. William Ryan. OF this city. writing
to friend from London under the date
Of September 18th, says:
Il have had the pleasure OF meeting n
number OF distinguished and agreeable
| people. but my most delightful experience
| in this line was at Londonderry. the
| Sunday l landed. when ] spent the eve
| ming at the Episcopal palace as a guest
| OF the Right Rev. William Alexander, D..
d., Lord Bishop Of Derry and Rapho2-
poet commentator and great preacher.
/ was invited to come and have a glass
OF wine with the Cathedral clergy" at
$50 o'clock.
The palace is "A very large building on
a line with the street, with extensive
grounds on either side. and in the rear
enclosed by towering walls. Viewed from
the outside the palace Is entirely devoid
OF architectural interest. but one has
only to be admitted TO the great front
hall. and glance at the antique carvings
In rich. dark oak, and the broad stair
way, TO find that the interior is truly
palatal. But 1t was the home-like
warmth Of greeting that made tho
palace so charming TO me. No sooner had
the stately porter carried my card TO
the Bishop. than his lordshlp. In knee
brooches and cassock wastcoat or bishops
apron. came out. and. clasping both
hands with unfeigned cordialty, con-
Quoted me right into the spacious and
elegant dining-hall, where the clergy had
already assembled round the table. The
board was spread with the whitest and
glossest OF linen, and j realized more
than ever that / was in Ireland for.
although | had seen much fine table Inca
in America, | had never seen any which
seemed quite so immaculate and fine as
this. The room was lighted, not with
dazzling electricity or gas. but with hand
some candelabra and lamps, artistically
shaded.
THE BISHOP.
DR.. Alexander is a man of most striking
appearance, above average height ana
well proportoned. with large. beauti-
frlly-moulded head. His face Is clean
shaver and benevolent. and his eyes
sparkle with genial humor. Though ven
cradle in age between 20 and sd this
distinguished prelate is noted for viSor
of both mind and body. And as this
gracious churchman sat at the head OF
the table, with young clergymen on the
sides Il was the only layman present..
thought for the moment that l might
be dreaming. and that one of the good
ola MONIES VI lolAt PitSiHth b'ti th'
repast. 1t was a picture. certainly, that
shall not soon forget.
III dinner-hour had been at Z o'clock.
and this after affair. called wine" lasted.
so far as the table was concerned. only Il
half hour or less. Leaving the board W.
were conducted into the drawing room,
where had the honor of being introduced
10 .irs. Alexander ard Miss Alexander.
MRS. ALEXANDER'S POEMS.
The former is almost as distinguished
as the Bishop, while the latter / found to
be a most accomplished lady. as cordial
and friendly as her father Mrs. AleXan-
der is. like her husband. a poet. and is
the author OF that weil-known and I'M
pressive poem The Burial of Moses"
beginning:
On Nebo's lonely mountain.
on this side Jordan's strand"
which the late Professor W. W. Valen-
tine used TO read with such dramatic
effect: also the author of those beautiful
hymns for children with which We were
agone:
"There is a happy land,
Far, far away,
Where saints in glory stand
Bright. bright as day.
with all this lady's intellectual attain |
rnents and her position in the world of
letters, few persons are more modest or
AS for that matter the
Bishop and his wife are both singularly
free from everything like egotism, as
great people should always be.
DR.. Alexander being man Of the
world in the best sense OF that term,
has n very large acquaintance with the
eminent people of the day. and as !
drew him out-interviewer style-on GER