Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-23
In NIenorian.

Diol n Richmond, Va, at the residence
it' ,,,hcr Major Robert :. Archer
ON the 9th OF March, 1871 kObEhL
ARCHER. in the 3ith year OF MS aSe.
NJ d.ath Of one near and dear to us
t,,.ariobiv comes with more or less Oh
- shock but often. as in this case,
c.,,ns with startling, almost stuhiiHs'
effect. ..,,,o,,. o,d
II.re was a young man, seemingly anu
Iecitimately rejoicing In his strength,
vcar by year gathering ana hlNlHs li",
wisdom OF conduct when We are 'oio
lear. the promise of length OF Gays j..
one hand, and in the otheF' Fic"es anu
honor. .i,t,,,.
,,.,s.in, lime upon its abstract problems
Tc eariv took a. his legend, "WhatsoeVef
~, hand firdeth 10 do. do II win my
rnirb," and thus every success was 10
him hut the incentive to move ohWaru
and upward. - ,..at,,o.s-
ne -, ,,,oe connected with the Trcdegar
Iron-WOrks. -.
Ills particular avocation made ne
,.-,s,rv freouent Journeys to the southern
and western States, and he thus came III
contact with many leading men, ac'Ne
In commercial and railway enterprises
and everywhere won their confidence re-
spect, and esteem.
OF his standing at nome IL Is ehoueh
10 say that, unsought he was named LOT
and chosen a member or the Noii'iio"
Council. where with characteristic energy.
be soncht TO grasp the full scope Of the
roods and wants OF his native and beloved
cf,v and to do all that in him lay for
the promotion Of her prosperity ana pro-
cross How well he succeeded in Impress
ing himself. upon his colleagues is best
,ttested by the many letters which came
from, them to his sorrowing parents-ahn
the estimate of the community at large
vas amDly evidenced by the scores OF
similar communications from those VINO
loved and admired him.
Robert Archer's was indeed IoNaoie
nature" His heart beat warmly Tor all
who deserved his love. He was constant
and sincere I'm his friendship. as ne was
true as steel TO every trust and confidence.
II Is not allowed here to speak fuily
~ that inner. domestic, home-life. fur
,bor han 10 saw that tacltly he was re-
parded az the prop and stay of his parents
in their declining yeSrs. and as the guide
and friend of all those bound to him by
consanguinity and anection'
Rut alasl for the frailty OF human cal
culations, the vanity OF hopes'-tor almost
en- an instant. in the twinkling 'of an eye,
This lovely vision was dissolved, and for
everi
During the night OF the 7th instant he
was seized with congestiye chill. from
which he never rallted-splte OF the high
est medical skill spite Of sleepless vigils.
and tendcrest ministrations. The onward
march Of that inexorable decree which an
nounces death and decay TO all things
human. could not be stayed. and on FRI
day afternoon Qess than forty-eight hours
from the selzure) the contamination came.
The silver cord was loosed, the golden
bowl was broken. and the spirit returheo
to the God who gave II!
The writer knew Robert Archer as ne
may say, from his infancy, and mad 1uii
opportunity 10 watch the subsequent de-
y.slopment OF his character, and fonoiy
10 forecast this young mans advance
to take position In the front rank OF those
honorable merchants who have done 10
much 20 make Richmond prosperous ana
progressiye-but now alas! there Is only
left 10 him the mournful privilege OF lay
ing this humble chaplet upon the freshiy-
made grave OF his young friend. ana oil
olasping hands with that host Of relations
and friends, who through long years VIII
mourn him as.
"Doubly dead. In that he died 40 young