The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-30

lad perfect log-cdoln constructed oi
round oak trees with the bark on. and
OF six to eight inchcs diameter. notched
and pinned together at the corners SO
as not to tumble 10 pieces in moving II
sections of a large tree. and well hoop
ed with iron. The cabin was about
twenty feet long. walls seven feet high,
ends ten feet wide, roof clap-boarded ana
secured by weight poles. AT one end was
stick chimney, and on each side a
split-board door on wooden hinges. ana
here and there some six feet above the
floor. loop holes were cut 70 admit llght,
out of which To shoot "in1uns m at
tackled by the redskins. The whole thing
wildly typical OF the frontier General
Harrison had so long defended, and rui-
ell over so well The walls outside were
decorated with drying coOn-skins, bear
and deer skins. and plenty OF gourds
hanging on pegs about the corners out
side.
A man I'm hunting shirt and fringed
leggings. moccaslns coon-skin cap, shot
pouch and powder horn. hunting knife,
and tomahawk. sat on rough stool IN
side. fixing up his rifle. which lay across
his lap; his WIFE, In linsy-woolsy dress,
sat by her little wheel spinning max,
whilst two or three tow-headed young
sters were amusing themselves with some
young squirrels. and playing with O
sleepy old hound on the floor But, best
OF all FOR campaign purposes. at luncheon
time but Invisible to the shouting crowds,
az six-yoke OF big oxen drew tho cahin
place. there was concealed In each cor
ner Of the cabin two barrels or nara
cider. and tin syphons ready Tor the
bung-holes. TO run the fuii out az tne
proper signal, 20 the thirsty gourd hold
ers. collected around the cobins cor
ncrs. These barrels were daily rcpicn-
ished from the orchards OF the sturdy
| Wing farmers Of the county.
The Democrats looked q little amazed
when this silent appeal was made 10
stand by tho old frontier soldier anu
the Nrenian Tyler too. against, as
was alleged. "a tricky Yankec-headed
ticket" But IT, Joke ana cider were
admitted both 10 be so good. that they
| all fen IN with the FUN Of the thing, ana
only yelled the louder for their champion
/ speakers when hard hits were made al
ter dinner ! have no record OF the
/ speakers. nor access TO any newspaper
OF the day TO refresh my memory so as
to give a fun list In giving the names
DO so from unaided memory. and may
| possibly omit some who were there, or
mention one or more whom / heard IN my
county four years later IN an almost
! equally animated and similar contest
| clay and Polk. But, substantially the
| list is correct
Robert Y. Conrad, or Jack" Pendle-
| ton, | q ink opened the ball. leading OF
On Tuesday morning, the first from WIN
| chester. the latter ! think, from tui-
/ pepper. both exceedingly popular Wnls
| leaders. VIM. Smith f'ENtrn Billy. de-
risively nick-named IN those days, IN al
| fusion 10 some extra pay allowed him
| for mail contracting ] think, replied.
| His fame as the great Democratic
"stumper" OF Eastern Virginia, had pre-
ccded him. and full well did he sustain
| IL, as the wild and vocifer0us applause
| of the Democrats attested. Youth as i
was, I remember that i thought our
man, who was 10 come after him, would
| have "a hard road 20 travel HIS styie
| OF speaking was never ornate, nor poi
| lshed. Its force was that Of directness
| and clearness In the statement or MS
| facts aud pro- OsluOns, and IN the most
| ingenious, even If sOphistlcal, deductions
| from them, propoanded In snort, terse
| sentences of plain English words, compre-
hensible by every llstener-tne unlcarned
as well as the schOlarly-and uttered with
a passionate earnestness OF voice ana eN-
| preston that seemed 70 bid defiance 10
contradiction, successful answer, or eva
| sion: all coupled with a skill ana adiolt-
ness at quick repartee that made MN
at least the peer, II not the superior OF
any stump speaker in the state, Win
| possibly two exceptions. John Minor
| Bolts and Henry A. Wise. But II Is even
| doubtful whether they often welded
| greater influence over a mixed popular
| assembly, especially rural audience.
| He was a profound student or human
nature. and intuitively put himself en-
rapport. with his audience, by Il per
/ s0nal inA3r ctism rarely met WITH / dlu
| not know rim personally then, ana yt@Io
| afterwards but slightly, I'LL the war
|
| association, resulting in a warm friendship
only terminated by his death. ia an
| the years after 1861 we We're OF the same
| political organization, Democratic.
| Virginia historians have yes 10 assign
| 10 Ex-Governor and General VIM Smith
a higher place amongst our distinguish
Cd men than he has yet occupied
But to proceed. Other speakers on this
! unique and memorable occasion We're
| James Mcdowell. General Doiman and
/ Samuel Mcdowell Moore of ROckbridse,
| William Ballard Preston, OF the Soutn-
west; Robert Craig. Of Botetourt' and
| think, John r. Anderson. Of the same
county; Jas. NJ Patton, Of Richmond;
| James French Strother, OF Rappahan-
| nock Valentine ". S0uthall, Alexander
Riyes. and VIM. T. C.Buck) Eafiy, OF
| Charlottesville: samuel Price Of Green
brier: Allen T.. Caperton, Of Monroe !
| james Garland, Of LynchDurg (old Wot
jim" with the populacel, VIM VI. Bui
| well. and VIM. l.. GOggin, Of BEDFORD,
| one or both. John = l feel quite sure, or
| the elder Barbours of culpeper ana
others, all men OF state prominence ana
many OF national fame won In the halls
OF Congress.
Did space permit. II would be CRATE
| fui task 10 sketch the personal character
| istics OF most of these eminent leaders
of political thought and action IN the
| Old Dominion. with most Of whom 1 be-
| came personally acquainted IN their oid
| age Ilt fhis mention OF their names
| many Of your older readers the loIty
| characteristics Of this galaxy OF depart
| ed great sons of Virginia
In those days, the newspaper had no'
| become the mOuldcr OF public sentiment
10 anything like the extent IT. now ls'
! There were. however. TWO dailies pun
! lshed i'm Richmond that were recognized
organs OF their respective parties. ne
| Richmond Enquirer, under lhoWa5
| Richie. senior. as editor and proprietor
| welded an Irresistible influence TN state
| politics Mr.. Eitchie was man Of con,
| summate editorial ability and tact anu
| opened his columns wide 10 the c0ntFlDu-
lions OF many OF the wisest ana Inoa'
| thoughtful men Of the State 10 the dis
| cussion OF the current issues OF the day.
| These old gentlemen at their quiet coun-
| try homes. betrayed their education ana
| the scholarly source OF their thOu1hiS by
| their classical mons de plume as SeHrA'
| AgricOla, Tacitus, EpamlnOndas, etc, ctc.,
| and their lucubrations supplied hundreds
| OF columns during the year. OF rhetorical
and logical reading 10 the patrons OF the
| Enquirer. Mr.. Richie watched ior ana
| studied the makeup Of every legislature,
| elected annually under limited suffrage,
| more circumspect. because more eNciu-
| sive, than our present universal baNot ~
| its selection OF representatives. Ana 1T
| a young fellow Of requirements anONe the
| average. was SO fortunate as 10 secure
seat In the House. If Democrat. Mr.
| Richie helped to assure his reelection
| by delicate and frequent complimentary
| mention OF his name IN the daily puphca'
ton OF he proceedings OF the House es'
pecially n the young member bad utter
| cd So bright Thoughts on impOrAn
| pendirg s.-~''-~-. And he was adroitiy
| consideraic ne young wings. who had
| a promising future. 10 try and allure
them 10 the Democratic fold. The con,
version OF many such might be traced
TO Mr. Ritchle's delicate and justinable
| coddllng More will be said In a later