Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-27
An Evening at the Clubhouse In
1850.
For the Dlspatch.)

Tho interesting "reminiscences Of the old
African church in recent number OF the
Dispatch recalls = series Of charming re-
collections Of Richmond and the adjacent
country by another reverend gentleman,
which a few years ago graced It's CO.
lumns. The names mentioned in these
articles, so wonderful are the associa-
tons OF ideas, carry me back TO the dim
depths Of my childhood-those good old
times''-when the dread realities Of the
fifteenth amendment would have been
branded IS the veriest Pigment Of dis
ordered imagination, when as yet voter
was not restricted to one ballot,
But could vote as early" and
as "often" as he had a free
holdl Don't I remember. as II It were
but yesterday. my fathers casting two
ballots IN one day for John Minor Bolts
one in Richmond and another in the
slashes Of Hanover?
In the presidential campaign Of 1850 It
was just becoming admissible down In
Dixie" for ladies' TO attend political meet
ags. But party spirit ran 80 high that
they 1ocked I'm considerable numbers to
he respective places Of rendezvous, wore
Tic insignia Of their creed in medals and
few months later donned the Union or
accession cOckade. A miniature picture
0f Bell and Everett, worn on n lady's
yatch-chaln In those eventful days. and
.herished as a souvenir for more than a
Generation. only last year fell into the
hands Of a little pupil for his proficiency
% United States history.
on the evening prior TO the election
10 clubhouse was crowded 10 its Ut
1ost capacity. Quite a formidable ar
Of 81
hOugh the orator OF the occasion was
ienry Wallace billiard. OF Alabama.
both statesman and clergyman. 1t was
D grand effort he was equal TO that.
a'ther on the rostrum or in the pulpit.
9 Richmond congregations had opDc--
tunity 10 learn IN the early months OF
ne war. But the applause which fol-
owed his perOration had scarcely sub
sided ere there were vocferous calls for
Duke. Duke Duke Johnson" then IN
he zenith Of his popularity. Can those
who heard It ever forget the magic Of
his first utterance as he stepped to the
front? when the mountain eagle scars
toward Heaven. let the punny bat creep
into his hole" The multitude went
wild, and almost raised the roof But
he soon launched out into an inimltable
caricature of the scared school boy:
You'd scarce expect one of my age
To speak in public on the stage"
to the great amusement Of the good
humored but high-strung audience.
Robert Rldgeway was one OF the
masterful spirits that night. and how
eloquently did he plead for the main
tenance Of the Unlon His frequent and
emphatic repetition of the word ITO
morrow" "to-morrow," "to-morrow"-
the fate Of a nation depending upon It's
issue-was really tragic in It's impress
siveness. Henry X. Ellyson, whose
sound judgment rendered such invalu-
able service in the councils of the party,
engineered the collection for completing
the campaign fund. This called out
several gentlemen. the best remembered
being Raleigh T.. Daniel, who made q
telling and humorous speech. and Horace
J.. Kent. who began by remarking that
he had vowed not 10 contribute another
cent to that fund, bat the emergency was