Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-09-15

IL A4NoN GAAONA0 S--O" %--N
walls of his library portrait of Holmes
taken just before his death in 1914.
1t was a revelation which caused US to
look at each other with stunning sur
prise.
Ny father when at William and
Mary College in 1908 had as class
mates John Tyler, afterwards Presi-
dent of the United States, VIM. c.
Rives, afterwards Z. S. Senator and
minister to France, and Abel P. Up
shur, afterwards Secretary of State
under Mr.. Tyler, They were like
brothers. But one day, in heated
discussion between them, the purport
of which I never learned, words of a
not very amicable nature were ex-
changed between young Rivss and
my father, and they went out upon
the field designated by the code where
wounded honor was to be vindi-
Gated. North Carolina was selected
as the place where the battle would
take place, and to that State the COM
batant's quickly repaired. Avenera-
bic looking, gray-haired old gentle
man in the neighborhood of the spot
chosen for the contest had been told
of the suspicious assemblage, and be
fastened TO the scene. He reached
the ground just as the principals had
taken their positions for hostile action.
He pleaded for a hearing. He told
of his own experience of similar ma
ture, of his having killed a dear friend
on the field of honor just for tritilng
matter that might have been so easily
settled, but for false pride. He told
of his unhapplness since, and OF the
never ceasing remembrance of the sad
event and of the scene upon the field
when the mortal wound had sent into
eternity a young man in vigorous
health and of spendid abilities. lie
spoke also of the misery that came to
more than one heart and one house
hold because a dear one had been
slain. As he told all this the tears
rolled down the burroughs Of his kind
ly but sad face. The effect may be
imagined. Each face was moistened
with the tears that could not be re-
pressed. His story was the counter
part Of the case which had brought
the two young men before him who
were then facing each other in hostile
attitude. They all recognized this
fact, and halt was called. a recon-
ciliation took place and both princi-
pals lived many years afterwards to
serve their State and country with dis
tinction-Mr. Rives to become one Of
the most distinguished men of his time
in the civil department Of the repub-
lie, and my father to serve his coun-
try and State in both the military and
civil service, as a colonel for years, in
the regular army, and after his resig-
nation in order to return to the bar,
which he preferred, to serve with dis
tinction in the Senate of his native
State.
1t was while he was a member Of
this body that the anti-dueling law
passed, and indeed greatly through
his instrumentality. The untimely
death of his younger brother made a
deep impression upon him. He feared
that his example Of the year previous
to his brothers sad affair may have
had some influence upon his action,
and knowing that most affairs Of honor
were the offspring Of trivial causes, he
became the uncompromising enemy of
an institution which had demanded
the sacrifice Of so many good and use
full men. He therefore exerted his ut
most to have the anti-dueling act
placed upon the statute books of Vir-
ginia. While the law could not save
his brother, it has doubtless rescued
many others who without it might
have been sacrificed 10 the require
ments of code which too often had
been resorted to in the settlement Of
trivial difficulties.
l wish l could answer the other
questions you ask, but the foregoing
is all can give you connected with
an event which, at the time of its oc-
currence, plunged two prominent fam
lies in deep grief and carried uniyer-
sal sorrow throughout the State of Vir-
ginia where all parties were SO well
known.
Very Truly Yours,
AUGUSTINE JACQUELIN SMITH.
Papa" said the young mother,
"Ive decided on name for the baby.
We Will call her Imogen."