The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-14
Mott in Richmond, but in Charlotte
County, Where he Lived.
HIS FAME HIS EPITAPH
This Single Line Appears on tho Marble
Slab Over His Grsve-His Early Boy
hood-Red Hill, Where Patrick
Henry Lived and Died..
From the Philadelphia Times.

his grave, with the mistaken idea that
it is in that city. where much of his
public career was passed. Few people.
comparatively. know that the man who
acquired the title of The Tongue of
the Revolution" lies in a quiet grave on
the estate in Charlotte county where he
formerly lived. over him Is a marble
slab inscribed with the one line
His Fame His Best E%pitaph."
The estate lies on the river,
IS miles from the town OF Lynchburg,
near the border line which separates
Charlotte and Campbell counties. Ii
derived its name of Red Hill from the
peculiar color of the soil in that vici-
nifty. When Patrick Henry bought the
place II comprised about $500 acres.
The Ian is rich-there was a saying in
the -neighbornood that poor lar and
Henry could never be mentioned to-
gether-corn grows there as high as a
man on horseback; there Is a general
air of smiling fields and abundant pros
perity. Its situation In early times was
very remote Neighbors were few. one
of the nearest being the celebrated John
Randolph of Roanoke. who lived in his
chosen solitude Is miles away.
During the revolution there was an
encampment of French soldiers neal
Rec Hill. The mistress Of the mansion
was one day invited by the officers to
partake OF an extra dinner which
they had gotten up. Charmed with this
act of courtesy, the old lady accepted.
arrayed in her best, resolved that the
gallant Frenchmen should not Guido
her in politeness. The affair progressed
very smoothly until. 10! the chef
d%'oeuvre of the dinner was brought on
and she was asked to a n a piece of
American pulley. better known as the
turkey bu.zard!' Her horror can
scarcely be pictured; her good resolu-
tons vanIsneu. barely able to faiter an
excuse. she hastily left the table much
to the amazement of the officers. rne
American puiiet' had been prepare
for cooking by being buried for some
time Underground, ana, we are told on
reliable authority, IL met with much
approval from the rest of the company,
who could never understand the reason
for madame's abrupt departure.
The small. unpretending house at Red
Hill is in striking contrast to the i'm
portance of its owner. Instead of the
imposing mansion we had expected TO
see, we found a wooden building, one
story and a half high, in a state OF re-
markedly good preservation. Adjoin-
ing this is a roomler structure
ed with the other by an apartment, half
hall, half sitting room, which was add
ed at a later date by Patrick Henry's
son, who inherited the place. The orig
inal building contained only a half dozen
rooms and in this Patrick Henry and
his large family, The was twice married
and had IL children) lived, and there
the old patriot died. This was the spot
which attracted all our interest ami
which draws numbers of tourists every
year to that remote region. An air OF
almost severe simplicity pervades the
place. The tall mantels and brass locks
alone show it's colonial character. These
locks, with large handles like Knockers.
are of especial interest, as they repre-
sent a fee paid to Henry for services In
a celebrated trial. in the shape of an
order on a hardware merchant. Around
the house are old-fashioned, box-edged
walks and many fine trees. Our guile
showed us Henry's favorite spot, under
an old oak. Here, In pleasant weather,
he would spend long mornings and
evenings, his chair tilted back, a can
of spring water by his side, from which
he ooh frequent draughts. while his
children, of whom he made great com
p~anions. played around him. He was
very fond of music and often the sweet
notes Of his flute or violin broke the
stiffness of the quiet valley and awoke
the echoes far in the distance.
II is difficult to realize tina this same
J H1dH was lit lulBassliiifu ~ W. -
Johns church. who Numbered forth his
immortal words: give me liberty Oh
give me DEATH" Patrick Henry was a
born orator. He gained the reputation
Of being the greatest of all the revolu
tionary orators. and they were many
He had little culture and limited educa'
ton: his charm of and wonder
full eloauence were natures gifts. Al
most the only book he studied was hu'
man nature. He knew men thoroughly
and from that knowledge came his won
derful powers OF persuasion. NO on,
realized this more fully than himself
as the following Incident shows:
Meeting in a book store one of hi!
~friends-a man more noted for learning
than for common sense-he shook hi'
head disapprovingly and aid "Stil
buying books? Take my advice for l
and read men; they are the volumes
we can peruse TO most advantage"
Henry was born in Hanover county
near the birthplace of Henry Clay. HI
father. Col. John Henry. was in moder
ate circumstances and could not amor
10 give him a collegiate education, 81
Patrick was sent to an 'old field" schoo
until he was 10 years old. The futur,
patriot was not ford of books and tool
small stock in Latin or learning. III
preferred hunting. fishing or. in fact
anything else. Accordingly, at - hi
father, in despaU. placed him behin'
the counter Of a small country store
Here again Patrick was 2 ~disappoint
ment. He had not the heart to refus
any one who pleaded for credit an
would receive with all the good natur
in the world any and every apology 10
non-payment. Hence prosperity did no
shine on this new undertaking. Busi
ness not being brisk. the greater par
of his time was spent In playing tn
violin to any one who would listen. Q
he would shut up his store and go fish
ing. At Is he married a pretty countr
maiden. daughter of a neighboring far
mer. and five years later turned his al
tentlon TO law. For several years n
met with no success. Finally. whe
matters looked most dreary. he wa
engaged in his first important trial. IN
celebrated parsons case.
I'D to that time Tire ministers OF IN
Church Of England in the colony re