Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-12

Of his intense individuality baC under
the stress and strain OF the intellectual
movement Of his time. Every fresh
wave of thought breaks over him. Every
aspiration and every forward step of the
vanguard mind Of his period IS TO him q
personal experience, because he. must
keep pace with 1t. The religious eues-
tion, tho political question, the social
uuestion, the scientific question-each and
every ono OF these is Of vital personal
Importance to the man Of letters. He
cannot DO content as so many other peo-
pie are, merely TO hear Of these things
and TO pass them by; he must think out
the problems of tho age; he must reach
n conclusion he must have convictions;
he must speak his mind. TO him Is for
hidden alike indifference and silence. y
moral and mental responsibility rests on
him to serve his generation TO proclaim
tho truth and defend the right, to help
others at the hard part OF tho way, and
thus TO fulhl the duty for which he was
designed IN the drama Of human develop
ment. There are serious ordeals in the
life of such q man-times of sore mental
conflict and cruel trial, hours OF acute
suffering, moments Of splendid conquest
and Joy. Outwardly he seems placid, and
the round Of his existence looks duh. But
under the calm surface OF that silver
tranquility tho tempests OF passion rage
md pass, the powers Of character are
'matured and marshalled, and tho strife
az ideas accomplshes its appointed work.
The representative man OF letters Is not
seen in public affairs and there is but
little to tell Of him whom his career has
fnded. But his words are in thousands OF
hearts and his influence lives in a myriad
of tho good deeds of the men Of action
Mho have imperceptibly felt his dominion.
REVIEW or HIS LEE
Captain Drinkard's life afforded con-
stant and potent illustration of those
views. 1t was only slightly diversified by
events, but il flowed over the depths Of
p wide. varied and significant intellectual
Experience. lie was born in Prince Ed
ward county on November %, 1926. His
father was Francis Drinkard, a well-to-
ho farmer of that section, and his mother
WAS Rebekah Cunningham. His father
died while the subject of this Sketch was
ttill young, and his mother married, the
second time, Dr. George Glenn. lie was
caught and trained in the old-feld schools
pf Prince Edward, but Left them when
be was only j years Of age upon the re-
commendation Of his teacher, who de-
Clarcd that he knew nothing else that
he could impart to the boy. At II years
of age he left home. and served his APP
premiership as a printer IN the city Of
Iynchburg. Thence he went to Washing
ton, whore he was employed for some
time as proof-reader on the old Congress
eiona Globe lie acquired control Of a
newspaper at Paramount. w. Va, and
was managing and editing this when the
war between the States broke out. His
associations in Fairmount at that time |
were not cOngsnial. and he came TO Rich |
mOnd, where he was commissioned cam |
tain IN tho Ordnance Department of the !
Confederate Government. and was sta |
rioned In the old Armory at the foot of |
fifth street. now part of the Tredegar |
MorAs.
LONG THE DISPATCHES EDITOR.
In 1868, when the Dispatch resumed /
publication, Captain Drinkard was an
pointed news editor. though he after
wards became an editorial writer OF dis
tinction and accomplishment, and contn-
ued member OF the Dispatch staff /
up 10 tho time Of his death. Captain
Drinkerd invested considerable sum Of
money 10 grocery business. that was
by his brother. and was located
ct the corner OF Fifth and Marshall
ttreets. He had at one time a great de-
bire 10 enter tho legal profession, and
though he attended the law lectures at
Richmond College under James Neoson, !
ESQ., then Professor OF Law, and always
3 devoted friend OF the deceased, he
never practiced.
Captain Drinkard was very active
Mason for many years. lie was made 4
Mason in ST. johns Lodge, No. &c. in 1851.
The records OF this lodge from 1859 20 lS6J
were destroyed by FIRE at the evacuation
81 Richmond, April 3. 1866, and no date
his initiation Is now extant.
He was master OF this lodge in 1885,
For more than thirty years he was In the
Grand Lodge lie went through an the |
,ffices until no was elected Grand Master
n December. 1886. he held this position |
for two years. For several years he was
~of the Committaa pn For