Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-16
COMMODORE MATHEW f. MAURY.
Oar Duty 40 His MemOry-An
Amusing AnecdOte.

\F Ut TIE D4SldtNAsj
On January g. 1906. there was born ir
Virginia one of the greatest men that this
country has produced. Other nations may
beast OF having given TO the world great
warriors. great orators. and wonderful
men Of genius, but il is doubted If there
was ever one who did more for humanity,
the good Of all nations. and the civiliza-
ton OF the world, than Mathew +.
afaury, the pathfinder of the Seas
When a boy. in 1880. while going to the
Ridgway School. in Albemarle, I fire.
puent had an opportunity Of seeing Lieu
tenant Maury. as he was then called,
who often visited there his hnsman, the
late Franklin Minor. Here Mr.. Minor
would welcome and right royalty enter
tain his cousin Mat" and gather around
him the professors Of the university and
prominent men Of the country.
Lieutenant Maury had not then attained
the height of his fame still, we young
sters looked upon him with awe and ad-
mlration. as If be had been the Presi-
dent: and yer the great man, whose ge-
MUS we could not comprehend. would joke
and talk with the schoOl-boys, quickly
dissipating their difidence by his genial
smile and interesting conversation.
II was not until after the war that
festive occasion OF the marriage Of one
OF Mr. Minors daughters, Lieutenant
Naury again honored "Ridgway" with his
presence. noticed that the years had be-
gun TO touch his frame by giving him a
slower motion, and the war had cast a
more subdued look upon his face, and yet,
at times, in conversation, the same genial
and benlgnant smile was there.
completed I'm 1859 a foreign voyage TO
1f. tf.n do Isle md rs1ri rrr
my conversation with him expressed my
Delight al having witnessed the accuracy
OF his great circle sailing charts. which
every sea captain strictly followed ii
sailing around the world. and how l had
studied. while at sea, the winds and cur
rents as he had pointed Out-then his Sc
rene face at once lighted up with q smile,
Hs he listened 10 my simple description,
and would occasionally add some inter-
esting fast TO heighten my pleasure.
1t was a few years after. in 1873. that
ne passed away-gently peacefully, al
most obscurely-his own country scarcely
noticing the event, while foreign nations
had showered upon him their honors, and
ere this would have erected to him a
monument greater than TO any Of the
worlds heroes.
II the United States does not honor
his memory and worth. Il would be most
fitting for the State OF Virginia TO take
the lead. with her sister Southern States |
at the close Of this nineteenth century |
10 erect to him colossal statue IN Hamp-
ton Roads having one hand pointing to |
the painless ocean, while the other points |
20 Heaven. from whence he gained The |
Divine light; and let this statue be I'M |
yelled at the opening Of the twentieth
century. TO which the fleets OF all nations |
will delight TO assemble IN that grand |
harbor. and do honor TO the genius of /
Maury.
It's gratifying. however even at this late |
day. to see some steps taken by the gov
eminent for the preservation OF the many
medals bestowed upon Commodore Maury |
by nearly every kingdom on earth. far
more numerous and handsome than has
been ever received by any other American
Let these be placed where they can be
viewed by rising generations, and be the
bilent tribute 20 true genius and worth
But the United States should not rest /
here. nor let the stigma Of his unrecog-
nized services TO the country remain as a
blot upon her history. The present Con-
gress should make such appropriation as
would insure the erection Of the monu-
ment in question. and both North and
South unite IN hOnoring their illustrious
countryman.
To have seen and talked with such a
great man is what few can claim at this
day, and next 10 meeting with General
y. u. Lee. j feel that the highest honor
Of my life was when l grasped the hand
and conversed with Commodore Maury. |
for whenever 1 read the daily cablegram !
from Europe and the distant ends Of the
earth It brings before me his great ge-
MUS that pointed out the pathway along
The oceans bed; whenever i read Of q sue
cessful voyage by some clipper shin
sround the world. II was dne 20 his won
oerful wind and current" charts: when
ever read the daily signal-servica wea-
ther report, IL tells me Of his long years
OF persistent effort 20 establish this bu-
feau for the benefit of farmers; and when
ever see little urchn trudging TO ,
school with "Maury's Physical Geo :
grapby' under his arm, ] think OF the :
vast amount OF knowledge that wonderful !
mind has left 70 rising generations.A '
Surely the whole world is Indebted TO his 2
humble. but magnificent genius Like the J.
great Lee. he. too. left the opportunity OF {
gaining high government position, honor Z
md wealth. 20 stand by his native State: .
he. TOO. like the great Chieftain. had a h
modest and retired disposition, not caring h
or the plaudits OF the world nor dld Y
e ever wear one OF the many medals he -
sceivcd To illustrate his exceeding -
an interesting anecdote is told h
him by r. c. Baylor Ia the Atlantic v
lonthly OF 1883: h.
MANY years ago, the writer was break ol
,sting one morning in London with a ~
lend, anc among other guests was the IA