The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-09

rod veterans swept by, their sho'-loiu
hammers streaming over them. Upon lnl7
ecene Of warl!ke hustle and seeming oou
f,sion a Nav sun beamed down WIN
sprlng warmth; the song-blfd thilie"
his warhle from bough and perch IN the
capttol Square. and the trees and MOWERS
were budding into life after winter '".'
eioep. This was Richmond on the forenoon
of a Nav dav 1868. Richmond the capital
c,t,, ~ that nation which flashed IKE
meteor i'm the constellation OF States
that storm-cradled nation when iei
A tbeatre in that city. where tnat ha-
tion now dead had gathered us cA'Na'y
erd us beauty: where there were
v.rootbes OF immOrtelles and iestoohs OF
eotonn HACK. where the immortal Lee
looked down from dress circle upon pa.
oi,eftc filled with his Palladins' VINO mace
history on many a blood-siained ptlle-
field. where there We're tears from eyes
that looked without blanch when DEAN
ran riot: whe-e manly hearts, tha- peat
no quicker puleltion anna tie '"''''".'
roar az Chanccilorsvllle. grew lt""el
with grief And there were iaIr women
r,Cre, women I'm sobs OF anguish. with
e,,s dimmed with falling tears eyes
which sparkled with lOye's glance IN
many salons: with hearts torn Win an
euish hearts that throbbed Win love
y,hen favored ones smiled. II was the
NIetroportan upon the night succeeding
the entrance OF the cortege which bore
10 Richmond. from tho field Of Chancel-
lorsvllle where he fell wrelthed 10 glory.
The body OF "our" Jackson, the immor-
tai lieutenant Of Lee.
The curtain rose 90 the SOFT music or a
funeral dirge. disclosing setting ~
consonance with the sorrow ana grlet
which swept the audience and drowned
70 I'm tears IL was an audience or the
aristocracv OF the South. and typlhed It's
beauty, its chivslry. its honor ana is
glory 4 woman. stately and grand,
crowned with lovellness; upon whose face
was marked pride born OF superior Intel
ligence and superior womanhood, step
ped from the wings and slowly advanced
with courtly grace 70 the mont or the
stage. At her appearance a storm or ap-
plause swept the house a storm Of hand
claps mingled with soldiers cheers. Rails
ing her hand. a stiffness fell when she
began the recital Of Colcman's memorial
upon Stonewall Jackson's death. Her
voice rose and fell In measured metre
and sweet cadence. absorbing her theme.
her voice trembled with emotion and sobs
finished. there were sobs and walls amid
the applause and cheers.
This beautiful lovely, and accomplish
cd woman was Ellen Wren. the pride ana
pet OF RchmOnd's elite society and the
favCrite OF that immortal army which
left its history from Bull Run 10 Apo
mattOX.
How long ago was that? Have thirty
four years ana more gone by since inst
] saw the lady. gentle stilL with beaming
eve. with hair silvered Ger with the frost
of passing years: with kindly face where
time had marked in dim lines only light
Is its passing footsteps, who greets ne
now with the manners OF the old-time
Southern gcntle-woman. manners which
all the gloss OF tinsel wealth cannot even
initiate?
Ii is indeed the kindly. loving gentle
Ella Wren. only grown old in years. yet
with Heart and emotions as young as
whoa | saw her the idol, not OF the triv-
olous and the gay. but or those whose
cnuil mleht be sought in vain.
We talked. this lady and ], and talked
of that siorm-tosscd past In which. We
had lived: OF its glories. its men. and IT'S
women. OF its heroes. then freshly born,
but who now live in ivy-grown fame :
inches: OF the stage ana Its plays. and OF
those who made the dramatic history OF