Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-24

great genius and the close of an alto
3. thtr remark Il'e career lie was the
oldest uatlye-born mlle inhlbii1ut 0f the
cIfy II Richmond and his memory WIS
uuimpaired by the flight OF eIghfy-seteu
years
Highly intellectual widely and nccu-
rately learned hr delighted iu running
through thc range OF practical. of hfe-
rlry. AVID Of abstract questions iils ppln-
iDu wls glwffs original nud f7 th" pure
pose &c. hli hours of thouahf Ind wis
dom m intervals of leisure he appeared
as a man of genius directiHs ou abstract
questions thr native appetite fDr truth.
d.. delighted lu thr society of literary
MON and men of science aud even up t0
fhe day ~ his death ur could enjoy every
play or Invention. a. romance cor bon
mot
TYPE OF OrR CONSERVATISM
Dr Thomas stood as type of tlr cone
srrvdtIsm NJ the OId Dominion. ne VAS
born March s. lsg. iu the house now
known ls SO 7l7 east Broad street and
after the wanlrriusa of his student ca-
re.r be- -.til.d down in bis OLD home and
nved there until four years asO. when me
state OF hIs health made it necessary that
hr should liFc with some of h- relatives.
and boz took lp bis abode With his
nephew Dr % Wythe Davis HIs death
Was due to he1rt-failur- and tha os-Ih-
cation of -he arteries induced by oil lge.
IIr retained DIS vitality and mental ac-
uuty almost t0 the ast b. had lived
tO see this country thrice embronrd in
war, be- could talk W the DAYS when
Richmond had scarcely lDmO inhabitants.
" hen there were no pavement here and
thr streets at night were lighted only bY
fh. huurrug link torch Tile modest
stlgs-c0ach and the horse provided the
only me3ns OF overland travel BE watch
el with amaZfmeuf the introduction "
steamboats,. locomotive. fbe telegraph,
The telephone. gas electric light and 100
the great Inventions which have reyoiu-
tlonlzed thc nineteenth century AZ th-
University Of Virginia be- was one of ID
class Of thirty that studied higher
matlemaiics from "a single textbook. He
never W-arlsd ~ talking 20 those near
him N the DAYS when fhe hlrt aul punk
did service for matches but though be-
often spoke of "th- good % days. DE-
was nor Of the number of 'aose whO de-
light t1 make c0mpar.euna at ine en-
peuse " the present
WAS Az INTERESTING CHARACTER,
Some men pass through uf- paving lt-
t- heed 10 their s.rro1nflnss Df.
Thomas d.a not belong f0 this class. and
u vas this fact that rendered him one ~
The most interesting caaracfefs in fnis
community His mind nas olways alert
and De- was ever "a system f.e student
H. was possessed NJ great intellectual
powers and wonderfully accurate mem-
ory he was thorough sul capable nls-
toriau. vas possessed 0f tho spanish. G~r-
man. and French langBag-s, and was
Greek and Latin scholar
Dr Thomas vas not only scholar, be-
Nas a gentleman. II D. much t0 de-
serve those terms but Dr. Thomas en-
tlg-ly deserved them. he var an OLD
fashioned Virginia gentleman, courteous
ara afsble ~ "a degree. The very soul ~
honor. MODEST unasslmlng and retiring
W.thal and free from ostenfsliou. He al-
eavs .shrank from Hotgriefy nof alone Do
his distinguished professional lfe. bgt in
bis social relations.
THE DEsKMATE Or POE.
Dr. Thomas w4s educated ~ Burke's
school In Richmond o the University
N Virzinsa. sri AZ the University of
Nedlci.e " Maryland. AT the nrst-
ra-oed institution which stood near me
present site " F0rds Hotel he was q
deskmate of Edg4r Alan Poe during the
years lsz8. ls1a ard ls-5. and scnops-
felIov az the s,alnarIs CaDe-is, and
told somebody that Poe was a har Or