The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-24
He Told of the Great Poets EARLY
Days in Richmond.
SOME INTERESTING INCIDENTS.
Dr. Thomas was Friend OF Chief jus
tice Marshall. and Knew the Mar
quis dc Lafayette, Charles
Dickens and His Royal
Highncss, the Prince
of Wales.

Another OF those high-tOutd, cultured
Virginia gentlemen OF the old school
passed away yesterday afternoon at 5:l5
o'clock-Dr creed Thomas whose death
occurred at the residence OF his nephew,
Dr. u. Wythc Davis, so. 900 west Grace
street. lie had been IN feeble health
for several years, but ON January 18th
last be was taken down with the grip,
and this undermined hia constitution, and
caused his death. lie was one OF lIeh-
mond's oldest citizens whose career was
full of interest TO those who care for
knowledge of the customs ana conditions
prevailing in Richmond uurihs '61e .hIs-
half of tnls century
Ills memory dated back TO tho days
when DE played games asith America
greatest poet Witnessed in hign giee the
elaborate parade iu honor of the Mar
quis dc Lafayette visit Co Richmond,
and divided time with stockholders do
primitive editions Of Terence and
Aescbyeus over dim tallow candles az the
University of Virginia not long after
that celebrated institution of learning
was established by Mr jefferson
His "reminiscences would hll readable
volume with "a sinsularN relenll'e
mind the kcenest powers of observation,
and ID hne knowledge of human nature
his intellect was splendidly trained and
he became an intensely interesting ngure
i'm the social life of This city Tor rany
years until after the war. Ills aegJunl-
ance. too. was extensive, ana mc'udfp
many distinguished personagcs m the
field of literature, politics, ana military
a MAN or CULTURE.
For more than thirty years he was ono
of Richmoud's most prominent pracilcine
physicians and few men in this state
were So well versed in belle letters. Ills
familiarity with several languages ~
accurate memory that recalled divers
intensely interesting events and incidents
thst took place before there were amy
steam cars. gas jets. or 'other conven-
fences of modern invention together
with his appreciation of literary merit in
every form gained for him % h'en place
ae authority on a. great number ci QueS-
tions that came mp from uwe time
for discussion in circles of cuItmed pe'-
pie
lie could remember when Richmond had
scarcely 1000 inhabitants, when the CITY
cnioved no such luxuries as pavements.
street lights and the Ike and when trans
porfttiou was confined 20 the rude stage
coach. lie watched with wonder the in-
PRODUCTION of steamboats, locomotives. /
the telegraph the telephone. gas, the elec-
tric light and an Ihe great inventions |
which have revolutionized the world dur |
ing the nineteenth century.
4 VIRGlNIAN
Dr Thomas was born in Richmond on /
March s. 1872. the year of the breaking /
ont of hosuiuc- between the lniied /
States and England. His father was Bee /
naiah Thomas. the SON of one or ihe Ne" /
England colonists. who was strongly .lm-
bued with Puritan ideas and feelings. and /
who fought bravely in the Revolutionary /
War His mother was Rhode Lacy.
daughter of prominent old family ih
Counecticut Hc was the last ot three
brothers Two of them resided in 'olnm-
Inns. Ohio. for years and We're closely
identified with the public affairs OF that
citv Wrav Thomas. one OF bis brothers.
was Mavor and another. Kendall. city I
clerk of Columbus when the famous Ken
uckv raider. General Johu Morgan es-
caped from prison there. Public sentiment
Ma then running high and all sorts OF
rum0rs circulated like Widhro. Some radi-
cal Federalists who knew that the two
city officials were Democrats ami felt
more or less sympathy with the cause
General Morgan represented started re-
port that the two Nirginians had "a hand
in General Morgan's escape. This was
afterwards proven 20 be untrue. hut not
until after considerable feeling was mani
Tested against the two officials,
A FRIEND OF POEs.
Dr Thomas "reminiscences OF Edgar Al /
Ian Poe if published would be eagerly
read by thousands of the great poets ad-
mirers. The two boys were schoolmaies
az Burks private school in ls2i. l>-i ana
1875. Poe was one on the brightest pupia.
lie read aud scanned the Latin poets win
ease when scarcely thirteen years OF age.
lie was an apt student and always ie'l'ei
well.
"Poes great desire 10 excel was i.Ius-
trated in the rather strange unuei lah'"7
20 swim 60 Warwick Park ilom 'he ,Nn"-
ing I'M Rockets. said pr. lh""aS' '""''-
Is before his death
ole had read OF Byrons swim across
fho Hcllespont aud determined TO per-
forn a similar feat. Accordingly p'dt
was secured and the young athlete was
accompanied hy Sob Campbell N""'i, -
Stanard and David bridges a. l""t
lime Zoe was about niicch years 'i N5''
There was question ~ W W. .
,outh could succeed lie dln however
and with apparent ease. The party fn-
.,,r,,.d 3, the boat. Years afterwards
he noet came To Richmond and asked me-
,or Am affidavit certifying To the incident.
which | gave him.
THE PLUCKY POET
"Desoite Poes retiring disposition he
vas never lacking in courage. There was
,ot "a pluckier boy al school lie never
,rovoked "a quarrel but always stood zap
.or his rights. / remember on one Oc- 3
aston a difficulty arose between him and I
William seldom, who was about the ;
.ame age as Poe. but much larger. Sell
Ion told some one that Poe was % liar. or :
rascal The embryo poet heard OF IT, ,
md soon the boys We're engaged in a o
lght seldom was heavier than Poe. n
whom he ponme.ed vigorously for some
ime. The delicate boy app,afcd TO sub
nit with little resistance. Finally, Poe
urned the tables on seldom and much 10 .
he surprise of the spectators. admins :.
cred sound whipping when asked h
,ly he permitted Seldom 90 pommel his h
ead so long Poe replied that he was T.
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