Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-13
AIE LETTERS

Mr.. McCabe.
NIE LETTERS.
Among the '-nost valuable letters read
By Professor Kent was one by Mr.. j. H..
Minor, Of Richmond. Mr.. Thompsons
predecessor in the editorship Of the South
ern Messenger. II is too long to
quote entire at this time, and should
not be abridged. The venerable Park
Goodwin. OF New York, regretting that
he could not attend, wrote:
'Alr. Thompson was for some years a
companion Of mine In the office of the
New York Evening Post where he served
as literary editor, and l am free TO say
that In the course OF q long and varied
experience. never met person whom 1
admired more for his accomplishments as
a scholar and his courtesy as a gentle
man. Mr.. Thompson was commended 20
us Though Of this | am not entirely GER
tain by the late William Gilmore Simms.
who was an intimate friend Of Mr. VIII
liam Cullen Bryants, our editOr-in-chief,
and with whom he was in the habit Of
passing "a part Of his summer vacation
at Great Darlington. in Massachusetts.
Mr.. Smms was himself a notable char
acter, decided and voluble I'm the express
sion Of his opinions, but always kind and
agreeable. He stood then among the fore
most OF our writer's OF fiction, and though
his books have since been mostly for
gotten he did great service I'm opening
the way 10 those sources of rofpanCe in
| which our southern country so largely
abound We We're glad 20 receive the
services Of Mr.. Thompson. His long eX-
pcrience az editor OF the Southern Lite
rary Messenger, his wide and varied Guilt
walton. and his past intimacy with south
orn authors, such as Edgar \. Poe. John
j. Kennedy and j. Esten Cooke, render
ed his assistance particularly valuable.
IL Is a curious fact. by the way, In the
history Of that journal. that while II was
supposed 10 take an extreme position In
the political controversies ~ the time It's
two most prominent literary critics were
Nirgmians bOrn-Alr. Thompson and after
wards Mr.. George Cary Eggeston. The
Evening Post devoted large part Of its
space 10 literary criticism and the dill
gence Of Mr.. Thompson was equal 10 any
demand. His critiques were always in
telligcnt. adequate, and instructive. lie
was not one of those Gritty who supposed
that Ills functions consists In dscOuragng
! literature by the severity of his judg-
ments; but, on the contrary. he thought
/ II consisted IN fdVOr1ng ana fostering any
sign OF real nascent talent. There are
many authors. now eminent. who. in their
youth. got helping hand from Mr..
| Thompson's kindly and discerning appre-
| citation. Mr. Thompson had not long been
with MS when it became apparent that he
| was the subject OF a disease Of the lungs
| which might i'm time become serious. He
| was disposed 10 resign his position on that
account. but the prOprietors Of the jour
| nal valued his assistance too highly 10
allow him 10 depart. and they sent him
| 10 the bracing atmosphere OF Colorad o
| in the hope OF alternating the symptoms.
| but. alas! the trouble was rather aggra-
| waited than relieved by the change, and
| in a few months he returned 10 take TO
| a bed from which he was never to rise.
| II is due 7 think. TO the wife of one Of
| the proprietors Of the paper Mrs. Hen
| dersOn. 10 record the fact here that she
| took him to her own home. where. during
! the whole time Of his final struggle, she
attended him with all the devotion and
! care Of the fOndest mother. He wanted
| nothing that medical skill or the most
| tender nursing could supply"
The invitation 10 Mr.. T.. &. Stedman 10
! be present on this occasion could not be
! delivered 20 him until Saturday. owing 70
| his serious illness. 4 letter just received
! from his secretary says that ne insisted
! upon debating "a brief expression OF his
/ feeling He said that Mr.. Thompson was
| a rare spirit and one of his dear friends,
| the first southern man Of letters whom he
| knew. and among he first men OF the
| South 10 be welcomed In the North after
| the war Mr. Stedman was one Of those
! through whom Mr.. Thompson established
! his connection with the New York Eve
| ming Post. and their relations were al
! ways most intimate. Mr.. Stedman. in
! conclusion. said: Thompson was 70 me a
|
| and my own. H was a poet scholar,
wit. and a gentleman in the'hnest sense
| of the word always a fascinating COM
| panion, and lOvable. affectiOnate friend,
| ever devoted 10 the cause OF the South. but
in such wise that we loved him the better
| for it"
william Fearing Gill, the biographer Of
| Poe. wrote: with memories OF Mr..
| Thompson there are indissolubly asso-
ciated the last days Of that immortal
genius Of the South, Edgar Allan POE,
| IL was 10 Thompson. his fidus achates OF
| the Southern Literary Messenger. that ne
| gave I'm his last parting with him his cX-
| quisite verses. Annabel Lee Let It be
| remembered al this time that among his
| peers. men like Thompson. capable of
| Judging him at his :rue worth. Poe was
| placed upon the pedestal of genius and
| manhood. which he so fittingly graced
| Your university is indeed hOnOred In the
| opportunity of to-day of profferinS its
! laurel To- the memory Of John r. Thomp-
| SON"
Frank r. Stockton wrote: 1T would
| have given me special pleasure 20 be with
you on this occasion, for Mr. thompson
! was the first editor OF magazine 10 ac-
| cept a story by me. He II was who. on
| my entrance into the field Of literature
| took me by the hand and babe me wei
| come Ny first venture in magazine ne
! ton was made in the Southern Literary
| Messenger. and am grateful for TINS OPP
pOrtunity OF joining you al III lAvilvi 'ii :
| The memory Of that generous and gifted
| man of letters who was It's editor.
Mr.. James Grant Wilson spoke in warm
appreciation OF the poet. HE was. sald
| Mr. Wilson. "a most loYaDle character,
and one who was justly emitted 10 the
| grand old name Of gentleman. Like
] Washington Irving. he loved 10 dwell
! on the good points of friends and ac-
| quaintances: and. if not blind 10 their
! faults and failings. never alluded 10 them.
J. &c fllI al
| son was welcomed by The best London
| literary society, ana the writer was In
| debted TO him. I'm the summer Of 1872.
| daughter. By that great writer he was
| very highly esteemed. Among the trea-
! sures of a New York library is a copy Of
| the SORROWS OF Werther" written in
! Thackeray's diinty chirography. hand
| somely framed, with large engraving OF
| Lawrence's fine portrait Of the famous
novelist II was copied for Thompson
| when Thackeray was In Richmond"
Among others who sent regrets at not
being able 70 be present were Brander
Matthews and DR.. Polk. Of New York;
Walter H. Page and Thomas Wentworth
Uiggfnson OF Boston: DIR. James \
omar. es. Of Lexington. Va; George w.
| cable. of Northampton. Mass Edith VI.
Thomas. OF New London, Conn; Robert
Oyeman. OF Dalton. Ga: X. T. Durfett,
If Louisville, Ky: Charles T.. Richardson
OF Hanover " H.: Mollie Elliott Sea-
well and l.. c. Washington, 81 Washing
ton, -. c.: Richard irby. OF Ashland
va: John Luther Long. OF Philadelphia,