Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-01-28
JOHNS LETTER.

A captivating stranger mas appeareu
in our midst, and the women folks are
just wild to get an introduction to him.
We haven't even got a passing glimpse
of his back sides. His name is Eben
Holden. Eben "takes'' and is taken
pretty soon after the library door swings
open. They say that Eben is "corker."
We can wait until he swings around the
circle, and with all the patience for
which we are noted.
While Others are getting acquainted
with Eb, we are this week making the
acquaintance of scores of actors that
tripped it behind the footlights of the
Virginia stage 300 years ago, more or
less. Tragedy and comedy, acted well
and acted i'll. How quickly the scenes
are shifted! Not long to wait between
the acts-in the book. Wonderfully
we'll written. Holds you fascinated till
the curtain falls. While We read we
have no use and no desire for Eben. 1t
knocks the spots off of Eben, wouldn't
wonder. We have received more in
struction. and deeper, longer insight
into those far-away times, the begin
nings of our God-ordained republic,
than we ever thought to receive, in read
ing "Virginia," by John Esten Cooke.
"Virginia and New England were the
original forces of American society, and
shaped its development. This arose
from natural causes. Both races were
vigorous offshoots of the same English
stock, arrived first in point Of time, and
impressed their characteristics on the
younger societies springing up around
them. Each was dominant in its section.
New England controlled the North from
the Atlantic to the Lakes, and Virginia
the South to the Mississippi. The Vir-
ginians have been described as aristo-
Gratis and slaves of church and king;
but the aristOcrats were among the first
to proclaim that all men were created
equal; the bigots overthrow their
church; and the slaves of the king first
cast off his authority, declared Virginia
an Independent commonwealth, and
were foremost in establishing republic.
To unravel these apparent cOntradic-
tons it is necessary to understand the
people, and to do so we must 60 close to
them and study the men of every class:
the ruffled planter in his great manor
house or rolling in his coach, the small
landholder in his plain dwelling, the
parish minister exhorting in his pulpit,
the New Light preacher declaiming in
the fields, the rough waterman of the
Chesapeake, the hunter of the Blue
Ridge, and beneath all, at the base of
the social pyramid, the indented servant
and the African slave. To have a just
conception of these men, we must see
them in their daily lives, going about
their daily occupations among their
friends and neighDors. The fancied
dignity of history must be lost sight Of.
The student must come in contact
with the actual Virginians, discover
their habits and prejudices; how they
dressed and amused themselves on the
race course or at the cock fight; see
them at church in their backed
pews, while the parson reads his homily;
or listen to them discussing the last act
of Parliament at the County Court. If
this study is conscientiously pursued, the
Virginians of the past will cease to be
wooden figures; they will become flesh
and blood and we shall understand the
men and what they performed"
And that is what John Esten Cooke
has done. He has made living men of
those shadowy shapes. And as they
enter upon the stage, play their part,
and better than they knew, and make
their final exit, you don't feel little
bit like "going out to see man." till
the curtain is rung down, and you don't
care continental if Eben doesn't get
round till after the Fourth. JOHN.