Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-05
wp,onr.roR MoRE THAN HA1rA CENTURY,

were extended to him In warmest greet
ing. and there were meetings with the
Gladstones Mil1ais, Holman Hunt. Dean
Stanley. Wilkie Collins. Dickens. and
host Of others. There were delightful
visits. ALSO to Browning and Tennyson,
charming dinners at OnsloW Gardens WIN
the daughters Of Thackery. who adopted
their fathers friend as their own, and
brilliant evenings with the Carlyles, pro-
1onsei by the sage himself. who. arm in
arm and. deep in converse. walked with
him through the starlit streets TO his
lodgings.
Flyfng trips to Scotland, too. are record
ed. with days at English country seats
evenings at the theatre. sightseeing ano
reunions with prominent Americans. FOL.
lowed by cards and eggnog-A drink.
as he mentions interpolatively, unknown
In England" Indeed, when one considers
his small modicum of health, one marvela
not more al what he gave to life than At
what he extracted from it.
HIS LABORS in NEW YORK.
Even after the fall of the Confederacy.
which ended his regular newspaper cons
nections, he continued eighteen months II
London, preparing for BlackWood, from
Won Brockes notes, account OF that
officers experience as chief of the cav.
airy corps of the Army of Northern Vir-
gnIa, and doing such other literary work
as came IN MS way.
Upon his return to America, In 1866. he
settled in New York, where he was briefly
associated with William Young formerly
editor of the Albions in the conduct OF
Every Afternoon. an ambitious journalfs-
tic venture. It failed, however. not from
want of merit in the the publication it-
self, but for lack of demand for 1t; and
the attention of William Cullen Bryant.
edtor-in-chief of the New York Evening
Post, being just then called to some OF
Thompson's reviews, which found theix
way into his columns. he offered him the
position OF literary editor OF the paper.
It was not accepted till the proprietors
had been made aware of his attitude dur
ing the war, proof of their appreciation
of his manly avowal being that no book
which could wound him was ever put into
his hands for criticism.
During his connection with the Post,
Thompson contributed frequently to Scribe
ner, Harper's Weekly. and the Galaxy.
He also made translation frem the
French and German, conspicuous among
which was "Heine's Grave Song, which
won from the best judges the highest en-
comiurns. His gift for making friends
amounted to genius. and the many who
learned to love him in his new home
watched with grayest apprehension his
fast failing health.
ton, he went. through the generosity OF
Mr.. Isaac Henderson,, one OF the proprfe-
tors OF the Post. TO Colrado. But the
insidious disease had advanced too far
even for arrest, and a few weeks stay
convincing him Of the futtlity OF all ef-
fort, he asked to be brought back TO New
York. arriving at the house OF Mr.. Hem
derson on the Goth OF April. where ha
died the following day. The closing scene
of his life showing him in the supreme
hour faithful TO a promise, brings bus
one of his most salient characteristics
and supplies the last dramatic touch.
Most Of his books were destroyed In tina
fire which occurred at the evacuation OF
Richmond. Among those rescued were
GLIDING copy OF Henry Esmond. upon
the title page OF which the author had
written For ny r. dearest mother and
1T had been presented to him by 1fisa
Annie Thackeray. and on certain oc-
casion, when he was looking over his
Mccabe, the latter said: II wouldn't give
the 'E,smond' for all the rest"
Very we'll Thompson replied N
leave It to you In my gill gill. When h be
lying and was carried on mattress 10
Mr.. Henderson's house. Ronsing himself.
he signed to Mrs. Henderson that he
when he dictated in a whisper the FOL.
= 100 New York. April so. 1874
..1S west Fifsy-fourth street.
Among my books there is a copy Of
Henry Esmond. three vofumesl. which Z
hereby give to w. Gordon McCaha. Ps-i
tersburs. with 3 request =, that ne VII write.
! Of my last Illness and give her my love-
Il IS signed John Il Thompson. his X-
mark.
hut One Attachment.
MI. Thompson never married. Those
who remember him In EichrnonSi-and