Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-04-17
CHARACTER SKETCH OF WALTER
PAYNE BRYANT.

habits, of the many temptations
which on every hand confront them,
She made a remark that impressed
itself forcibly upon me and which ia
substance would amount to this:
In the age in which we are living
how many temptations present them.
selves to the young, and how many
evils throw themselves into the path
way of our boys. and enticingly in.
vite them to yield! Well may you
mark the career of a young man who
grows up amid these existing evils
with a character unblemished. All
credit be given him, for there il
within him a will strong to overcome,
strong to resist, strong to conquer
Many there be who try to resist, but
alas! at some weak moment exclaims,
"When 1 would do good, evil is
present with me-" and with inn
patience yields to the power of the
evil one.
But may / add there are those,
too, whose lives are models of manly
nobility, purity and uprightness.
On receiving the sad news OF the
death of very noble young man, the
thought afterwards occurred to me
that his would be life well to repre-
sent the last above named class of
young men. The young man to
whom refer is no other than Walter
Payne Bryant, who departed this life
Saturday, March IA.
OF Mr.. Bryant's early boyhood the
writer has but little knowledge. The
last four years of his life was speut
at Litwalton, Lancaster Co., and veil
may the old village feel proud thst
there dwelt within it's bounds one so
pure, so chaste, SO pious--s soul too
good for earth but ripe for Heaven.
Mention the name of Mr.. Bryant
and friend after friend will rise up
to sing his praises. Why was he SO
generally beloved? Because he knew
his duty to God and to man and
strove to do it. he was smisble,
gentle, and kind. In fact his kind
ness could not be exceeded. Never
was he happier than when rendering
some one kind act, however much
it might inconvenience himself; with
him inoonveniences counted but
iittle-indeed it seemed the greater
the trouble, the greater his happiness.
Gentleness is most often oharac-
teristic of woman, but not alone
does lit belong to her. On meeting
Mr.. Bryant one of his most notice
able characteristics was his gentle
every act was that of a
most gentle gentleman. In addition
to his gentleuess, he possessed to an
equal degree real courtesy. He used
extreme politeness towards all people,
young or old. His pleasing, courteous,
gallant manners won for him many
lasting friends. His very personal
was attractive-always
neat in his attire, his features strong
ly cut and his face upon q whole
would we'll become q statesman.
Walter never had the advantage of
a college education, nevertheless he
had a fine intellect. He was SELF
educated young man, well read, we'll
instructed on all current events, and
few there be college-bred, or non
college bred, who could excel him
on conversational topics. All of his
life he was hard student, instruct
ing himself in every possible way,
reading various subjects such as,
electricity, medicine, etc. As has
been said he kept up we'll on all inn
portant questions Of the day, and
one book of all books that he loved
was his Bible. How often has he,
in striving to gratify his unending
thirst for knowledge, burnt the mid
night oil. Truly may it be said that
"He while his companions slept,
Was toiling upward in the night"
Oh, what a lesson should this be to
the school boy of today, to those to
whom most excellent opportunities
for learning are presented and yet
are wilfully wasting their time!
Walters character was indeed of a
high standard, raised upon an ele.
vated, intellectual plain-all the
deep. noble thoughts of the good and
great from whom he had read, had
been so engrained into his life that
they seemed to be a part of him.
Fully did he realize the force of
this statement from the Scriptures:
whatsoever things are true, what
aoever things are honest, Whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report,
if there be any virtue and if there be
any praise, think on these things."
He loved poetrv and mus;c two of