The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-13
TOM RlTCHlE.

What are known as 1.-THE Branch
Papers ;, are short biographical sketches
Of men who have had great influence in
shaping virginia's history, and are al
most exclusively the writings Of Ran
dolp-Macon College students.
| The publication Is in the form OF an
| annual. and Mr.. John P Branch bears
| the expense thereof, while Professor WI
| liam r. Dodd Is the learned and loving
Importance. and cultivated as 1t is going
to be, cannot fail to interest our people In
the lives Of virginia's great sons. About
some of these men little is known ex-
cept In a scattering way: not few who
swere worthy to live In books and maya
zines have dropped out Of print almost
entirely.
These Papers will rescue many OF these
worthy names. and while encouraging the
development Of young writers. Will DO
Justice to the dead. and furnish instruc.
ton and entertainment for the living.
In the number Just issued there are
papers on Thomas Richie. by G. T.
Thrift, a. B.; Abel Parker Upshur, by
r. Z. NIcCabe, and John Lewis Qounder
OF Augusta county,, by G. H. Fielding;
also a life sketch OF Captain Richard
Irvby, by Bishop J. c. Cranberry. That
on Father Richie has a particular in.
terest for us. The subject was of this
town, and of our profession. Many years
of his life were spent here, If we remem-
Der, his house, roomy structure OF
frame stood on the northeast corner Of
Franklin and Third Streets. He was born
In Tappahannock, November s. ITS, and
died here July 3, 1854. and his body lies
in Hollywood For over forty years he
was editor of the Enquirer. and his work
may be found In nearly all departments
of that paper. He had studied law, then
medicine. and then became school
teacher And then he ran book
store. With that preparation. with that
wide range of instruction and ohserva-
ton, he entered Journalism by becoming
editor of the paper Judge Spencer Roane
established in Richmond. the Enquirer.
Our author defends Mr.. Richie from
the charge of excessive Feasibility. Many
of the quarrels were forced upon Mr..
Richie, he says. while he dealt fierce
blows upon his enmies he always fought
fairly, for he was the soul of honor. and
naturally felt contempt for the coward
Notwithstanding the bitterness which
at times marked his conduct OF political
battles, let it not be supposed that Mr..
Richie had no tender traits"
So, too. we are told that Mr.. Ritchles
description of the burning Of the Rich
ton. He poured forth his sympathy for
the grief stricken people in style sc
plaintive, so pathetic, that 1t beggars de-
scription.
We are also informed that Father
| Richie was clear and earnest. at times
eloquent speaker. He was dubbed by the
| Whigs'' Sweat House Ortaor." In
| those days the Democratic band in Rich.
mond was small. and 1t was not necessary
| to hire a big hall In which to hold their
meetings.: vacant room in a tobacco
| factory was often made to serve their
| puTpOSc-tlellSt ll1' tClHi S"Cdl Hpusp
| orator. applied der!sively to one who was
In the habit of speaking at those assem-
blages OF "unterrihed Democrats"
Mr. Richie Is described by DR.. Thrift
as tall and lean. He is said to have had
| a brilliant eye. prominent chin and nose
| He clurg with great fondness to the ole
! style Of dress. including low shoes and
] stockings. His last days were spent in
ms 4nles Of his family. "revtvlng his
| studies. reading the Scriptures, culline
] the geras ~ poetry and song and con-
templating the beauties OF rural scenery
In the seyenty-sixth year of his age he
died without any of the permonitory
symptoms of decay, "the ablest edito,
the South has yet produced"
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