Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-10-23
COL. GRAVES ON MONTAGUE.
The Atlanta News on Saturday, OctO-

| Ihe Atlanta news on Calurudy, OCVO-
Der 18th, contains the following bcauti-
ful editorial tribute to Governor MOnta-
que, written by Colonel John Temple
Graves, editor of the paper, and famous
as brilliant platform lecturer and writ
er:
At the magnificent mass meeting held
in Norfolk on Thursday night Andrew
]. Montague, Governor of Virginia, did
graceful and courteous thing.
The occasion was the first public rally
in the interest of the great jamestown
Tercentenary, which the people of Tide
water Virginia are preparing to celebrate
in the summer of 1907. The list Of
speakers was illustrious, and Murat Hal
stead, of Ohio, was introduced seventh
upon the list. The famous old journal
ist, now almost decrepit, is essentially
writer rather than a speaker, and his
earlier words came haltingly and slow.
The audience, keenly strung, grew
restless and idgeted in their seats. Some
of them went away. The moment was
critical with failure for the speaker, and
incidentally for the evening. Suddenly
Governor Montague, occupying the cen
ter of the stage behind the speaker,
leaned forward in radiant attitude of
interest and attention. The sentence on
the lips of the speaker was trivial, if
patriotic, but the tactful executive
smiled and clapped his hands. The
Virginians, taking the cue from their
courteous Governor, broke into applause
and the hour was saved to Halstead and
to the exposition.
1t was as clear a triumph of tact and
courtesy as ever radiated public as
sembly.
Later, at the banquet at the hotel,
there was long list of speakers, elo-
ouent, ambitious and well prepared
The Governor was set to the inspiring
sentiment of "Virginia," and he is an
orator of power and brilliant force. But
when he was introduced, with a fine
sense of the appropriate, he spoke four
sentences, thrilling with loyalty for his
State, lifted his glass, and sat down,
leaving the floor to the guests OF the
evening.
1t was in little things like these that
Andrew Jackson Montague stamped him.
self upon the mind of the occasion as
the finest and most tactful gentleman Of
Virginia.
For it is in little things that we see
the gentleman--the small, sweet cour-
tesies, the unbought grace of life, the
cheap delight of living.
Consideration for Others is the quality
of a good heart and brave one. In
man it marks the worth of knighthood,
and in woman it is the loveliest grace of
gentleness. Sometimes it costs nothing,
and comes clear and spontaneous from
the fountain of noble soul. And
sometimes it passes through the deep
waters of sacrifice, purified and glorlfied
into the heroic.
But however it comes and whenever,
it sweetens life for the agent and the
object. The heart Of the beneficiary is
warmed to reciprocal color, and the soul
of the considerate is exalted with the
consciousness of dignity and altruistic
philanthropy.
How many men and women, in high
places and in low, might better life,
and brighten hours, and build up homes.
and radiate assemblies by the faith and
the practice of the small, sweet cour-
tesies that are SO cheap and buy so
much.
The act of the Virginia Montague was
a little thing. And yet had we been a
Capulet, as fair as Juliet, we would have
surrendered there-even to the enemy Of
all our house.