The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-08
WELL WORTHY OF
LOVE AND RESPECT
4 Tribute to ChtulTr,chill Robin
son. Who Was an Honor
to the Negro Race.

In these days when the two races seem.
to be pulling apart, 1t is especially we'll
that facts like the following should be
recorded and read alike by white men and
black
Churchill Robinson, who a few days
ago was fatally stricken With paralysis
and was buried in this city last Wednes.
day afternoon. was :&negro IN every way
worthy Of respect and or anectionate re-
war lle was a very young man and be-
longed to DR.. Anderson, OF Vcrdon. Han
over county Va, two OF whose sons vol
unteered In tho First Company Of Rich
mond HowItzers, and Churchill accom-
panied his young masters to the field as
body.servant. My recollection is that the
Anderson boys messed with Lieutenant,
afterwards Captain, Ned Mccarthy. and
that Church In time thus became COOK
for the captains mess.
Like all the Howitzer cooks, he was
devotcdly attached to4thc corps and proud
as Lucifer OF his connection with IT. The
other day, Mt tho funeral of William II.
Tatnm--dear old .'Tole".-Dlck Garter,
cook for the fourth detachment WAS
at the church and warmly greeted BY
tho boys, who gathered In tho rcstl-
bule to await tho arrival of tho body.
Dick showed the deepest feeling, and we
were al touched blythe simple words
with which he answered our greetings:
"CcrtaInly, am here, gentlemen:
couldn't keep away, There amt many
Of us left now, and wo arc laying away
one Of our very best to-day. "A
Churchill, like Dick,s,wus 4 fine Illus.
tratlon OF ono OF the linc points of the
well-brcd negro of the oldcn 'lmc--that
Is, HIS manners wcro perfect, Dleniiicd,
easy and polished, at times almost5eler
CANT, yet never ill-beHttlng tho position
Of a servant, nor exhibiting the slightest
lack OF self-rcspcct ~ reason OF that
position.
But there was r. vet deeper grace ;bou.
Churchill, also characteristic Of tho upper
servant in the good old days, ! refer to
dis strong, intuitivc sense OF he funda.
mental distinction between right and
wrong and his unvarylnG love and rrac-
tico OF the right 4 Day or Lwo ago =
heard q gentleman say. that no had known
him nearly all his life. yet had never
known him TO do wrong nor TO have M
enemy. ~ ! sp:Nla
For a fow years before aud many years
after the war no was employed Ny MI
George Watt, ST.. sometimes ABOUT ms
house but ssnsrny aboM1 ;eo n,ow W at
/
came Of age l,is father gave q simple
entertainment at his residence, ana among
| the recreations Of the evening y was N
sisted tkat 7 should give llttle talR
| upon the war, a.,
surrender, and ] had no luca where s'e
was untll, about the close OF ny Ienialks
my eye CHANGED 10 fall upon the lace ano
| figure OF a colored man WHO mac ntel,
| serving the guests, but had now WORKED
up through tho crowd close 20 me and
was gazing upon my face with an eX'
| preston not quito assured, amd YET j, hlf
| countenanoe glowed with ifeiME, Ihe
| nest moment our eyes met ~ WI muNua
| recognition. / started forward VAIN an
exclamation OF delight, and me y, energy
Of our greeting oocaslcned no fll'.ie :,
| Prise. until ! explained 70 me Isseholeo
| company that "Chtirch had Y peeh my
1 faithful cnmradc III the grand old DAYS
| Of which i mad Just been speaking.
Loyal, loving soul! great resTette es
rot being able to attend his !uneLAi, pul
! ha was q true Christian, ana hope te
meet and greet lin There, !. r. an no.
4 sorry 10 have done so publicly here.
i Pardon the length Of TINS con.MaNs "a,
! ton. IT will do good, espsstaily ", Us =.
younger people, u any sasts Astss'ssS =
- ~ 4, '.,,lii.s-.;,i3. RnBERI sTILES.