The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-30
SOME "REMINISCENCES
Anecdotes Of Richmond People of a
Half Century Ago.

Editor OF The Times-Dspatch: AZ,
Slr,-.As The Dispatch desires the
"reminiscences OF old men. Send some
account OF the eccentricities OF cltizens
of n former generation. The world, Is
greatly Indebted to the peculiar ways and
doings OF certain characters. whose orig
inallty gives plquancy to tradition and
literature. Anecdotes OF such are found
circulating in every city and county. 1t
is the province OF old men to gathero and
tel! these stories. The aged reminlscents.
among your readers, ought to respond to
your kind overture land serd all they can.
before they fade from their memory;
provided they. tho old men, 40 not as OLD
men are won't to do, become too
garulous.
NO. /. A DISADVANTAGE.
A long time ago there lived In Richmond
a gentleman Of the Quaker faith, who
being as he was, was non combaant.
He was busy man. One day he was
visiting new house on which his build
ers were at work: and he had climbed
upon such steps as were finished to In
spect the work on a second or third floor.
A man who had a grievance appeared on
the same floor, and began to use some
rather offensive language toward the
non combatant. The latter warned his
workmen not to stop to listen to every
idler who came on tho premises to talk.
And. then turning to his assnilant thus
spoke to him: Friend, IL thee does not
cease this abuse. will not strike thee,
but will let thee out OF one OF these
windows. and thee might fall to. a disad-
vantage" So far rs tradition relates. the
warning was accepted, the colloquy end.
ed, and the incident closed.
NO. .. A SAFE RETREAT.
The gentleman referred to In the fore
going was invited to take part In con-
ference of neighbors. who were TO meet
at the house OF certain man to consider
the relations between him and his wife,
which were very unpleasant. Statements
were heard. and then the members OF the
conference were called upon to express
their views and propose remedies for the
domestic infelicity. One of the conference
gave as his Judgment, that the man
should chastize his wife. whcreupon our
friend. the Quaker and non combatant, as
If fearing disadvantage" from the
irate wife. frs, as precautionary
measure, seized his hat; then as he rush.
ed towards the door said; u agree with
tho last speaker" The retreat was SO
Handsomely devised and so we'll executed.
that it made a lasting impression upon
his friends. ana the story has been hand
ed down as an inspeeparable and charac-
steristIc companion OF his name.
No. 3-ToO MANY FISH.
An old merchant OF more than fifty
years ago was famous for his drollery,
which was exceedingly entertaining. lie
was complaining to me one day OF dull
times, in the spring OF the year. Why,
enough to go to market. Our principal
diet is these fresh behring's. at twelve
cents dozen, and have eaten SO many
that the bones have come through my
skin, so that cannot pull my shirt of. !
The fresh herrings. by the way, caught
In James River. make an admirable dish
In the spring. but the price is higher
than 1t was In those days.
No. "A POET.
All ages produce poets, About the mid
die OF the last century thsre was one who
employed Richmond publisher to print
his poems In pamphlet. Ee did not live
in Richmond, but he lived not far from
it. I never saw anything in print that
could equal these lines Certainly not
more than once. at least. IN a book or
pamphlet. The Address" to his wife
ran as follows, being matudlna az
fair:
Rise, my fair consort. rise,
And shake the slumber from thine eyes,
These sun-up maps l do despise;
The air is fresh. the air Is pure.
May 1t ever endure"
In n poem descriptive OF young lady,
he said:
"she was very cute:
She had been to an institute"
The author kindly explaining by an
asterisk, as follows:
Buckingham Institute.
No. MILITARY RULE.
There was gentleman near the city OF
Richmond who was much addicted to
military life before the Civil War. He
haG the bearing of a soldier in his daily
| walk and was always ready to obey any
call to a soldiers duty. He taught his
boys prompt obedience, after fashion
| that Is much to be commended In our
day, when there IL q prevailing habit
among children never to come or go at
once. It was not SO when we old men
were boys. When our fathers or mothers
spoke we moved, and dared not walt
| to be- called half a dozen times, answer
| ing the calls with objections and COM
plants, in the modern impudent strain,
A gentleman who had visited the home
of our military friend said that While
covering socially in his sitting room With
his friend, his boys sitting around in the
room mIscellaneously, he would suddenly
say 'Torm!" AIT that instant every boy
would Jump to the middle Of the floor
and line would be formed ready for
such action as the father might COM
mand Thus he taught his boys not only
prompt obedience, but the habit of vigil
liant attention and ready activity, There
was no lettering In that family when the
| father or mother called, The time lost
| Ia parents by unready obedience of chill
body will be bound to answer at the
! dren in our day and the breath wasted
will make fearful sum, for which some
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