Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-04-21
ENGLISH VIEW Of MONTAGUE
How the Virginia Governor Impressed
Strangers at st. Louis.

Ali Virginians, regardless of faction
al alliances. will be pleased by thi!
kindly tribute to the governor of th.
State from j. M. Hines, correspondent
of the st. Louis Daily World. repro
duced in the Greenville, N. c., Refec
tor of March 81:
Last year the governors of every
State and Territory, With their mill
tary and civic stats, their wives, their
kinswomen, all went to see the expOsi
tion ut st. Louis. The military staff
of these governors made dasbing dis
play of gold lace, tinsel trimmings,
brass buttons. large plumes in their
hats as an ornament to the head gear
of the high militia official. Others came
and went as though they were the
practical followers of Wagner's ''Simple
Life" to perform pleasant duty to
their State and country. Among the
| Wagner class was the accomplished
aud intelligent young governor of Vir.
ginia.
| 1t was the day the exp osition officials
had set apart for Virginia g celebration
to be known as Virginia day. Every
thing that could be done to make it
enjoyable and memorable for future
history was carried out to the smallest
detail. Monticello, replica of the
great statesman, Jefferson Virginia
home, was the center of attraction for
the thousands of people who were on
the grounds enjoying what was to be
seen at the greatest exposition ever
conceived by human mind and execut-
ed to perfection by industrious man.
1t was AS perfect a September day as
possible to be. AS it began to wear
away towards the hour for the cere-
monies, people representing almost ev-
@y nationality on earth began to move
towards the terrace row of State build
ings In which Monticello was located.
u the palace of exhibits placards were
up reading This is Virginia day
On every side Virginia was heard,
Let's go to the State building of old
Virginny, see the house and hear the
speaking.
BY the time the ceremonies commenc.
ed all available space In the no use. on
the lawn and part of the streets was a
packed mass of humanity. Hundreds |
of them were descendants of Virginians |
who had moved westward as pioneers |
and located in the Louisiana PuIchase. |
l was accompanied by two prominent |
English press correspondent represent
ing daily illustrated papers in Eng
land. One of them l had met before
during the New Orleans cotton centen-
nial. They expressed great desire to
attend the ceremonies at Monticello.
They wanted to see the building and
to hear Governor Monta-
gue's address. One of my friends said
he was more familiar with Virginia
history than any other State. and there
fore felt more than ordinary interest
in the ceremonies.
Being acquainted with the officials,
| managed TO secnre standing-I DOM in
the building for my friends. When
the governor rose to deliver his address
the wild, enthusiastic cheering of the
people astonished my English friends
SO much that one of them whispered
to me and asked if L thought there was
any danger OF riot. | assured him it
was nothing but true, heartfelt
American welcome such as is always
extended popular speaker. With that
he became quiet and took
interest in everything going on. 1t
seemed that everything was auspiciOus,
the room was packed with
people and very warm. While we stood
some distance from the speaker, we
heard distinctly his utterances and
saw every gesture. The governor was
in keeping with everything else con-
nected with the affair. He was of his
best III voice, looks and speech. His
easy, graceful, pleasant and magnetic
manner OF using the English language
with such rhetoric eloquence and dig
nifty, charmed my English friends so
much that at the conclusion of the ad
dress they remarked that of all the en-
they had attended during
the fair. Virginia day was the most in.
teresting and agreeable. They pro
nounced the governors address an
encyclopedia of useful and practical
facts of American history.
II was much surprised, said one of |
the governor OF the old Virginia. had |
fancled him to be an aged gentleman,
az least 20, and ripe in statecraft and |
diplomacy. | was correct except as to |
his age. 1t is the way age has been
spent, whether useful or not, in after
years. l also observe you push your
young men forward to share the re
sp0nsibilities at a ~ uch earlier age
than We do in England. From what l
have seen and read since l have been
in America l think your plan is best.
[ have made your political situation a
study. and shall return home con-
vert and advocate of the young Ameri.
can g political idea of push the young
men to the front.
Il have noticed the great success
that many of your young men have
made in political life. You have two
splendid object lessons of this success
hafnre ynur daily GAZE in the persoQa