The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-31

COLONEL THOMAS SMITH,
Who Delivered the Address In the Holly.
wood Memorial Exercises.
to speculate upon what might have been
could we reconstruct tho past nnd cause
things to happen otherwise th,:i as they
nctualy occurred What might have
been, had Fate called Governor Smith to
wider and higher field OF action: to
guide the destines, not Of State, but
of many States, through that titanic
struggle?
Dignified Retirement.
The war ended, he returned to his homo
in Fauquier, where lie lived Ii, dignifed
retirement, broken more than once by the
voice OF the people, who demanded Ills
services in the Legislature. His hospl..
table home was always open, and there
ho spent the peaceful evening Of his
days He had lived long life, filled with
great events. Indeed. the chief diff
Guilty in speaking Of him is to select
| where ma tcrial Is so abundant. Almost
cocval In time with the adoption of the
Constitution Of the United States. tho
story Of his life involves the history OF
his country, which he served In the Leg
isnture OF the State. in the Congress Of
the United States, as the executive of the
OF, war He might truthfully have said
with old Eeneas--
as* "quaeque ipse miserrima vidl,
ct quorum pars magma full"
lie outlived every antagonism; no
hushed every dscord: and when his end
came he was at perfect peace with his
God and his fellow-man.
"Of no distemper, of no Dinst he died,
But fell like autumn fruit that me.low'd
long S5
Even wondered at, because he. dropped
no sooner.
Fato seemed to wind him up for four
score years.
Yet freshly ran he on ten winters more;
TIL, like q clock worn out Wit. eating
time, An,
The wheels Of weary life at last stood
8 still"
And now we are gathered to unveil
monument to his memory and to pre-
sent 1t to the CONFERENCE.-The OF Vir-
ginia, In whose service his life was spent.
To erect monuments that VIC may per =
petuate the memory OF noble deeds seems
I. TO me an inversion Of the true order OF
things. 1t is striving 70 make the PERISH
llablc bear witness to that which is I'M
8pcrishable; to call upon that which Is
unl and immortal. You may stand at the
tomb OF Achilles and hear Troy doubted.
Conc are its towers and settlements, Its
stately temples and gorgeous palaces. but
the Had which tells the story of tho
sic &c and fall of Troy Is as fresh to-day
as 1T was three thousand years ago.
A...s bronze will yield to the remorse.
less touch OF time, this granite pedestal
will crumble into dust; but the influence
of a9noblc life Is never lost nori8its
memory wholly forgotten until that day
when
"The Handicapped towers. the gorgeous
palaces, I'd
The solemn temples the great globe itself.
Yea, all which it inherit shall dissolve:
And, like an insubstantiul pageant faded.
Leave not rack behind"
Just before Judge Keith concluded his
remarks, the veil was gracefully drawn
from the monument by Miss Smith, and
a loud cheer went up from the vast
assemblage When Judge Keith resumed
his seat. the band played, an appropriate
air. while the crowd cheered Justify
Governor Swanson was given splens
did ova ton when he arose to receive the
monument on behalf o. the State and
in the course Of his fine address he
was frequently applaudcd.
Governor S r Inc ESpeeCu.
His Excellency said:
Judge Keith and FelloW-Citizens:
"I3y the authority vested in me as
Governor and in behalf OF the people OF
this Commonwealth. gladly and CRATE
fully accept this gift. It is fitting that
the statue erected to commemorate tho
achievements of this distinguished Viz
gilman should be placed in these lovely
grounds and In this superb city. Tho
"a 11tnl la II IA
mainly to his refined taste, earnest Of
forts and generous aid, It Is but proper
In the coming years that lie should sur
yey the scene of l!veliness he formed
while Governor Of this State. He stands
here erect in Mt company and with worthy
associations. Not one OF the tllustrious
company whose statue adorn yon magnh-
cent monument ever had heart stirred
with Il purer patriotism, or thrilled with
a deeper love for Virginia than Governor
| Smith, From carly manhood to mature
| old agN in peace, IN war, IN the days
of hor power and splendor, in the hour
| OF her gloom and defeat, this devoted son
! Of Virginia firmly, faithfully and fear
lessly served her. Virgnia's honor was
| Ills honor her wrongs were his wrongs,
| her failures were his failures, her sue
| cess was his SUCCESS. In his deep. pas
| sIonate nature famed an eternal love for
|, this State. Speaking for the people OF
| Virginia, we are proud 10 nave placed
| here this memorial OF this beloved son,
making worthy addition to yonder inonu-
| ment around Wnich cluster the forms of
SO many eminent Virginia patriots, In.
| the future, Virginia, like the mother Of
Grucchi. can point to this son as one
| of her brightest ana purest 5ewels. n It
+, is appropriate that THIS brave son should
stand here in company with 1Yirginias
immortal soldier Stonowall Jackson. At
the battle of First Manassas he was
close to Jackson, and as colonel Of the
gallant Forty-nintn Virginia Regiment,
Beautify III. Complexion.