The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-28

elsewhere at that time and Under similar conditions. But
their energies turned in other directions and the
1ribution of the Virginia gentleman in the political
struction Of government Even as there
few instances where really valuable contributions made
American literature and under circumstances that not
pioptious for such work.
An author signing himself 81. NJ whose identity has
been thoroughly we'll established though, he supposed
have been Thomas Matthews, of the Governor of
af in s n ben
1876 hundred years before the Revolution there very
ad5a6s production s y Mrs Anne GSn Of Greek Mr. Mr.
titled can Account Of Our Late Troubles in Virginia "A
Narratiye Of the Indian and Civil Wars Virginia in the
valuable histories of Virginia were produced in the first hall
OF the eighteenth century by Robert Beverley published in
crc s history tor IS valuable manly for the fact q its thorough
treatment OF the political and economic conditions Of society
III Virginia He most patriotic Virgnian, but he dealt
with characters and conditions under his treatment with per-
feet candor and frankness.
Mr. stith professor at William and Mary College.
His work is considered valuable contribution to the
history Of colonial days His sincere desire for
write complete history Of Virginia but for reason he
succeeded in carrying his purpose. Perhaps the
most brilliant contribution to the literature OF the day was
by Hon William Byrd, of Westover Virginia gentleman OF
exceeding fine culture and of charming and winsoe social
gifts He is described onc of the brightest stars in the
social skies in Virginia. and having had personal beauty
elegant manners literary culture and the greatest gayey Of
disposition Hisstyle is exubean pquant and unconscious
tloughess and careless Of what critics might say
how his productions might be received His writings have
been preserved under the title Wesover Manuscr PTS
s g It s e lis ns sng abo in
necton with the fixing of the boundaries between Virginia
and North Carolina This writing bres with wit and hui
and is thoroughly vigorous and wholesome book In
much the vein he wrote afterwards The Journey to
the Land of Eden and still later Progress to the Mines
If space permitted mention might be made of earlier
writings the part the Engshmen associated with the
establishment of the first English colony in America and OF
other writings later dates by Virgnans In these sporadic
contributions there least be discovered suggestions of
what the Virginia gentleman might have done in literature
had ne been minded.
Perhaps the distinguishing attribute of the colonial
gentleman was his cheerful and assduou hospitality It
be the conditions surrounding him credited the
necessity that called for the cultivation of the grace of hos
pay The apses III the neg hborhoods of the settlement
great, and ordinarily homes widely removed
from another Mails irregular and inequen Fa-
cilites for travel and nercommuncaton
SO that contact with the outer world became interest
ing episode the lives Of the people These conditions made
hospitality not only necessary but transformed into
ceedng great privilege 1t pleasant to have around the
table and the evening hearhstone who brought dngs
OF the outer world Mr. Beverley "he inhabitants
courteous Travellers who needed other recommended
ton than the fact of being human stranger has
but to inquire upon the road where any gentleman good
ceved with hospitality This good general among
the people that the gentry when they abroad order their
principal to entertain all visitors with everything the
plantation affords And the poor planter who has but
bed will often sit all night lie upon the floor couch
to make room for weary traveller after his journey"
There numerous and most entertaining OF
where whole families would enjoy for weeks and months
at time the hospitality of another household 1t is related
how, in their for entertainment the heads of estab
shmcns would place convenient points the country
road dusky messengers who press entertainment and
hospitality any who CHANGED to that This
hospitality affluen cordial The Virginan
had gotten far from the harshps of the earlier
Nv tho haujnn ri tho ,feer