The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-23

| place in Virginia's Hall OF Fame, Ed
| ward Virginius Valentine deserves
most honorable mention.
He is virslnia's most distinguished
sculptor He Is a native of Richmond
In which city, with tho exception Of
the year spent abroad In preparation
for his life work. he has been a resi-
dent.
He early developed love for the
/ beautiful and had lofty ambition to
/ give 1t expression In enduring marble
and bronze, SO that 1t is not strange
that he should early turn his attention
to sculpture, nor that his greatest
I works are associated with the names
OF those great sons OF Virginia whose
deeds in war and peace have given not
only to them but to the Commonwealth,
an Immortality of fame.
The works by which Mr.. Valentine
i will be longest remembered are the
recumbent figure OF General Robsrt p.
Lee in the Memorial Chapel at WASH
| ington and Lee University; the bronze
figure or Stonewa1l jackson at Lexing-
| ton, the marble statue Of Thomas Jer-
| ferson In Richmond, the bronze statue
| of General Hugh Mercer at Frederlcks-
burg and the statue OF General Robert
p, Lee in the Capitol at Washington.
We do not forget of course ms
classic group OF Andromache ana As.y
anax. as the ideal figure OF the pima
girl. and others equally meritorious.
MRS. J. TAYLOR ELLYSON.
John A. Elder.
have tho honor to present the
name Of John A. Elder. the great bat
tie painter, gifted sculptor and gallant
Confederate soldier--a name dear 10
| many OF us now present. And since
he used his pencil to illustrate the
yalor and portray the great leaders
| OF the cause he loved so Well, history
| will associate him with Robert y. Lee
| as David with Napoleon and stuart
with Washington.
John Elder was born In the city OF
| Fredericksburg IN 1899 He attended,
a normal school until he was about
| sixteen years old. but evtnced little
| love for the routine of school lie, MI
| Ing the blank spaces in his books witt:
coricatures of his teachers and COM
panions, and spending his study hours
| in carving miniature heads in camel
coal.
Being present at the battle OF the
| Crater, ne afterwards painted the
memorable picture bearing that name.
which we all know so we'll.
This inspiring picture now graces
the entrance hall of the Westmoreland
club. along with his dashing painting.
"The Scouts Prize" !.
His "Appomattox" hangs on the wal!
| Of the Virginia State Library. from
| this famous picture he made his statue
of the Confederate soldier Tor the
Confederate Soldiers Monument In
A1exandria-the most faithful and
| touching portrait ever created OF the
man who simply followed the call or
| duty.
| Mr.. Elder worked In our midst many
wears after the war. and we all knew
and loved him. till that insidious dis
| ease paresis claimed him. Flo then
returned to his old home in F,reder-
icksburg to be tenderly nursed by his
three nieces. After several years SUI
fering he died-a man of princeiy
| gifts. simple faith and honorable pur-
| pose. nSo>,
william Il. Sheppard.
Out of the storm and darkness that
nresaged the civil War there arises
no more soul-stirring memory .nhil
that of tho homeward rush of Viz
pinia,s sons when the mothers call
went forth. No human artist could
naint that p!cture-the canvas would
he as wide as the borders OF our land
for. turning from wealth. ease, and
| ire work of years, they came out OF
the North. the East, the West, to give
i themselves to battle and privatlon for
love of country.
In this "far-lung line" OF Virginia.
loyal sons there was an artist IN the
|. glow Of young manhood.
seven years OF conscientious work
i had brought his genius to the thres.
hold OF success when the Worlu Oh
/ art was renounced for the campnrea'
/ the long marches, the roar OF guns.
Suffering and disappointment IN
j righteous cause only deepened q char
1 acter lofty and pure, and IN thlluFe
4 came his accolade.
| Later study in foreign lands re-
awakened the powers that had per
| force lain dormant for four years. and
| once more brush and pencil told their
| vivid stories at the bidding OF mas
| ter hand Work In the sister art OF
/ sculpture also attained a rare and
living merit In monuments which Will
| forever adorn the parks and streets OF
Rlchmond-on-the-Ia
Virginia Is proud OF her soldier
4 artist, and I have the honor of pre-
/ senting for the Hall Of Fame the name
Of Major William L. Sheppard.
s. w. LEFROY.
Dr. G. w. DaHhy.
DR.. George w. Bagby was born IN
Buckingham county eighty-two years
ago. He was educated in New Jersey
and at the University of Pennsylvania.
| He, was correspondent for several
newspapers. and wrote series Of let
tiers purporting to be from Washing
ton. D. c., under the name OF "Mozis