The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-02

love to feel and the gift to portray the I
Virginia life as Bagby had"
Dr. Bagby was known for brilliant
writer In his day among virginians,
but the storms OF war and reconstruc-
ton obscured his talents and prevent
ed any wide publication OF his writ
ings. and this Is the first time that
these essays have been brought to-
gether in book form.
The essays are prefaced by a bio-
graphical sketch Of DR.. Bagby, written
by Edward S. Gregory in an eloquentl
and appreciative manner, the sketch
following, naturally. Mr.. Pages beautl-
ful Introduction.
The Old Virginia Gentleman" in Its
description of the beauty and SIM
plicity of Virginia country life and the
indwellers OF Virginia country homes,
Is piece OF word painting unexcel1ed
for Its merit, tenderness and vividness.
The stir and the pleasant hustle OF
country life. its scenes and occupations
lTOH udESe6ltuB duO ClueG-UohSAAB W
corn-shucking and timber-cutting,
voice the protest Of an author who
knows his subject against the posi-
billy Of monotony In Southern planta-
| ton life. OF THE Old Virginia Cen
| tleman" DR.. Bagby writes: He was
| not wiser. DE was not more learned,
| lie was not more successful than other
men. Wherein. then. lay his strength,
and what was the secret Of his In
| fluence? I answer in one word
| character. A certain inherited some
! thing in the blood and bodily fibre that
/ fused all his qualities and lifted them
as steady concentrated light In a
/ Pharos, so that the simple look OF the
| man. the poise OF his head. his very
gait. betrayed the elevation OF his
nature. Characterised upon the i'm
mutable basis of honor, and q love OF
4 liberty Observation-Disclosures was the
/ source OF his power, and the whole OF
| It,"
Concerning the old-time Virginia
| ladies. DR.. Bagby bears this exalted
| testimony: There was about these
/ girls I know not what OF sauce-the
word is little too strong-of mis-
1 chief, OF spirit, Of fire. OF archness'
| coouetry and bright winsomeness-
/ tendrils these OF a stock tnat was
strong and true as heart could wish OF
/ nature frame AS were the girls. 80
was their mother; only o. !ype.
| nossible. still higher. She lived IN
i,ttia world Of he own. Her manner
.yaa-not. in the usual sense, high bred:
~ hers was the highest breeding. ana
sba had no manner. But her welcome
1 asvou entered her door, and her greet
,nr meet her when you might, on inc
aad,asa round of her duties INDOORS
~ ont. was as simple and genial as
I sunshine, and as sweet as sprlhs
water. Her light blush. easily cAiie -
I'm when her children rallied ne1' %
4 thew habitually would. about nel ota ~
4 "a shioned ways and her lshoian 70 Ia
the world, was something new ~
tar,otten. Her pride in her sons. her
dslisht In her daughters. her lowEness
~ nmility-for che was least among
thar, all. IND they were as YET 10Y
s.as,n. and too full Of bounding Ate 70
$3.50 and worship her as she deserves
rev ,.,o shall. who can. fifty tell OF THESE
\ things?" -.
~ snirit In which 1t has been Writteh;
e en ,base and other reasons. "ihe Olu ,
1,,rr,nia Gentleman has Its right1ui
,aa5,na Mace in DR.. Bagby's book,
Thsre are fifteen other essays. some
humorous some pathetic, all strohSty
/ characteristic of an author whotn NJ
4 page describes as "a physician Dy pro.
1 fession. a humorist by the way shu
God-made man OF letters
naragraph from Canal Hemlh1s-
oances" win bring to mind the days
- hoat travel from Richmond to places
~ +ha unper James and the plctur-
esnnaness OF such locomotion. Or.
parhv saws: .The perfect cultivation,
Inc me abundance, the elegance, the ducal
snlandor. ono might almost say, OF th ls
great estates that lay along tine canal
n the old days .have>passed away IN q
great measure. Here were gentieIhen,
not merely refined and educated. ntteo
10 display q royal hospitality ana 70
devote their leisure to the stuay q
the art and practice OF government 81 or ~.
they were greatly successful farmers
as veil. Well remember never
can forgct-how from time to time the
boat would stop at ono Of these estates
and the planter, his wife, his dauBh-
tars and the guests that were goins
homo with them would be met by those
Who had remained behind. and how
JOYOUS the greetings We're! II was
bright and happy scene. and 1t contin'
ually repeated itself as We went on.
ward"
The assay called "a Piece About
doctors" Is one OF the most splendlt
tributes to men Of the medical proles'
sion. as Or. Bagby knew them. thai
Ecould possibly be written.
The book closes with poem callet
"After Appomattox." inspired BY tn
lfaot that General Leo. returning 4
Richmond after the surrender at APP
I pomattox, and passing the residence @
his brother, Carter Lee. of PowhataI
county, pitched his tent by the road
4 side as usual instead Of yielding t
his brothers. opportunities to spent
the night In his house. Two verses
of the poem relate of Lee how
"ais work seems done, his day seem
spent,
:What matters night on daana