Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-05-25
Brickbats and Bouquets.
Christ church viearaee.


Dear Mr.. CampbelI.-As one who has
known the FREE PREss for more than
fifty years. l view with the warmest
interest the completion of its centenary
and its entrance upon a new era of its
career. Nothing better could be wished
for it than that it may be true to the
fine traditions which are behind it, as it
goes forth to win fresh laurels and to
further. in days to come. all that is
true, honest. just. pure. lovely, and
Of good report. -
Forgive me if / write in strain
which may seem too reminiscential, too
full Of the memories of ''the days that
are no more.
How well / remember in those days
the Editor of THE OLD FAMILY JOURNAL,
as we loved to call it, Horatio Nelson
Galiaher, a man whose inexhsustible
fund Of wit and humor afforded merri-
ment to the whole county irrespective
of classes, creeds or parties. He was
a veritable Yorick whose geniality and
kindness ofheart endeared him to wide
circle Of friends.
And then it was my privilege to mum.
her amongst my personal friends his
gifted soL and successor, William
Wallace Beeler Gallaher, upon whom
the mantle Of his fathers powers de-
scended in large measure, whom the
charm of a winning personality, the at
traction of cultured intellect. the
noble enthusiasm for every good cause
and the lofty Christian tone of his
journalistic work rendered facile prin-
>ceps amongst the editors of his genera
tion
Whilst on visits to my native land be-
tween the years ~1867-1902, it was
amongst my greatest enjoyments to
converse with him in his. editorial sane
tum or at his private residence. He
was cosmopolitan in his sympathies.
There was nothing narrow or provin-
cial about his outlook, which was ma
tional and worldwide. shall never
forget conversation with him at the
time of the Boer War, when feeling in
America ran strongly against Great
Britain. He said he could not wish to
see England Inundated. anation whose
work for humanity throughout the
world had been so vast and SO benefi-
cent
We had much in common in our deep
affection for West Virginia, for Jeffer-
son County and for Charles Town, and
he welcomed my manifestation of it
upon the part of those who like myself
had gone forth to fulfil the. destinies
in other parts of the country and be-
yond.
Amongst my earliest recollections Of
him was his magnificent bass voice in
the choir of the Presbyterian Church
where re sang when | used to go there
with my dear old mother in the days OF
good old DR.. Dutton.
1t was the keenest regret that re.
ceived the tidings of his death. But
"the good die not" After they have
passed to their eternal rest they live on
in uplifting examples which they have
bequeathed, in the standards of truth
and righteousness which they upheld
and in the influence of their personal
ties upon those who survive them.
/ have al1eady trespassed too much
upon your space to touch on any OF
those subjects kindly suggested in your
letter, viz: the Constitutional questions
now in course of settlement with us and
the coronation SO soon to take place.
With ivory good wish for yourself
and the dig Family Journal, together
with heartfelt congratulations upon the
beginning which you have made as its
Editor, believe me,
Yours Sincerely.
| F. L. AGLIoNBY.