The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-27
,Kennedy Square,

IN his preface "in the late ffties was
l place of birds and trees and flowers;
Of rude stone benches. sagging arbors
smothered in vines and cool dirt paths
Sordered by understanding box. Giant
11agnolas flled the air with their
fragrance. and climbing roses played
hide and seek among the ratings of
the rotten fence. Along the shaded
walks laughing boys and girls romped
all day. with hoop and ball. attended
oy old black mammies in white aprons
md gaily colored bandannas. while In
he more secluded corners. sheltered by
protecting shrubs. happy lovers sat
and talked. tired wayfarers rested with
hats off and staid old gentlemen read
Sy the hour. their noses in their books
AS to location, Kennedy Square," It.
would appear. must have been In upper
Virginia. on tho Potomac River. as st
George Wilmot Temple, counselor-at.
law. owner of Temple Mansion and an
embodiment OF what was best in his class
and station. Is described Is going down
Chesapeake Bay on duck hunt. The
Eastern Shore Of Virginia, in Accomac
or Northampton county, suggests an
other possibility as to environment.
Colonel Carter. of Cartersville." has
long been famous Southern type
OF F Hopkinson Smiths creating ST
successor to Colonel Carter" de-
scribed in his personality as being six
feet and an inch; straight, ruddy-
checked broad shouldered and we'll
rounded but with his waist measure
still under control: with a sympathy
that moved him to divide everything
he owned into two parts. and his own
half into two once more If the other
fellow needed II. With a kindness that
M ~ 1T
tesy which. even IN a time when men
lifted their hats to men as we'll as to
women. had gained for him. the town
over, the soubriquet of Gentleman
George while to every young girl and
youth under twenty he was Just dear
Uncle Georee--the one man In all
Kennedy Square who held their
secrets"
st. George Temple was a bachelor
It hardly remains to say. There is
more than one delicately yelled allusion
10 his gay, tempestuous youth. with a
love-story broken of because Of some
mad. ungovernable escapade that Of
Tended past forgiveness.
Perhaps his mothers eyes and smile
looked at St. George Temple out OF
Harry Rutter's youthful face. and
thereby made their Irresistible appeal
to the older man. Perhaps that is the
reason why Harry's cause was plead
with his Justly offended lady love.
Katheine Seymour. and peace made
between the young couple by Uncle
George who said to the girl: 1T isn't
his fault-it's the Spanish and Dutch
blood In his veins--ths blood Of that
old hidalgo and his Dutch ancestor.
De Ruyter. that crops out once in
while. Harry would he n pirate and
sweep the Spanish main II he had
lived In those days. instead of being
gentleman who values nothing in life
so much is the woman he loves"
And then TO young Harry waiting
outside the drawing room door: You
rsprohate. when you get in go down on
your knees and beg her pardon. and
If ever catch you causing her an
other heartache. I'll break your neck.
do YOU hear7"
Many readers will wonder what Vir-
ginia home appears In Kennedy
square under the name of Moorlands.
and what special entertainment was
In the authors mind when he wrote
Of the ball a which the hetrothal an
nouncement OF Harry Rutter and
Katherine Seymour was TO he made.
The Joyous beginning of the festivity.
the duel that Interrupted it. the dis
owning of Harry Rutter by his father
1
ere all told In the same deeply inter
ssting chapter.
The charm of the book its GOOD
fellowship and loyalty. the VARYING
fortunes of its principal characters
among whom Todd. st George Tenn.
2ie's body servant. must he counted
IN. render IL" distinctively deliFhtfii
I, belongs by right 10 the neriod a,
us assignment, and Its pages are filled
with the aroma of the past. the eSlen
ior of the old regime, It's hospitalitv
and courtesy
References to Edgar Allan Poe In
Mr. Smiths book Will particularly en-
gage the attention OF people in this
community. where so much of Poo's
early life was passed. whore he edited
the Southern Literary Messenger. and
was married TO Virginia GLENN
one reference IN particular has 10
40 with a dinner given by st George
Temple at Temple Mansion, in honor
OF Poe passing Through the little
town on his way to Richmond Poe
'ame late to the diiraer His host
begged him to tell one Of his stories
for the entertainment OF the guests
assembled in his honor. Hopkinson
smith. picturing the occasion. SAYS;
Everybody vas seated now with eyes
liked on the poet Harry. overcome
and stiii daaed. pressed close to Rich
ara VINO bending forward. had put
MS elbow on the table. his chin in his
hand Clayton wheeled a big chair
and placed 1T back some little distance
so that he could set a better view Of
the man. Seymour. Latrobe and the
others caated their seats 90 face the
speaker squarelv
1T was the poet nov who stood he
fore them--tne man Of genius-the
man whose name was known the
country through. That he was drunk
was only part OF the performa nee.
Booth had been drunk when ne chased
a super from the stage: Webster mad.
his best speeches when ne was half
seas over 1t was so with many men
OF genius the world over II they
could hear one ~ Poe's poems-or.
better still. ono or his short stories
like The Black Cat or The Murders
in the Rue Morgue'--it would be like
hearing Emerson read one Of his es-
says, or Longfellow reci,e his ny