The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-13

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 and always in protecting the rights of the
 colony and the individual? It requires
 more than a day for the full growth of
 an idea. Deep in the mind and heart of every man who had courage to shake off the dust of the old, for the sake of eman-
 cipated thought, must have been buried
 a burning love of liberty But the soil
 around the seeding needed to be uproot-
 ed of much hard old growth. and 1t was destined to be moistened with the flow of heart blood before it sprang into the full flower of It's being
 In the meantime the years of so-called
 democratic aristocracy." the colonial
 age of the south, were but the days of
 sunshine necessary to the final develop ment of purpose.
 For once the hand of time seemed to be
 stayed, while care-free people amused
 themselves. The pioneers had toiled their | way through the wilderness, and those who followed accepted the fruit of their
 labors as a matter of course, while they
 proceeded to forget the great hidden
 principle. the compelling force, which
 had, perhaps, unconsciously turned them
 thfther. Yet all the time it was there. And truer than the engaging smile and
 the light compliments paid her royal
 majesty, the queen; stronger than the
 ringing of the old Raleigh Tavern with
 echoes of God Save the King," was the
 still small voice which in the conscience
 of every man breathed the prayer, God
 save the people"
 | So, while the powdered and ruffied dig
 nitary rode in his coach -and-four to tho
 vice-regal capital at Williamsburg; while | he accepted the honors bestowed upon | him by his royal majesty with the low
 and courtly bow of loyal subject; there was little son, taking first steps around
 the doorway of his home who was des-
 tined to become a prophet and redeem | CT. The mirthful years between infancy
 and manhood were filled only with the l light cares which vex the spirit of youth. | Never before nor since has there been a | more harmonious state of society than during this great golden age of Virginia which dawned with the 18th century. It | is common mistake to think that all | who made their homes here at this time were noble. There are always people In every land ennobled because of some | service rendered others. Tn England some of these, either because of their own worthiness, or that of their fathers, had been recognized with title. A few of these gentlemen came to America and Virginia proved no exception to the rule. but claimed her share of worth, labelled or unlabelled, with a hearty recognition of all who were entitled to be called
 noblemen. The cavaliers had no monop- oly upon honor and integrity and ability. The redemptioner might become a free
 man: the small planter might aspire to bonded estates; the slave might become
 a trusted servant and friend. There was
 always a step ahead, just as tfere is to- day for those who could learn to walk
 No question but that the lowest and
 highest were here to make the social life of America. Even the English prison
 doors were unbarred when Virginia was offered as a refuge. So, with John G. Sake, you may
 Depend upon it, my snobbish friend, Your thread of descent you can't ascend, Without good reasons to apprehend You'll find 1t mixed at the other end With some plebeian vocation.
 Or sadder still, your boasted line
 May end in a loop of stronger twine, That plagued some worthy relation" However, 1t is with deep gratitude that we remember that Dr. Johnson happened to be very angry. and therefore slightly
 unjust, when he exclaimed to the English
 ministers: "Why the Americans are
 race of convicts. and ought to be thank full for anything we allow them short of
 hanging" Or perhaps the irate doctor had just forgotten that most of that race of convicts had been left behind, doubt less preferring the luxury of an English Jdli lO lnt ITetuOIn Ol tOll III <aIutIlCd. Some of the deinquents of society today are perhaps descendants of the indented servants who were so readily recognized by the negroes as white trash.' Many of them, however, were worthy people,
 willing to serve in payment for their passage to land of new promise.
 It is very certain that from many of those first old homes of the south came patriots, statesmen and soldiers:o men who constructed a nati0D and
 who conserved it's purest Ideals around the family freside. Whatever we have of good today we owe to their sacrifice, and for their mistakes we must pay the penalty unto the end. The masters morn ing today and the old decanter on the sideboard filled with imported canary or port, may have seemed harmless enough
 to the man who was never intemperate; but this was the begining of a heavy
 mortgage placed upon future manhood. And throughout the years the tragedies of slavery will be rooted in the hearts and writ upon the faces of a mongrel race.
 l Class distinction there was, just s,there will always be, while men and knaves l live in the same world but there was | less class friction than we have today. l There were land owners and land hold l CTS, free men and redemptioners and slaves, but there was no great conflict | between capital and labor. Perhaps to- day we might consider that every class was too we'll content for progress; or Is | 1t today that every class longs for the l goal of attainment, without the plodding | steps necessary to such development? ] However this may be, 1t has been the | privilege of so many historians either | to satirize the cavalier or to eulogize him, l that we are prone to be repelled by him
 as a most intolerant parsonage, or to be drawn toward him as the ideal of man. hood. From those who knew him best, we gain the impression of a gentleman | of honor. inheriting alike an overdue fondness for ceremony and sport; filled with the mirth of his age, but withoal | bearing himself with dignity and kindi- l ness. His retairers and slaves were
 known as his servants and humble friends, and the small planter was a neighbor citizen. There was no subserv- fence on the part of the latter as he was
 man of independence and principle,
 whose children have given stability to
 our nation. Despite its lack of purpose,
 there is a refreshing charm clinging
 about the memory of an age when Amer ica had time to live. There were no tel ephones or telegraph or automobiles, but there were occasions when whole families could enjoy meal together without an interruption, and rarer times when A
 rumbling old stage coach stopped at the door of the great house with nice fat let ters. Then there was the coach- and -four ready for the state calls of the mistress,
 and the thoroughbred awaiting miladfs pleasure.
 At that time the growth of cities was
 usually on paper. but the capital of Will liamsburg was marvellously busy with the council of wise heads and fhA eav