The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-01
thompson On I"rA $780, --

TT WAS in tho year 1903 that Tom
Moore. mebDIious song writer and
- poet. Irish patriot. STEPPED In th-
traditions or his native land. merry II
lace and Of hn art. came to Richmond.
Fresh from old world cities. the
irish bard and traveller must have won
dercd oyer u somewhat primitive and
somewhat sDarseiy settled town. Its
capitol huildsnS had been erected some
years befors but this same capitol
sat barely upon a min. thu Square hav-
ing not yet been laid Of. Tho popu-
laticn OF the city was about six thou
sand The swan Tavern. on Broad
street. near Eighth. and the Wash
iaston Ta15ern. now the Richmond
Hotel. wcze among the main Places OF
public entertainment.
In 1900. iust three years before Tom
Moore's visit. Main Street was known
TO be Impossible for carriages above
Twelfth In 1902 tho First Baptist
Church. aficrwari the scene OF fam
Gus political meetings and now known
as the First African Church. located
on BD3aa street. below Monumental
Church
Tho Year that Moore arrived IN Rich
nond was made memorable as 10 city
history. because Richmond was. during
that year. divided into three wards
The poet was described by Richmond
,iti4ens who met him and entertained
MIN In their homcs. as a lively. dap
per little gentleman. merry OF counte-
nance with twlnkl.ng eyes and re-
vpcn1s.ve smile
he was always ready to engage in
war Of wits and enjoyed all social
pleasures. delightng in nothing moro
hhan music and hearing the words OF
Pis songs fail from the lips OF fair NO
tnl.Efk " ~ r.f IL
Eject on the harp or guitar. Failing
sthese on the piano
Under his cordial exterior Nj. Moore
carried warm heart which had been
chilled by the lack OF welcome in
fha reception accorded him. when ne
rirst landed on American shores He
had POSSIBLY formed extravag giant eNpec-
ralons and was corrcspondingly disap-
pointed In the simple. natural. uns.-
r-ctcd Hospitality extended to him by
ritizens and representatives OF Rich
inond. he was compensated for the
want OF much that he had hitherto
looked for and looked in vain
James c. Johnson OF Langley. Fair
fax county. Va. In describing incl
dents connected with Moore's visit to
Virginia, writes that while in Rich
7nond he met William Wickham, who
was then a promincn; figure in the
state Capitol. Mr. Wickham invited
Moore 20 be hs guest and showed
him great courtesy. 1t is believed
there IS possibly a mistake here in tho
name. and that the Wickham referred
to by BY Mr.. Johnson was John Wick
ham. the builder and owner OF a fine
mansion at the southwest corner OF
CLAY and Eleventh Streets. a lawyer
who married, as his second wife. ono
OF the lovely daughters of Dr. j. r.
McClurg. OF Richmond. a woman who
NJ 9 Il
hostess. John Wickham had however.
a son. William Tanning Wickham, an
off spring OF his FIRST marriage
Upon the panels of John Wickham's
coach was inscribed the motto. "Aian-
ners maketh the man" The motto
was exempified in Mr. W4ckham's
daily life. ne being known as a man of
marked suavity and polished manners.
lie certainly entertained Thomas
Moore who said that the style in which
Mr. Wickham lived would do credit
TO the establishment OF any English
'nohleman.
But to return to Mr.. Johnson's mar
rative. He goes on to state that
"Mr Moore was moved by the treat
,ment received while in Mr. Wiokham's
house. TO write a poem The verses
were found living on a writing table
inter Moore's departure rrcccived the
poem from a grandchild of Mr Wick
ham. who also related to me the cir
ioumstanoes which caused II to ne
written. and kept in the family.
The verses are contained on one
page and the manuscript. frayed and
worn at the edges, is head together by
hacking NJ thin canvas. but the Ink.
grown brown with the lapse Of time.
still allows the handwriting OF the
poet to be easily deciphercd."
This is what the poem tells:
eyes did say on the pine barren
view.
AS weary iourneyed the wild road
along,
vrginia's rude soil. would glad bid
And never remember Virginia in song
'T had passed through her towns and
no converse had met.
Though in convoi-se my heart knew its
fondcst delight
And SO firm in. my breast had dear
friendship been set
THAT OF Friendship | thought might
challenge the right"
"But soon was the change when to
Richmond I came.
For the stranger here met with a
heart like his own.
AaA he sighssthat his verso win ne'er