The Ordway new era., 1913-10-10
Installment 19

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But the face of afiairs had greatly
changed, nevertheless. The old gener-
alton Of statesmen had passed away
almost with the colony, and young
or generation was in the saddle. not
withstanding q gray-haired figure here
and there.
Richard Bland had died in the year
of the Declaration; Peyton Randolph
had not lived to see 1t.
Edmund Pendleton. after presiding
over virginia's making as a state. as
chairman of her revolutionary commit
tee OF safety, was now Withdrawn
from active affairs to the bench. his
fine figure marred by a fall from his
horse, his old power as an advocate
transmitted into the cooler talents OF
the judge.
Patrick Henry, the ardent leader OF
the Revolution. had been chosen the
states first governor, in the year OF the
Declaration of Independence; three
years later Thomas Jefferson had sue
ceeded him in office. the philosophical
radical of times of change; the choice
Of Mr.. Harrison had but completed the
round of the new variety In affairs-
Men who, like Richard Henry Lee.
had counseled revolution and the
breaking of old bonds. were now In all
things at the front Of Virginia's busi-
ness; and younger men, of a force and
power of origination equal to his own
were pressing forward as II to carry
q new generation to the stage which
had known nothing but independence
and a free field of statesmanship.
Among the rest. James Madison.
only little more than ten years out
of college. but already done with serv-
ing his novitiate In the congress- OF the
confederation. a publicist and leader
In the old dominion at thirty-two.
Edmund Randolph. of the new gen.
Grafton of the commemorative great
family Of lawyers. like his forbears In
gifts and spirit. was already received
at thirty. into a place of influence
among public men.
Marshall . War Veteran.
John Marshall. Just turned Of twen-
ty-eight, but . veteran Of the long war
none the less. having been at the thick
Of the fighting. lieutenant and cap
tain abong the Virginian forces. from
the time Dunmore was driven from
Norfolk till the eve of yorktown. vns.
now that that duty was done, a lawyer
In quiet Fauquier. drawing to himself
the eyes of every man who had the
perception to note qualities Of force
and leadership.
James Monroe had come out OF the
var at twenty-five to go at once into
the public councils Of his state. an
equal among his elders. Young men
came forward upon every side to take
their part In the novel rush Of anairs
that followed upon the heels Of rev.
olution. r4E gt- lH
Royal Welcome for Washington.
Washington found himself no strang-
er in the new state. for all 1t had
grown Of sudden SO unlike that old
community in which his own life had
been formed. He found very royal
welcome awaiting him at his home
coming.
The old commonwealth loved hero
still as much as ever; was as loyal to
him now as 1t had been In the far-away
days of the French war, when Din.
widdle alone fretted against him; re-
ceived him with every tribute of af-
lection, offered him gifts. and loved
him all the better for refusing them.
But he must have felt that deep
change had come upon his life. none
the less, and even upon his relations
with his old familiars and neighbors.
Most Famous Man Of the Day.
He had gone away honored indeed.
and marked for responsible services
among his people, Burgess as a mat
ter of course. a notable citizen. whose
force no man who knew him could
fall to remark; but by no means &C.
counted greatest. even among the men
who gathered for the colony's business
at williamsburg: chosen only upon oc-
casion for special services Of action:
no debater or statesman. 80 far as or
dinary men could see: too reserved to
be popular with the crowd. though 1t
should like his frankness and taking
address. and 60 out OF its way to see
him on horseback; man for his neigh
bors, who could know him. not for
the world. which he refused to court.
But the war had suddenly lifted
him to the view of all mankind; had
set him among the great captains OF
the world: had marked him a states
man in the midst Of affairs-more a
statesman than a soldier even, men
must have thought who had read his
letters or heard them read in congress.
on the floor or in the committee rooms;
had drawn to himself the admiration
Of the very mon he had been fighting,
the very nation whose dominion he
had helped to cast on.
He had come home perhaps the most
famous man Of his day, and could not
take up the old life where he had left
It of. much as he wished to: was
obliged, in spite of himself. to play
new part in affairs.
Befriended by Nature.