The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-23
MUCH ENTHUSIASM
At PARK MEETING
GREAT CROWD HEARS AD-
DRESSES BY MR.. RICHARDSON
AND MRS. ROPP,

I The pretty scene and impressive ex,
I ercises that marked the temperance
meeting on Jefferson park last night
and the large. orderly and attentive
crowd. which gave every indication
Of enjoyment. was expressive Of the
( deep interest that Is being felt In the
issues of the campaign in Richmond
The occasion also demonstrated the
/ fact that the w. C. r. L. voted wise
thing In providing the series OF park
meetings. of which last nights meet
| ing was the second, the first meeting
having also been a decided success.
With consistent regard for the
progressiveness that characterizes
/ brilliantly illuminated with lights in
stalled for the special occasion at their
own expense. These brilliant lights
were sufficiently powerful to make
half the park light and revealed a
pretty tableaux on the pretty green
sward.
Mrs. Biekers, the Richmond w. c.
T. U. president. called the meeting to
order, and presented Mrs Bales, who
led the children's chorus in the state
wide rally song, Till Virginia's Dry"
hetc. Mr.. Hopkins, of Venable- Street
Baptist church. offered prayer. and Rev.
E. j. Richardson was presented in
eloquent terms amidst applause, Mr..
Richardson made a strong address,
illustrated by drawings on a black
+ board. and cartoons. rrefacing the
inspiring address with g. handsome
tribute to the w. c. T. u. and it's great
influence in moulding the present high
temperance tide. AS the State w. c.
7. U. president says when the liquor
men get on the local option platform
it's time for the temperance people to
move up" This was the keynote of
strong indictment against local OPP
| ton and in favor of Statewide-read-
ing extracts from the Richmond press
of 1854, showing that local option was
then opposed by men who now advo-
cate IL and oppose Statewide"
Mr. Richardson's address was
punctuated by humorous aneed otter
and pathetic passages and while he
disciaimed any intention or desire to
be personally offensive to anybody, he
called spades, spades" and elected
vigorous applause by his pithy, pun
gent sentences and earnest appeal for
prohibition. His sketch drawing was
unique and telling. and at the con-
ciusion of the thrilling address the
speaker was accorded hearty applause
/ The great crowd of children were
especially interested In the drawings
and Rev. Mr.. Richardson is doing
splendid work in this line as well as
in other ways in advancing the pro-
hibition cause.
Mrs. Ropp was gracefully intro
duced by MIR. Richardson as The
Silver Tongued Orator Of Shenan-
doah."
Mrs Ropp was received with hearty
cheers and hand clapping which she
gracefully acknowledged with d bow
and pleasant smile. The Silver
Tongued Orator of Shenandoah" Is
pleasing in appearance and gesture
and her voice is indeed as clear and
sweet-toned as silver bill. Her
movements are natural---no posing for
effect. She speaks rapidly and earnest
ty and holds her audience spleudidly.
She always prefaces her addresses
with a prayer and gets at the heart OF
her subject with directness and with
out circumlocution. There Ii nothing
akin to personal abuse in her deliver
ances. though she thinks and voices
her thoughts In straight line. dodg-
/ ing no point and always adhering
closely to her theme that the liquor
traffic is deadly harmful to Virginia
home-life. and that. whatever their
motive, all those who vote for license
are striking a blow at those things
of immeasurably more value than
money.
But while adhering closely to her
theme her addresses are not stereo-
typed repetitions and one can be
equally interested in every one of the
series
The address last night was a clear
analysis of the prohibition question
and emphasis OF the contention that
there is no middle ground on which
to stand "On the one hand you see
q ad no hot kut
home protection. for social, order and
the extending Of helping hand to
those who are susceptible to the al
cohoiic appetite: on the other hand
you find the liquor interests who are
Il the business as Q monetary in
vestment and their allies, some Of
whom seem to lay more stress on the
thought OF revenue than OF the higher
considerations"
If an epidemic or plague threat
ened to seize upon our fair State, and
lay its deathly blight upon our homes
there Is not man, woman or child
In the State who would not wish every
dime In Vtrgtnia's treasury expended II
necessary to stay its ravages--yes, and
even you would cry out for an in
crease Of taxation II necessary, And
yet when this awful scourge OF
drink is breaking up homes and wo-
men and children are crying out for
help and deiiverence. some men-and,
alas. women too!-cry out Increased
taxation" isn't it supreme folly?"
The fair speaker put it squarely
up to the men thus:
We have faith in Virginia man.
hood-in Virginia traditional chivalry
and 1t will not fail US now, When
an armed foe invaded the state vir-
ginia sons sprang forward to defend
her firesides and thousands went to
their death on the altar" OF self-sacri-
Ace! This Is no battle Of bullets, but
OF ballots and we expect you men to
stand by our homes In this conflict"
Mr.. Richardson has drawn you a
graphic picture Of the drunkard's home
but. oh! he could not picture the awful
agony OF womens broken hearts! Men
may be able to love q dozen women.
but a woman can love but one man.
and this thing drink robs woman OF
her only love-
With great effect she interpreted
the story in a recent popular magazine
Of an idiot baby whose father was a
drunkard, and this was followed by
the graphical recital OF awful home
and heart tragedies. the conclusion
being an impassioned and wonderful
plea for the men to vote for prohibit
ton.
1t was great meeting and the at
tendance was 1900 or 1900.