The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-02
Promote Movement
for Statue of Maury,
Virginia's Scientist

wyndharn r. Meredith criticized
last night in scathing terms the ac-'
uuisiGveness of An age which denied
to Matthew Fontaine Maury "A statue
and place of highest honor among the
great mem whiCn Virginia has given
the world.
1t is a sad commentary. he said,
upon the way IN which people view
this sort OF genius that the man, who
gave UP more than any other individ-
uai with the possible exception of
Robert F. Lee. TO cast his fortunes In
the War Between the States with the
state which he knew to be right, has
not been recognized In Some material
way as other great outstanding fig
ures have.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Meredth's
address before the Matthew Fontaine
Maury association at the Woman's
club. George Bryan suggested that the
next statue 70 be erected on Monu-
sons, be that OF the world famed
scientist and commodore in the Con-
federate navy The suggestion met
with enthusiastic applause,
Mr.. Meredith declared the attitude
of the world toward men who have
accom- pfisfed things is an index to the
naterialistic trend of the times. IT is
the successful politician and the vic
torious soldier who receive the piaud-
It's Of the multitude and whose deeds
stand ont more respfendent with the
men and women who indulge in hero
worship.
But. he declared, n is to the men
who have been masters in the mental
field and have done things for the up
lift and the betterment of humanity
everywhere and at All times that the
world should give the greatest meed
Of praise The nations in history
which excefled in art and literature
and sculpture. he said. are the ones
which the world remembers with the
most lasting memrry- Virginia Will
live through her Poe. IN ateratnres- her
Maury in Science, and her ssierers. m
sculpture.
Mfr. Meredith began his address by
recalling to the audience that Virginia
has 81 reputation for afSsesst0r-worSliip.
This. he said, might be good or bad.
as the worshipers turned the worship
10 account. If they simply gboat over
The glory Of the past ii results newt
ably, he said, in stagnation- But. when
pride in the achievements Of those
who have gone before, spurs them ON
tn emulation, then this worship is
made capital from which they win re-
ceive the income of great accomplish
mont.
go Their followed "A brief, sketch " Tire
life and character OF Commodore
injury.
; Mr. Meredith reYnem bered The
scientist who lived in Richmond when
the speaker was n child. and he re-
called his love for children and how
the commodore would tell his youthful
friends stories of his travels and
sr,e- he 1,.,1 ~.
of Maury's early life, of the hard
school of poverty in which ne was
trained. OF the nearnesss with which he
came to following the pillow, OF his de-
termination to enter the navy against
tho wishes Of hts parents and of the
great charm OF person he possessed.
When the war came on he was a
worsd figure. high potentates an over
the world had showered honors upon
him. he had ny his own ipse dixit
Called together at Brussels the most
important scientific congress of the
time. yet, because of his high sense Of
right and honor he turned away from
the great career which siding with
the North would give him and offered
his services TO Virginia and the
South.
Commodore Maury. he said. is not
considered the greatest of scientists in
the realms of highly speculative
scfencc-not the peer. perhaps. OF
Spencer and Huxley. but In tho field of
applied science he stands unexce1led
In the history OF the world.
To him must be given the credit or
rounding the United States Naval
academy, Of making wonderfully ef-
fectfve the work at the Naval OBJ
|servatory, OF revolutionfzing commerce
and saving thousands of lives with his
charts OF winds and currents, Of max
Ing possible the great work Of the
weather bureau, OF furnishing Ne
brains FOR the laying OF tho Atlantic
cable and other Invaluable service In
the realm OF ecsencN.
MT. meredith was introduced by s.
s. r. Patterson. judge Beverly r
Crump followed Mr.. Meredith In a
short, timely talk.