Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-30
HIGH INSPIRATION
is DRAWN FROM
MAURY'S WRITINGS
}. II. Binford Pays Tribute
to This Noted Son of
Virginia.
.--.--------
PATHFINDER OF SEAS"
TOILED FOR HUMANITY
His Personal Letters Throw a
Flood of Light Upon
His Character.

NJ the rcccn: s"miannual meeting
"i III" Matthew Fontainc Maury As
S'H'ti"n. ho'd Ia this city. the fol-
wing h@dr"sg was delivered by J
~ H!nford, assistant eupcrin,cnden,
~ schools for Richrnrnd. Mr.. Bin
ford said in part:
+ In the year 1925 ii young man. nine
''"h Eears old LEFT Franklin. Tenn,
10 seek his way in the world This
Youth had been reared Ia u country
N0rre tho people ~crc OF the earth
'arlhr and wherc ;oil and novcrty
tended to hlun, tn. Amer ideals. II
wax a frontier country, with the few
t'rtucs ana the many vices whlc.i
'hdractcrIs" ouch sections But the
10y had Inherited from his ancestors
mora. ideals ambitions ana dreams
which his rude surroundings couii
not smother.
ile Vas not the hardy type OF back
Woodeman VINO delights in fcats Of
strength and endurance. His bodily
frame was far from Imposing. hut =,
Glance INTO his face showed a youth
oi unusual grace and intelligence.
BE LETT home without his fathers
blessing. with $50 In his pocket. loan
I'd him by his school teacher. and rId-
ilS borrowed horse, obtained
Wrought tho generosity OF 4 neigh
bcr. His destination was Washing
irn. and the career he had chosen for
ims.lf was the navy.
Equal ." Greatest.
This Iai was Matthew Fontaine
Nlury. tn. founder 81 the Naval Oh
"a, h.. n
iud.r OF the Scas,'' the dlscovcrcr OF
the marine plateau between New
.ouudlani and Europe. the Inventor
= marine ,orpedccs. the author o:
The Physical Geography OF the Sea"
meteorology, ~ All the great men
Virginia has given TO the nation and
10 the world. non. has rendered
greater servic" to mankind nor sc
materially Influenced succeeding gen
urat!ons as Maury His fame, as yet
though manifested by monuments or
other IN, inorials. is az secure as that
~ Columbus. Guiiileo. Newton or
Washington II Is woven into the
warp and wocl OF everyday lie on
ANA and sea and is written incffably
into modern science.
1t is useless 10 dwell on why this
great man has not received that
place among Americas !mm"rtais 10
which he * Justly entitled. Viz
.-!nia has its own Parthcn"n, and
NH ere long suitably mcmorialize
him whose everlasting monument is
tho uncnd;ng sea.
His characteristics are best seen in
his writings. As read his Scraps
From the Lucky Bag" his Inca Pa
rers. that wonderful book. The
Physical Geography of the Sea" and
above all. his personal letters so
carefully preserved by his daughter,
1rs. Diana Corbin. had to bow in
reverence and love before the match
less character that stood forth--as
Gentle and sweet in the intimate re-
Iationsh:ps of life as Lee and as fer
yont in his faith in God as Stone
all Jackson.
The first literary effort OF Maury
to attract widespread attention was
Inc Scraps From the Lucky Bag,
which he wrote in the Southern Lit
erary Messenger under the pscudonym
Of Harry Bluff. on furlough after
being in the navy for thirteen years
he. LOOK Il jour w i'NH''sNS ~
visit his parents. Returning. he was
,hrown from the top of stage coach
and injured so seriously that lie was
ircapacitated for active service in
the navy. For three years lie spent
most OF the time in Fredericksburg
chatting under physical disabilities.
hut his active mind was at work with
the result that the Scraps From the
Lucky Gag" were published In the
southern Literary Messenger.
TO RcorganIze navy.
The first contribution appeared in
APRIL. 1870. The object of the ar
,,cles was to bring about reorSan-
ization OF the navy. AS an evidence OF
A;aury's style and his ability to strike
uollilar cord he opened this first
article with wonderful description
of the sea fight in which the Con-
s,itution captured the British man
cf-war. Garrierc in the war Of 1912.
No man Of Maury's day could read
This description OF that memorable
nrh, without having his pride in
the navy stirred.
From this point Maury fearlcssly
set forth the needs of the navy
school ships. a naval academy, steam
vessels. more officers. more ships,
- greater efficiency in the building
, and cquipping Of ships. and more
, coast dcfenses. especially lin the
Southern States.
I'm strcssing tho Importance of the
proper education of naval officers.
Maury uses these words which might
b, attributed to the educational lead
ers now living in Virginia.: EDUCATION
is Il matter OF primary Importance
and must be treated as such. else il.
will never flourish"
In commenting on the awkward
ships being constructed by the Naval
Board he expresses this sentiment
which shows that he was n genuine
/, sailor: ~, fast ship on beautiful
r,odcl Is the pride OF sailors heart.
She bends gracefully to the breeze;
and. bounding over the deep. bears
him swiftly and safely along. She
rides out the gale like q duck on the
water---and IN the storm, she behaves
like thing ,jof lifc."t
az, Tho Naval Board issued mn xtendea
I feply 10 which he re1oined at length,
sgIYing an. array OF figures to prove
ut.,.s y pkr,,n