Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-16
Two Representatives of
Emperor Came Here in
1871 Seeking House.
CONFERRED WITH HEAD OF
PLANTERS RATIONAL BANK
Wellington Goddin, Real Es-
tate Dealer, Displayed Man
sions to Them.
nl VERA rALMl;n

the second empire and the subsc-
quent roui Of the Bonapartisis. and
had occupied ono of the great man
sons OF the banks Of the historic
James River. what would have been
the attitude of society toward them
Would the extremely conservative
element in the old Dominion have
looked as<ancc %; the erstwh;!e
ruler, who had no; the strength 10
maintain his throne. ana whose Eng
lish was spoken with most decided
Partisan accent. or would the glamcr
which seems always to attach itself
10 royalty. even in exile. and the
beauty and charm of his consort
been of an order To open the hearts
of their new ncis hbcrs 10 this once
imperial pair?
In That the high price OF real cs-
'tate and the condition of Napoleon's
health were the sole factors prevent
ing the arrival in Virginia of the
Emperor and Empress after the re-
lease of the former from Germany
following the Franco Prussian War,
this thought is worthy OF interest
Certainly the strangers would have
been spared = repetition OF their
French experiences from which they
were fleeing and would have found
here i'll the New World a calm and
sure haven OF refuge equal TO that
afforded at Marlborough Hill or at
Chiscihurst, in the vacinity Of
London.
Agents of the Emperor.
In November OF 1871 two distin-
Euished looking men. one a native OF
France and the other an English
car Ist
proper credentials which they pre-
scented. SO the story goes. to John
Il. Davis, president Of the Planters.
National Bank. The object OF their
visit was secret and as they were
thoroughly inconspicuous both in
appearance and manner. they at
tracted practically no attention on
the part of the citizens
But what these strangers told Mr.
Davis was that they were the repre-
scntntives of the former Emperor
and Empress. who had expressed Il
strong desire to get away from
iroublc-torn Europe. flnding England
even little too close TO the scene
OF their intense suffering and hui
initiation, and that they fancied set
ting up an establishment here in
Virginia, where the great America n
republic had first come into exist
encc.
1t was only few years after the
War Between the States and the i'm
poverishcd condition OF the former
great slave owners and planters had
made ii necessary for several estates
TO be placed on the market. and as
times were feartully hard in the
South during those years of Recon
struction the prices asked were com
paratively reasonable. The historic
homes on the james River were not
exempt and many an owner was tor.
tured in spirit at the idea OF part
inE with the roof-trcc OF his ancos
tors where American history had
been made. But poverty and war are
no respectors of persons and some
Future Seemed Dark.
There was little in the outlook to
create optimism. for although the
older slaves remained faithful. as was
the habit OF those dear old negroes.
yet there was no telling what would
be the attitude of tho younger gen
GRAFTON. Then. too. there Was LITTLE
in the family eNChcqucr OF many of
those houses with which TO pay a
small army OF servants. and III. on
the great plantations with insuin
c!ent labor was unihnknblc to many
OF the owners. Thus The ancient
mansions, the very bricks Of many OF
which are said to have been brought
from England. although this nom;
has never been settled Satisfactorily.
were placed on the market
When Mr. Davis learned from his
callers the object OF their visit h,
may not have been altogether sur
Drised for in November, 1870. an !,,rn
appeared in the Richmond DISPATCH
immediate ancestor Of The fines
Dispatch. that IL was ruynorcG io
London plans were being acgutlatca
by the representatives OF Louis Ma
polcon for tn" purchase OF nome
in Virginia. That. however. was be.
fore the days Of "streamcrs" ANA
other big headlines. ana rs tho note
was squeezed into about one inch Of
space II may have lccn overlooked
except that gentlemen of tha; da
never scanned newspapers; they READ
them.
The banker then introduced tse
Latin and the Anglo Saxon To wei
Jington Goddin. the foremost real g..
tate man OF the day. WHO was ,bc
agent for the James River placcs AZ
though without mentioning rhc tru.
object of their visit. lie cEpIrfucd
that the foreigners atsrcd t. lool;
at the plantations win ;he object OF
purchasing one. So Mr.. Goblin. with
that same unquench0rIe energy and
dispatch which prompts real estate
men TO this day. got out mis- best car
riage. TO which lie tad two horses
attached. and his most presen.all.
combination OF janitor. rnesae.scr and
coachnan, and made ready lot, tn,
long trip.
Every Comfort Provided.
AS II was winter. 1t is NOR. ma,
probable that foot-warmcr5 ys.r,
pressed into service. and II tn. prn..
& porous real estate dealer w.4 moi
equipped with these elegant com.
forts IL was easy enough f0r him =.
have few bricks heated IN the ati..
stove and wrapped - cloths Thcr,
must nave been stpve IL the pGicr
and. like other heaters OF It's stnc
was likely to have been rcl not frc,.
November untn apTil, lunch ag.. {,
be provided. TOO, and prrAaos ,:r
Goddin. whose descendants ar" 5 ~
~ Cessful real estate men today g.n