Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-11-04
SIMPLICITY MARKS
FUNE RAJ SERVICES
OF BELOVED AUTHOR
Scene One That Thomas
Nelson Page Himself
Would Have Painted.
ALL CLASSES MOURN
FOR GREAT VIRCINIAN
Obsequics Are in Old Fork
Church, Where Deceased
Was Christened.
I.
BURIAL TODAY IN WASHINGTON
ThronE Tint Taxes Cnpncity Of Edi-
nee Deeply Stirred by SoIem-
nifty of Occasion.

yet as impressive as his own life
had been. were tho funeral service,
yesterday for Thomas Nelson Pase.
Nirginians.
II was Just the scene that tho
master delincator OF Southern life
himself would have painted in pio-
turing the final tribute OF love paid
one "t the delightful heroes he
created for an admiring world.
In little old brick church. tuse
at the edge of the wood. with it's
great black stove In the center Of
INC auditorium and the brackets for
the oil lamps in use projecting from
inc side walls. Virginians yesterday
mourned for the man who knew them
with knowledge that comes only
with deep and abiding love.
Out there in this remote country
place, away from the great centers
OF art and culture. hut hallowed be-.
Eond measure by the youthful mem-
cries OF Thomas Nelson Page, were
being held services to which the
eyes of Kings. Prcmiers and Presi-
dents turned instinctivcly. It was
setting that no would have oher-
tshed. In It's simplicity II eSempll.
ned the character OF the man.
Services In Old Fork Church.
Services were In the Old Fork
Church. Here sixty-eight years ago
the beloved VirGinian was chris
tened For generations his ancestors
men and women from whom he
inherited the best traditions OF a
noble iace--had worshiped there.
outside were the old familiar hills
and fields over which he had romped
as n boy. and where had come TO
HIM first feeling OF the responsi-
btlities of life. as he saw the armies
OF North and South contending des-
Dcrately for principle.
The people at the church. all deep
~ stirred by the solemnity OF the
occasion and brushing away tears as
they thought OF one whose heart was
stilled forever. were just the sort
OF people he would have had as
inourncrs.
They comprised every class. His own
Hanover country folk werc there,
the men and women with whom ha
played As youth when they. too,
were boys and girls, and their chill
drcn and grandchildren who have
been brought up TO associate Thomas
Nelson Page with everything that
IS best and noElcst In Virginia lire.
Members of the negro race. whose
peculiar dialect and whimsicalitles
he knew better than any other,
stricken. In the throng. recalling
the romance OF the old South. which
DR.. Page so delighted to paint with
his master hand. were few OF the
Eray-clad warriors who followed Leo
In a cause that fired the imagination
OF the Hanover County lad who ar
forwards became honored through
ont the world. There were learned
lawyers. physicians. state officials,
bankers. business men. In the an
cient little church they stood
shoulder to shoulder. Never before
81
there been in II such grief as this.
show Greatest Grief.
While the dignataries and the big
business men appreciated and hon
ored the memory OF the man. il was
the plain country folks. the tenants
on his lands, and the gray-haired
darkics. who showed the greatest
distress. DIR. Page understood so
thoroughly the traits and whims OF
these plain people, and so depicted
their lives in the books he wrote of
Virginia life. that they grew to love
him. Now that he has gone from
them forever. their affection for their
friend and ne!ghbor has grown even
stronger.
inaccessible as 1t was from the
cities and villages. Old Fork Church
was easily found yesterday morning.
From all parts OF Hanover County
the people drove to the modest little
editice In automobiles and carriages
and many went afoot, while those
from the citiees were transported in
their high-powercd cars. or in vehi-
cles OF some kind from the railway
stations nearest the church.
bishop William Clbell Brown. OF
virginia did not assist at tho serv-
Ice. as had been expected. He arrived
at ..h, a,
which the body lay, was being bo.ns
away, and lie was ab!a only to ex-
tend his sympathy to the members OF
The family before he returned to this
city Due to delay in receiving tho
message at Scottsville. Bishop Brown
did not arrive in Richmond until
yesterday morning al 3 o'clock. He
immediately started for tho church
in an automobile. and. as he reached
we, ,-s"cnCa too 'lato 20 ta-.- ,iarY In
the service. his presence was known
only to few OF the concourso He
did not accompany the body 10 Ash
land. where II was borne. TO be con-
veyed to Washington for burial.
Loss Alike TO state and to Literature.
The death OF DR.. Thomas Nelson
Page is great loss TO our State. and
to literature said Bishop Brown.
as he stood In the little study az the
corner OF tho church. He was an
admirable man and a Christian gem
tcman. II was fitting that he should
have died on All Saints Day
The service was conducted by Rev.
T. l.. Goodwin. ID. D.. OF Ashland, as
sisted by Archdeacon William wal
ton. many years friend OF the fam
lily. After the lesson the hymn. For
All Thy Saints Who. From Their La
bors Rost," was rendered by this
church choir. How firm a Fouuds-
ton Ye Saints of the Lord" syas the
closlnS hymn. aud az IL yrss sung
-~---- m x
icontinaed on PAGE q. Col -