The Washington times., 1936-02-27
NOW
RitChie Funeral
StirS Memories
OF GREAT MAN
Rx HELEN ESSARY

Se@NA@@NAAAG StAAASAASS
Of Christ Church in Baltimore
drifted over the flower-covered
Casket of Albert Cabell Ritchie, I
thought Of the times I had seen
this distinguished Marylander,
who for 16 years was the governor
of his State and three times its
choice for the Presidency.
Happy times most of them,
when his public career was
riding on the waves of success,
and he himself. handsome as a
god, was the idol Of thousands
of men and women. A governor
In the great tradition of Mary
land was Albert Ritchie. A
figure as nearly resembling
royalty as a republic ever pro-
duceS, perhaps.
The $4,000 people who came to
honor him yesterday came not
only because he was a governor,
but because in spite of his de-
feat in his last race he was in
their minds still THE Governor"
For the reverent throng who
jammed the streets near the
church he was the mental picture
Of what governor should be.
For me, with only a touch of
imagination, Christ Church be-
came the national convention at
Chicago. The lilies, roses, lilacs
and tulipS-hundreds and hun
dreds of them-repeating the
colorS in the stained glass win
dowS, became the waving flags
Of the Chicago hall. The voice
Of Bishop Helfenstein was the
voice Of Senator Millard Tydings,
placing albert c. Ritchie, of
Maryland, in nomination for the
presidency Of the United States"
The sight of the faces of three
Of the pallbearers-Dr. Hugh H.
Young, Frank r. Kent and Frank
West-Sent me mentally back to
the governors mansion at An
napoliS six ChriStmaseS ago. We
had driven down over snowy
roads. But at the front door
just behind an old Negro servant
Albert Ritchie was waiting with
"A Merry Christmas" and my,
it's good Of you to come!" Up
stairs at the head Of the wind
ing stairway was Mrs. Mary Man
ming, smiling and saying do
come In and see the governors
mother"
Mrs. Ritchie, a great lady, a |
beauty Of the romantic genera
ton. was receiving the homage
Of her sons guests. She was
then an invalid, but exquisite in
q pale pink robe with a maribou
scarf over her feet. Flowers and
Christmas presents were on tables
and chairs. An attentive trained
nurse and bowling servants hov-
cred nearby.
Downstairs later we sat at din.
ner at long table with a great
centerpiece Of poinSettia. We had
Maryland turkey and Maryland
OySterS-a special treat-a double
magnum Of champagne. After
dinner as wandered about the
lovely mansion the host himself
said:
''It's . nice, old place isn't
It? You can't blame me for
wanting to live here the rest of
my life can yOu?'
The last Christmas dinner at
Annapolis was different. The
State, maybe out of contrarinesS,
had decided that somebody else
would live in the governors
mansion for a few years. Albert
Ritchie had his usual party with
almost the identical guests of the
past years, but he now was a de-
feated ruler. The presents were
fewer, the Christmas tree smaller.
Mrs. Ritchie had died several
years before. The house was sad.
All of us were self conscious. In a
few more days Albert Ritchie
would move out. There was no
place in particular for him to go.
But this was one of the few un-
happy reflections that came to
me. One delightful memory was
Of the meeting of the Virginia Bar
Association at White Sulphur
Springs in 1881. "The White" was
the fashionable resort of Governor
Ritchie's mothers day. Mrs.
Ritchie had been a belle there.
Her son said it always made him
happy to come to THE White" be-
cause his mother had liked the
place. If she had been alive that
summer Mrs. Ritchie would have
been radiantly happy at the
speech Governor John Garland
Pollard made in presenting her
son to the association. when
Thomas jefferson designed the
Capitol at Richmond" Governor
Pollard said che provided eight
inches in the rotunda. All Of
them except one is occupied by
Virginia-born President of the
United States. When I recall
Governor Ritchie's birth upon the
soil of my State I feel it proper to
point out to him the unoccupied
niche"
Beyond the pillar covered with
yellow roses in Christ Church
1 saw Jack Cullen and thought
of the great parties given by
Van Lear Black on his yacht
sabola, where Albert Ritchie was