King Lear. Since that day I have witnessed the performances of many noted actors,-Edwin Booth in the Merchant of Venice, Salvini in Othello, and John McCullough in many plays, but I have never seen any actor who was the equal of Forrest in King Lear, when the old King, driven out into the storm by his unnatural and cruel daughters, Goneril and Regan, is made to cry out in agony of spirit and bitterness of woe, "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is, to have a thankless child." It is said there is nothing in a name, and a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but Shakespeare, that great master of the human heart, shows by his selection of names that he is of a different opinion. For example, when he wishes to describe a cold, proud, haughty, imperious creature he calls her "Goneril" or "Regan." When he wishes to describe a kind, considerate, tender, affectionate daughter he calls her "Cordelia."

In the Presidential campaign of 1852 I was chosen as elector on the Democratic ticket for our district, and Hon. Alexander Rives was the Whig elector. He was a most eloquent and captivating orator, and as I look back now to that campaign it seems presumptuous that a mere stripling like myself should have had the audacity to meet this Goliath in debate. We had frequent encounters on the hustings. When I reached Albemarle County on the morning of court day (there were no railroads in those days between Bedford and Albemarle), I took a room at the hotel, and it was whispered about on the court green that the Democratic elector had arrived. My room was soon crowded by prominent Democrats of the county, who called to pay their respects and discuss the political situation. Among others who did me the honor to call was the venerable Andrew Stevenson, who had been Speaker of the House of Representatives and Minister to the Court of St. James. While we were engaged in conversation, the dinner bell rang and I invited him to go with me and take dinner. At the dinner table he said, "Mr. Goode, what points will your adversary make to-day?" I replied that I did not know. "What!" he said, "you have. met him at Amherst and Bedford and do not yet know what points he will make?" I told him I knew what points he

had made on the occasions he had referred to, but did not know that he would make the same on this occasion. "Ah, well," he said, "you may rest assured that his speech will be about the same." He was evidently uneasy as to the outcome of the debate with my distinguished competitor, but when the court-house bell rang at two o'clock he had the goodness to accompany me, sit on the platform, and give me the benefit of his countenance and encouragement. When we reached Orange we were met by an immense audience on the court green, and as I have often said, I have never seen anywhere a finer body of men assembled.

While there I heard an amusing story told of Governor Barbour. After he had been Governor of the State and Minister to England, he was persuaded in his old age to come out as a candidate for the House of Delegates. He and his friends thought it would only be necessary for him to signify his willingness to serve the people in that capacity and he would be triumphantly elected. His competitor was a mountaineer unknown to fame named Davis, who made a domiciliary canvass, going from house to house, kissing all the babies, and keeping the calf away while the old woman milked the cow. The Governor remained quietly at home and contented himself with making a single speech at the court-house. In that day the whole vote of the county was cast at the court-house, and it was known at sundown that the Governor was beaten. The news reached his home before he did, and when he arrived, his good Christian wife, who had lived with him many years, met him at the door and said, "Well, my dear, I hear you are beaten; but we have the satisfaction of knowing that you got all the best people." "Plague on the 'best people'!" replied the Governor; "I wanted the most people."

The campaign of 1855 in Virginia was a very exciting one, and attracted the attention of the entire country. The American party, commonly called the Knownothing party, had gained favor in the Northern States, particularly by its advocacy of the doctrine that foreign immigration into this country should be more restricted, and by its opposition to the growing power of the Pope of Rome; but the advancing

tide was rolled back when it reached Virginia. Henry A. Wise was the Democratic candidate and Thomas S. Flournoy represented the American or Knownothing party. At Bedford court-house I heard Mr. Wise make a great speech-the greatest, perhaps, on the hustings to which I have ever listened. Certainly it produced more immediate effect. He had just succeeded in procuring a little book containing all the grips, signs, and pass-words of the Knownothing party, and his excoriation of their secret meetings and dark-lantern proceedings was so terrific that the members could not stand the fire, and they left the lodges like rats retreating from a burning barn. The speech occupied about three and a half hours in its delivery, and for argument, wit, satire, and lofty eloquence I have never heard it surpassed.

After the meeting adjourned I accompanied Mr. Wise to his hotel. While we were standing on the platform, Daniel K. Foggie, a man celebrated for his wit and humor, came up and requested an introduction. When I introduced him, he took Mr. Wise by the hand, and looking him in the face said, "I shall vote against you, sir, but you will win the race." "Why so?" said Mr. Wise. "Well, you remind me so much of Weehawk," said Mr. Foggie. "Who is Weehawk?" said Mr. Wise, "I never heard of him." "Well," said Mr. Foggie, "I went upon a race field once and they had a horse. called 'Waxey' that beat anything that could be brought against him. Finally, one day, they brought out a little, ugly, raw-boned, scrawny thing with his head between his forelegs, and he looked like the witches had been in his mane and tail; but at the tap of the drum his head was up and away he went and beat 'Waxey' out of sight. His name was 'Weehawk,' and when John introduced you to the people this morning, you reminded me so much of 'Weehawk.""

As a young man I was completely captivated by the matchless eloquence of Mr. Wise. He was the greatest orator I have ever heard except William L. Yancey, of whom it has been said that it would be worth a trip across the continent to hear him pronounce the word "Alabama." When the convention met in the African Church at the city of Richmond, preparatory to the National Democratic Convention

held at Charleston in 1860, I supported the resolution offered by General Chapman of Monroe, expressing a preference for Mr. Wise as the Democratic candidate for the Presidency in the ensuing campaign. This resolution was strongly opposed by Patrick Henry Aylett, Beverly B. Douglas, and others, who preferred R. M. T. Hunter as the Democratic candidate; but it would undoubtedly have been adopted but for the masterly tactics of Lewis E. Harvie of Amelia, the leader of the Hunter forces, and a great field marshal in the game of politics.

In the Presidential campaign of 1856 I was again chosen as one of the Democratic electors, and when we met in the city of Richmond to cast the vote of the State for Buchanan and Breckinridge, I had the pleasure of attending a banquet given in their honor and of listening to eloquent addresses from many of the Democratic leaders of that day.

In the Gubernatorial campaign of 1859, John Letcher of Rockbridge was the Democratic candidate, and William L. Goggin of Bedford was the Whig candidate. They were both men of distinction who had won their spurs on many hard-fought political fields, and each had served his district in the Congress of the United States. Mr. Letcher was strong and argumentative in debate and always addressed himself to the reason and good sense of his hearers. Mr. Goggin was recognized as one of the most attractive popular speakers in the country. His supply of anecdotes was inexhaustible and he told them with telling effect. On the day of the election he spoke at Richmond, Burkeville, Farmville, Lynchburg, and Liberty. At the latter place he closed his speech by saying, "Good-night, my fellow citizens, I am going home now to kiss the Governor's wife"; but unfortunately he never enjoyed that privilege, as he was beaten by a large majority.

As is well known, the Democratic Convention that met at Charleston in 1860 failed to agree upon the adoption of a platform and the selection of candidates. The party was hopelessly divided. Stephen A. Douglas and Herschel V. Johnson were afterwards nominated to represent one wing and John C. Breckinridge and Joseph Lane were nominated

to represent the other. As a States'-Rights Democrat I cordially supported the latter; but both Democratic tickets were defeated by the Republican ticket with Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin as the candidates. In the winter of 186061 I spent a week in the city of Washington and listened to those exciting debates that occurred in the Senate and House of Representatives. In the Senate I heard Douglas, Seward, Jefferson Davis, and others. John C. Breckinridge was the President of the Senate. He was tall, graceful, and exceedingly handsome. Mr. Davis impressed me as the most graceful and animated speaker in the Senate, and Mr. Douglas as the most logical and powerful. While I was in the city on that occasion, the famous fight occurred on the floor of the House of Representatives between Lawrence M. Keitt of South Carolina and Galusha A. Grow of Pennsylvania. There was, of course, great excitement during the fight, and in the midst of the mêlée Mr. Barksdale of Mississippi lost his wig. The secession of seven Southern States soon followed and the Union was dissolved.

It was during the session of the 36th Congress in the winter of 1860 that I witnessed the proceedings referred to. At that time R. M. T. Hunter and James M. Mason represented Virginia in the Senate of the United States. They occupied a most enviable position, and enjoyed a reputation. as able and patriotic statesmen which will not be forgotten when Virginia comes to make up her jewels.

Mr. Hunter was chairman of the Committee on Finance, and in that capacity wielded a powerful influence with his associates. His mind was exceedingly metaphysical in its characteristics, and he was universally regarded as a calm, safe, and philosophical statesman. He had been Speaker of the House of Representatives and was considered very high authority on all questions of parliamentary law. His rulings have been often quoted with approval by members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Mr. Mason was chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and filled that exalted station most creditably and satisfactorily. He was exceedingly strong and robust in debate and his style was decidedly senatorial. I