JUDGE PARKER'S ADDRESS.



  The morning exercises were opened by Judge Watts
Parker, who presided, with the following remarks:
  A century and a quarter ago a small band of Virgin-
ians were gathered about a spring within bow-shot of
where we now stand, when the tidings reached them of
a battle fought in the cause of American liberty.
Straightway, in commemoration of the event, they
called this place-then a tangled wilderness-now a fair
city-,Lexington."
  A part of Virginia then, her offspring now, it is meet
that we, in this historic spot, should be among the first
to honor a gifted son of that wondrous Commonwealth.
  Glorious Old Virginia-mother of statesmen, of jurists
and of warriors! From the time of him, who was "first
in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen," to the coming and passing of the match-
less Lee, the pages of her history have been illumined
by the deeds of her mighty sons. In the front rank of
Virginia's immortal dead, stands the man in whose
honor we meet today. Endowed with a patriotism lofty
as that of Washington-with heart as strong and life as
pure as the stainless Lee-he laid his guiding hand
upon the helm of our untried Ship of State, and essayed
to steer her safely upon an unknown sea.
  How well he succeeded, how clearly the great naviga-
tor saw, and with what skill he avoided each peril in the
path of the craft he directed, let those attest who, rep-
resenting more than seventy millions of people, this day
publicly do homage to the name and memory of John
Marshall, the great Chief Justice.



5