SECOND PART.
I nil Li \tm AGO,
VTHAT WIT FOOD IX OUH.-CITRT.ST
MAS ■ STOCKING.
"EAGER HANDS DiVED DOWN,"
GaadicsSand Tayj . and Fire-rrorlta
Coat More. as<l tlie Children Had
T.CSS, But the Jersof <hn Day-Asc
>ot Surpassed i.i This "T'»r'enti ; etls
i'.'- : '^ " Christmas in tne
: arl > T seventies
/^/ fc^^y^' - not greatly
(Jkf s ffi§i£ different ; from . the
■ : %^fdf_ twentieth cen
\gf%=^^ turv celebration,
L^U P. f p - though conditions
1 I have changed no
QfU). '---"■' little.. It may lie
\\j& ~~f " tliat the -cvorld is
rj**Zgi'. groTring: ■ wealthier
***/] ' .."' and it "may only
■ \jfEU I ocenrso.' but- cer
ijSWSß^i! C v jP ' tain it .'is -that tho
W-^fe/j % children of to-day
1 fils ' -expect: more, and
ot i ''.//v that they - • get
more for their
T.cnsy than did the ■ children of thirty
>r even tvrenty.-live years ag-o did, for the
trices of all that the juvenile heart covets
ird looks forward to with' longing and
i-een anticipations of. delight all the year
lave greatly decreased.' whether the de
iresse is due to improved facilities for
nar.ufacrure or to other causes.
How v.-«n even young men and women
M to-cay remember those Christmases. in
the seventies;- It makes them -yearn- to
lie- young again and live over the days
rben each child of the family dreamed
>i v. stocking",: hung- on tho mantel. .and
fairly bulging with all that the children
»f 'that .day coveted. "With v.-hat keen
expectancy*'; they arose. Ion?; before -the
Proverbial ' lark had taken its JVesd from,
k-ncath the "folded wing or the restless
rhciiticleer had 'prophesied tho 'dawn in
his shrill crowing.
Only partially ■ dressed, the awakened
younsstcrs rush down into, the room
where the row of stuffed stockings is
hurg. and though, well they know, father
and mother are the "real Santa Cl.au s;
there :s no less excitement* and expec
ts i.ey as each child takes down the stock
ing on which his" name has been written,
and setting upon the ' floor / before . tht}
cheerful fire is a ring of lialf^'dressed
archins or little misses with faces as
.■jr.'chi as the fire-light, exploring depths
-f that bursting stocking. Sticking from
'■he top arc visible several roman candles,
c hern, or a supple-jack. or some toy that
cannot bo gotten further into the, recep-
Jacle. • . ■■•
Then there are several- packs of the old
fashioned small fire-crackers, often called
"squibs," The ■■ children of ■ thirty year?
ago- were lucky to get three packs of
i.hesc small crackers,' for they sold for. a
i.ime each or three for a -quarter, a ni
with" a half dozen little stbckings'to fill,
not .every '.pa rent could afford to expend
much in pop-crackers. . ; . .
"EAGER HANDS DIVED- DOWN?'.. -
But returning to tlie stacking: Eager
hards. dived down into Us depths., pulling
out assorted candies and nuts and raisins,
w. orange ar.d.'an. apple,: with a' toy in
bc.rv and there or. a copy of ■ M.other
S<y>sr- melodies'- or/som<vof .'the illumiriat
■vj cover publications lor juveniles, such
is the "story of -Jack; the ' Giant Kijlcr.
Cinderella or.-.sbme of the,.other- juvenile
clufhics. Away' down' in* the'- toe of the
Ttctkhjg was generally' some --prize, -a
tm&lY. but: valuable -.present, a: jack knife
rcr a boy or a ring for u- G'ir\; or, _^ bright
shining silver coin, or mayhap. a^tSnv. gold
lollar. Kiich . as one seldom sees. now. ]f
lie parents were iairly. well-to-do p'erhaiJS
here was sometimes, a tiny watch ,- for t a
boy or a pair of earrings or : a bracelet
for a- girl. . , . .._; .--- . - . .■ • .' '-. t \
But generally : tho contents of the stock
np \ wer*; inexpensive •"; toy's., Sometimes
Santa Claushud brought. something 'a
-.hi!d had a^kea Tor,, -.vhich ' even / that
■nnnipotcnf myth could not 'crowd .into a'
itocking.- A 'tool -chest for a \ boy or ( a
?r>^at doll for a girl wasprized r 6r,a set of
101 l .furnltui'e.' or one of the 'many 'thing's
ivhich'had tempted the eyes' of /.tho juvc
liicu in the- wonders of the, -toy 'shop..
Fhere were always, home, for. theCboy, and
heir, capacity' for" making: a '„ noise ;was
!oni^ti?«es. increased 'by' the^; addition otfz.
•mall ch»is p -■; flutf 'or ' a^drumTor* a ' cap
pistol. Every child .was happy':' ln .the
Kir-4tou2id; TreaJtfc," : aid between 'playinjc j
with the new toys and making themselves
sick with the 1 candies and sweets • thej:
were, all bury. '
< CAXDYIN THOSE DAYS.
The candies of those days were different
from those of to-day. There were gener
ally, but two kinds— plf*'i and French.
The. plain, candy was of the old sticli
candy variety, striped sticks, of .pepper
mint and horehound. and long flat sticks
of cream 'can dj\ with candy fish, striped
with red: and lemon, peppermint or hore
hound drops, and little pillows of pepper
mint with stripes of red and white. Some
times there was a stick of peanut candy,
and very rarely walnut. That Was the
plain candy and it sold at 'twenty and
twc-nty-five • cents the pound. French
candy, .as ,it was called when it was riot
of ' the- '■variety named, embraced little
white egg-shapsd drops arid sometimes
those of other colors, small motto candies
and ; others Which- were valued for their
beauty and rarity. Candy dogs and cats
and animals '_ of many- kinds ' and candy
hearts gaudily decorated -were among- the
treasures of. that day. Then .the", old
fashioned, kisses, square candy blocks
wrapped in colored papers and containing
a couplet of ■ poor verso of a sentimental
sort, were common in those days. Such
were the treasures of the children thirty
years ago in the- line of confectioneries.
OUT OF BED EARLY.
Many of the children were accustomed
to be awakened early, long before, dawn,
to gratify their, eagerness to sec What
they had gotten in their stocking's. After
tho novelty had worn off somewhat the
girls settled themselves to playing dolls,
while the boys went into the yard\or
street to awaken the neighbors with fire
crackers and to illuminate the darkness
with xhoir-rockels until the scant supply
was exhausted. Occasionally some affl
ent grown-up fellow would pass with : a
long horn- blowing it lustily or .would
amaze the children by his extravagance
inj setting; off a whole ten-cent pack of
pop-crackers or a big "baby-waker," a
great red paper roll, which made not -so
much'" noise' as one of the small dynamite
crackers of .to-day. Building a small fire,
tin; youngsters would gather around it
ard pop thoir- lire-crackers until break
fast was announced or until the tempera
ture without drove them in.
A snowy" Ch' is=tmas was tho delight of
all-voutigstcrsraiid many had their hopes
of. getting a brand new sled or "yankee
'juniper," as they w t ere called in those
days, among hi:, Christmas joys. Even
fewer hoped for such good luck- as-, to
get a pair of ice skates, for they were
e>T>c:)siye then, those old wooden bottom
affairs 'with:- steel runners 1 and: held in
place by a screw which went far into the
heel of; the shoe, and With straps around
the instep and toe. It seems that the
winters', are generally milder now than
then, for in those days there was snow
almost every year and frequently there
was skating for a week at a time.
COST MORE;. HAD LESS. -'
The principal ; changes noted, however,
are that everything in the toy and--ex
plii«i\-c linfi was far more expensive than
now, and that the average child then had
far. le:?s than- they now receive, and yet
(I:emod themselves rich in their ■ new
possessions: The toys were simple things
soon broken up or lost— the little, tin
horses and carts and doll furniture arid
i*-a sets. Ere another Christmas tKere
are few reminders of the last. The treas
ures of one: year are forgotten in antici
pations;'of: the 'next Christmas. As one
recalls thf.t havoc wrought with the. toys,
one is reminded of the pathetic' little lines
el' ■James" Whit comb Riley's— . ;
'"There, little girl, don't cry:
They have broken your. doll, I know.'.,
And your .'.toy-house, too. and your.: tea
set blue .■
Are part.of thejong ago." . f
Childish sorrowis-are soon to be forgot
teri iry the-graver. troublesof life, and too
often and too soon do the children of long
ago forget their, own sorrows and get out
oi symj>athy with the children of to-day.
Christmas is the children's day of all 1 the
year, and should be given up to them:
3t-is the.ona^day when all are children
for the time, and . parents ' and , elder
broih'ers and sisters find their truest hap
pl'ness in-? making the little ones happy.
May the .celebration ■" and that about it
v/liich -broadens. our sympathies last for
ever and a- day, making- men and women
better for/: : -their \ little unselfishness;and
thor-day-'Of". joy. at home with the-chil
dren' .' "i ■':■ • » ' ■ ■-■■.■ • ■'■■'■ :>:'',
; ■ ... To. Ilesume His Practice, j ■ .
Dr. Goorge K.Sims has returned to the
city ; after" four years* ( service ' -in * the
United 'states army, most of .which. _ was
spent '.in-.-. the. Hawaiian and Philippine
Islands.. , .Owing., to ' his health -having
failed- iri'the^trjing climate of -the tropics,
he^will ''■■ eh*orti£ • resume : his practica Jiere.
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH.
RI(DHMONB,V^.^
AT OLD FORK GHUfIGH
.MEMORIES OF COLOXIAL DATS-jS
HAISOVER ARE RECALLED. .
EDIFICE WASERECTED IN 1734
.V Glimpse of Some of the Early
Settlers— The Fontaines andßcrke
leys — Jieii of Fine Steels. and High
Character — Descrit*tiou. of * "*he
Hoxiae of Worship;
With giant, oaks ■ and pin e3 standing
as silent sentinels around it,; the. old' Fork
church stands in Hanover as a-landmark
and connecting lirikvbetween 7 the- present
and; the dim and almost" forgotten past.
When the soldiers of Grant's army crossed
tho North Anna river, at-Jerico Mill, arid
overran the country, 'round, this ancient
edifice was exactly "as it is now. ■ Long
prior to that, when- the "American clippers
were harrying the British ships in the
war of 1812, this was'an olfl church. "When
the fiery eloquence. of Patrick Henry: was
sounding through, the -.country. Fork
church was growing venerably old, along
with George Washington. Thomas Nelson,
and the first patriots of Virginia..
Here within twenty-five miles of the
falls of the James- river (the. future site
of Richmond), where the .wavy, outline of
tht; ' Blue Ridge cm ba seen, .General
Thomas Nelson obtained a grant of land
from' the crown in the reign . of Queen
Anne' of England: .Here, too, in : the forks
of the Pamunky river, where the .Indians
said tliere grew tobacco that "made men
bury the hatchet, and happy as the sing
ing birds," was established .the first out
post of. civilization -'in its 'onward ".march
from the deep water -'of ..the-- James and
York rivers, towards' the distant hills.
On Little river J General 'Nelson ' built
"Oiliey Hbu," as.it Js spelled on a tomb
stone in the church-yard. On the banks
of ■ the North Anna: river Peter -Fontaine,
son of the rector of Westover, builded
Rcck'Castle. Near. the' future site.of.the
church. Nelson. Berkeley builfAirwell.
Scotchtown, built by John Forsyth, a
Scotch iron masterV-inICOS, was establish
ed about the same date, or possibly a"lit
tle earlier. ..".'■ ,'•.' - . . .'
WERE OF STERLING. STUFF.
' Lef-us note he're'-: that these pioneers
were not the adventurous spirits usually
found in a new country.. but were some of
the best stock of - the old" world— men
silted from the nations, as : it < were, on
account of their devotion -to principle -or
religious faith: as the Scotch Covenant
ers, the Royalist followers of the unfortu
nate Stuarts, or -the Huguenot- refugees
from France. -■*.'• , -.- ■'"
The drinking and diceing ; parson.' and
swcsh-buckling adventurers, depicted ,in
Miss Johnston's novels, were not. much, in
evidence outside /of Williamsburg.and : the
rich' plantations of the lower ' James. Here
w : e find first a frugal "canny". Scott,-. John
Forsyth, who built an ; iron -furnace .on
his ■ land to develop . a : veih' of 'ore. - Nex t,
Peter Fontaine, ancestors .were
fdully murdered arid "deprived"' of : their
property, prior' to . the massacre , of. St.
Botholomcw. in the reigii of 'Francis-' I.
Of France^, '■ -' ■ ' -v.".. ' ',' ' ■ - A '- '/
MRS: BERKELEY'S COURAGE.-' •
In Nelson Berkeley welind "a -scion of' the
noble Berkeley family of ' England. It was
a Mrs. Berkeley, .'of •' 'Airwell. ''who ''saved
the communion silver, now. used in 'Saint
Martin's parish. 'lt';is. related .of -her ; !that
when' the glebe lands v of ,, the ; Church; of
England fn Ainerica:were-contiscated^after
the- Revolutionar>%/-war,:.- commissipners
were appointed to. collect the church silver
and other propertjv Mrs:' Berkeley was
the ' custodian of/ this; -massive • :silver
chalice and paten;*. .whfch ''.isf'said to; have
been presented tb"-.the;;parish by, Queen'
Anne, and bears .the^date "The- com
missioner ■ being ashamed ; to' ask .for.:thV
silver in person, sent a'-'messenger ;to : re'^
quest rthenadytoV'sive-it'iup..- She replied.
'.'Come and take ■ it;-,but'.l wjir.never-; give
it-to'you." .Theylneyerjcame. ;- ; •. -.-.'= t ■;'
The Marquis de:.Chastelux,*,in" his trav
els through Virginia, ;giy'4s ,'an. account .of
his 'stay ' at' Offleyl ! ■ Says i ho : . ■" "•.Tighlmari,
landlord'of the. /Ordinary,*; '..-at "Hanover.
Courthouse, says /Lord ; paid
nothing for himself . ; aiid retiriue^-met
ithfVe Henry cU;ee%-;(Lißht;-Horso|Harry);c U;ee % -;(Lißht;-Horso|Harry);
who dlstiriguished\himsolf /in^the^warr-.
starting at 9 A.- M.^from Hanorer, Court
house, we reached Ofiley; at IP. M." . He
commends .greatly .General Nelson, who
was Governor of Virginia for six months,
but resigned in indignation at the ingrati
tade of. the people. (He had spent over
a hundred thousand dollars from his pri
vate means in ' equipping the army, and
his family have never been able to' collect
it from the national government): Tighl
manalso says:' "Offley -is • far from, cor-"
responding with the riches of ' General
Neison, or his high consideration in Vir
ginia.' ■ It . is- but a moderate plantation;
rheant for an 'overseer,' but a convenient
retreat from Cornwallis Bad weather
andjgpod talk' all. day lorg; no ' cards -nor
talk of any. An excellent breakfast, at
9; a' sumptuous dinner at 2; tea and punch
in -^the afternoon,, ai'.d ar. elegant -little'
supper. There was .'a young "Miss Tol
liver,' who sang charmingly— staid there
two days." . :
CHURCH BUILT IN 1734.
' These four? families;:; are; mentioned, as
the pioneers, -but there were. many others
of equal merit.. The date of the building
of Fork church ■• is ' identical with that of
the historic court-house of Hanover coun
ty.' built'in Ho\: The brick of which it
is -made are said to. have come from Eng
land-as" ballast' in the ships that loaded
tobacco' at Colonel Byrd's landing- at
AVestover. The 'photograph -shows the. ar
chitecture to bo of a plain design, but the
bricks have- a peculiar glaze on them-'and
they-' are laid in such a way that the ef
fect ■Is most church-like and pleasing.
The roof is: covered, with slate, with wide,
prcjectinggables, and the deep, high win
dows-show the great thickness of. the
walls. The interior; of the building is
plain and is plastered and whitewashed.
In the center of the circular chancel is
the -old-fashioned pulpit, ' abojt seven - feat
high, with al ong flight of steps on either
side. "On the "left-is the 'organ, -and on
the' right,' hanging on the wall, are three
tablets in. memory of Dr. Robert Nelson,
Colonel- William Nelson, and Major John
Page, who are -buried in the family sec
tion in' the church-yard.
;A sketch : ; by Earnest Abbott, of Saint
Matriri's "parish, and its rector. Rev. S.
S."^Hepburn, V appeared in the- Outlook ; ifi
December, 1901. Dr. Thomas ' Nelson
Page's "sketch, "An Old Virginia. Sunday,"
cafne-out. in Scribner's last year, and de
scribed, in Mr.^Pa'ge's inimitable way,' .the
manner of. attending .divine service at
Fork church when he was a boy. at.Oak
land. .". '.' : 1 * "" .; '" '■'.'■■ .,._'
This old'building.is.the same. as it was
16S years -ago, "despit-i'ths. fact that con
ditfons have changed' so much. When at
was .erected the center .of • population "and
wealth ' of the ' country was .' on * the : ba nks
of 'tho Jani'es river;- now.it is far beyond
the Ohio. -Many, of the men and families
who grew up here have' gone - forth Lin
search of the. great -prizes to ; be won on
the .prairies "of .'the great' ."West," or ; in
the "mines.. and metropolitan centers., of
tride- :-.lt":is. gratifying ., to note that /this
old i church— one' ;of ' the .mljestories . which
nfark. the progress .^of : civilzation: in-;the
new .World-is not forgotten.
• JEDMOND FONTAINE. ..
ißeaverdam, VaA Dec; 17. ''1902.;. .;• .- \
. '- . : "-". ' Green' Bay Ripples.
■-GREEN -BAT. '"VA.,'. December; 20.
(Special.)—Miss ■ Evelynne I: _Bolling, the
charming" daughter of Mr. "and Mrs.'.R. v C.
Boiling, yot\ liUnenburg County; and .Mr.
William ' Hols.V. formerlSv- of \ Ada, Minn.,
but'now; a. pr6sperous""farmer of'this'sec
tion, were ; married in .Richmond "Friday.';
The ceremony was performed by : . Rev. Dr.
Hannori"" at -his .'residence: at 5 'o'clock PJ;
yi. . : The bride carried- a large; biinch ■of
ChrysaiithemumsV arid was i dressed'"- in_- a
lovely' tailor-made • suit. • '.The - grobriii was
attired .'in'; aSblackv serge-suit:. After ithe
ceremony Ithe couplel.were' driven .tb; the
Southern- Railway , depot. ..and, reached
hero' last-night. -.They. will ,'be: at home-.to
their sinany' friends ; after December \ £3th: , ■•-,
I Miss Sailie' Bidgbpd, left to-day, to spend
Christinas. .•with, I her^parents.;pr. and Mrs.
R; M;' Bidgood; of AFarmyille^Va. : .;-'■ ; ". '.■■•
' Rev. i; AV;-T. 'Clarke, ; of ' Bruceville,* Va_ ; ,
spent ingth'e ; villa^s iSvlth ;hi 3
mbther,VMrs. ; E.''liLtC]axke. - ; : : . :.':./> :. ■ ""
yy
yS S
CAVGnx m snow Drifts.tmeStage Coach
DRIVER CAPRIES". CHP\STMASPACKr\G£^ TO
MEARBY TOWMS. \
OLD CUSTOM HOUSE
THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE WHICH
STANDS AS A' LAXDMARK".
PECULIAR THINGS ABOUT 1L
do-rernment Seeliinsr to Ascertain
-SVhen tUe Fort Was Established—
Records Cannot Be Found—Mon
day tlie Shortest -Day. of tho Year.
•YOKKTOWN, VA., December .20.—(Spe
cial.)—-The old custom-house, ths first
port 'of ■ entry the United States of
America ever possessed, is a venerable
building, remarkably :well preserved for
its age, and seems able to withstand the
assaults of Father Time for quite a
number of years. yeU Th 9 styl-e of ar
chitecture employed in its construction
is that neculiar to the English idea of the
sixteeerith and seventeenth centuries. It
is severely plain, but very substantial
with an antiquated hip roof. The -glazed
brick are one of the peculiarities of the
structure, each alternate brick.-, of every
layer, being of. this type, which gives the
house an odd appearance- to- tv/entieth
century eyes. The roof, which now pro
tects the -building, v/as put on las , t -^ l^
?ndr>--r»laced shingles which were laid in
1776- just prior to the -outbreak of tne
Revolutionary war.. These shingles^ were
of drawn cypress, and underneath the
laps were just as sound_as on |t|elday
they were placed there. One ot the strik
ing noints of the construction of this roof
was* the use of wrought nails in attach
ing the shingtes to the sheathing.; Dow a
in a low part of the otTonftwhlcjatUß
house stands, are the remains of the_old
smugglers' jail, where many a quondam
off eitder of the revenu e laws was incarce
rated and punished, both tor that which
they had done as well also as that which
they had let V undone. The * ederal au
thorities at Washington are.makmg quite
a. -search for historical data concerning
th'V establishment of the port. .Thy-.col
lector here has been appealed to, and all
tho records of the office poor to IS.U have
been -culi'ed out and. forwarded to the
government. The present records do _ not
date -any further back than lito. and it is
sreneraliv believed they:suffered.■destruc
tion 1 - during the civil strife. These-..old
records-;.-played—or, rather, would ■:.- have
plJved— quite an: important part, could
th-ey have been found -for rererence. in .the
French spoliation claims, and many ; an
important case was lost -simply, because
the ■ manifest ■ and =its consignors on the
ill-fated -.American vessels. : could not:. be
nroduced. A-few years ago the.collector
ship" here was considered quite a presi
dential-plum, paying'SSOO per year salary,
but of -late the- remuneration 'has.-been
cut- to -$lO3, and jj the .office ■is not as^rnuch
sought- after. -As i was '•'• said -in the begin
ning the early -establishment of tho port
is somewhat" shrouded: in mystery, but
the fact of its /being., the- first customs
office the -country ever 'possessed is sub
stantiated by : : well-authenticated ;,:; tradi
tion:" The great 'bulk of business which
was handled during the early years of its
existence -<was Uhevtobaccco - trade,, the.
money crop of the. ■ country. vTb/ere;. is
probablyno other^man- in existence as
well qualified to' clear away the debris
of doubt from the shadows of .the early
existence of the old ,port-of Yorktown as
the iaistlriguished* of the old
William. and Mary College-r-Hon. Lyon G.
dat.'o f, the year. '
•To-hiorrow, the v 2lst. Is the -shortest -day
of' the year. : " The 'abbreviation .of- the
sun ■ s journey, is • no : more keenly; felt . any
where than by -the rural, element lof Vir
ginia's- ■ population. - "An : hour . by;-:sun"
■ finds-- ttie': handsTof-ther family "clock "far
past the eighth hour mark, and "an:hour
to ' sun'? -follows' close \ upon the end of the
afternoon - rfcpast,. and finds • one . ,who rhas
any ' out-door duties 'j. to:: perform . danKer
ously.nearitherealm'of.Morpheus:, Trav
elling ■ on 4a . lonesome : country road pat
night and 1 in tire ; dead- of ;winter ( iis^no
f un. - j-With I the g elements >«fat ■ war , above
you, -i and 'an--' apparentlyibottomless ;.roa"d :
beneathii youSj your;? only ;X relief | is'h in {the
sagacity;- and inimbleneas ; of 'your^'horaaw
and tho watchfulness . of your guiding
saint Quite different is .this from tha
trolley car and the illuminations of a
city thoroughfare, -- ; . .
Anent-the continued controversy by the
oystermen over the constant, encroach
ment of the oyster-plan fers on what they
doem their rightful ' preseri'es, I are tha
present strained relations between the
firm of E. E. Slaight & Co. and tha
oystermen and clammers of Crab Neck.
The. Messrs. Slaight have applied for a
number- of acresof ground on which they
claim a good , day's wages - can bo made
by clamming.' and a battle royal will bs
on before "peaceful possession" by either
party can "be obtained. Tho' Board of
Fisheries, in an order, to Oyster-Inspec
tor J. W. AVainwright a few days ago,
authorized him to' assign to all future ap
plicants for planting ground -such ground
as is not in the Baylor survey,- or has
not been already assigned as clamming
ground. The Virginia Legislature need
not be. at all surprised to find an ambas
sador of the oystcrmen in the person of
Major J. N. Stv.ljbs, of Gloucester, or
some other distinguished oyster author
ity, in the halls of tht Capitol to cham
pion their rights and plead for a con
sideration of - their time-honored preroga
tives. -
The various churches throughout the
Peninsula are making their usual prepar
ations for thetcoming; festal season, and
juvenile brains are working both night
and day in earnest efforts to prepare thoir
momentous speeches ior musical selec
tions.
The nearer tho holidays approach, the
greater tire demand for evergreens, and
holly is becoming more and more the
great thine sought' for.* • Load after load
of the beautiful. evergreen foliage arrives
here for shipment, and in thra homespun
shipping cases is quite conspicuous by its
oddity. - ■ • •
PERSONAL..
Right Rev.' R. A' Gibson is expected in
Gloucester and • Mathews counties on a
visit of consolation and love, to the va
rious churches of his charge, Jn the early
part of January- ' ' *
Mr. A. O. ; ;Mau'ek,' of Temple Farm. Is
spending a coupls of weeks in Wash
ington, D. C, and will 'be present at the
opening sessions of: Congress.
Hon. J. F. Hubbard was -among those
who spent yesterday here, j
Tho local option .'question.- which. Judg*e
Smith has under consideration in vaca
tion.' is" quite a burning issue -at present.
It' is discussed , from, every conceivable
standpoint by both parties to .the issue
in.a heated manner. As is usual In such
casts, there is music Mn the air; and oc
casionally it-Is accentuated ■by -sulphur
ous rhetoric.
, Closliiff -of Eastern College.
: FRONT ROYAL, VA., ■ December I?.—
The fall term at -Eastern College closed
last night With an -excellent elocutionary
and musical entertainment; Long before
tlio hour for opening had arrived the peo
plo began to gather and by , the time the
program began tho college -chapel was
filie'd. President Gruver' 'in,. his remarks
relative to the school said that the term
which is just closing has been the' most
successful .in the" history . of ; Eastern.
■ -The' enrolment has been , exceedingly
large, and the work dona has been of a
very* -.high order.; : -. . ;L. . . ' .
r - After -the speaker had wished ; the stu
dents an'd> faculty ra^pleasant 'holiday, va
cation, the ■ regular : program .of the even
ing began. The reriderlng \of tlie "Boat
Song" and "To .the; Dance,- by the Choral
class, and many ' beautiful' • vocal and
piano •solos ■ ■ and charming' : recitations,
were presented in-a -masterly ■> way, and
'each number of the^ program -was re
ceived t With -jK-ell-merited; applause*."'; The
fine •execution -of, some of : the ': most diffi
cult.-workV of Mozart.} Rubenstelri; . and
Wailenshauft- by ' Misses ■ Slsson. '.Hoshour.
O'Neal, Forsyth; Warren "* and ' Sheppard
decPi-ve especial : mention. .'.The '^recitation
of :. Misses - Gore, and ; Boyd ;-were of » a high
order Vand reflected ), credit ton- themselves
and their- teacher,. Miss, Gaver. Tho, claas
m; dramatic, art and . culture .rendered
several. beautiful- arid Impressive" drills.
. .AVlttelsbach, ARam Afloat.
■'■[ KORSOR. ; DENiMARK. December 3}.~
: Thei GermanjL-warship .Wittelsbach.' -which"
went . ashore .- near h"ero .■ December ■'■ ISth,
.was re-floated* to-day.; ; , " . ■ " -.
PAGES^iflfo;^
RETIREMENT OF GROW
It Removes an Interesting
Character from Public Life.
THE FILIBUSTER OF 1858
One ot - the Most Memorable TncU
dent.* of Concrreas-
THE ■ KETTT-GItOW ALTERCATION.
The Free-f or-AU Fight in TVTiiclt thA
jPejinsylTsmiaii "W^s the Storm Cea
•tve— Ridiculous Spectacle Present
ed by Barks'lale^ of 3lis*issippi.
With His W! 5: on Wrong Side
Foremost -CovodeJa Threat* *o
ThroTT a CaspidoT at the Head o|
the First Man Who Should Drawe
"Weapoß- ApoloKle;* of T'rincijmls
4o the Honje.
"WASHINGTON. D. C., December 3).—
(Special.)-i-Ths retirement of dalTZsha-^A.
Grow from Congress: with. th*->nd of ; this
session removes ons'of-'tha most .interest--. -
ing- character It has. / He .may be styled -
a connecting link between the- past o«
our, national history and tha. present. ,a;
man whose- .'ad fent«into public .life date 3 .
back a generation '.that' is- gone.. He toote
hig seat !n December, ISSI. and. took part
in all the stirring scenes that - narked ,
the eventful days preceding the v Civit
War. Ho took : part v'n the" eTocpienc*
that was born of the puDiic aigilation tha*
marked ithe advent-; of the. great wax
cloud that swept -'across tliq* country -fov •
four long- years. ""■'-"";
The great and absorbing • cruestions ot
public interest always call for the best
eloquence a native possesses, and .so if.
wo are inclined to wonder at the ap-« .
parent decline 'of eloquence we need only?
remember that there is not the occasion-:;
for men's : - hearts "to "burn with-it no-wtliat
there has been./ •
But the retirement of Grow recall-* •■•:.
no more interesting incident than • th<
great filibuster of ISoo. Perhaps no more,
memorable and at the same time Humor- >
ous event Was ever recorded In 'th^
records of the doings of Congress cdatf
that. ' Tlie House sat up the whole nlshV
with a filibuster. £t began to look like.tr •"
tiilibuster without end. A "free for a!<
right was also pulled off. in which Mn.
Grow was the storm centre, and a comic
entertainment was given by Mr. Barks-?
dale, of "Mississippi, ..and bis ; wig. The
Congressional Globe." tho Congressional
Record of the 'period, while giving tue.acj
count of the filibuster in full, ■' tells; ;ali .
the rest in the following brief language:
Keltt-G'row Altercation. V.. .!
"At this moment a violent personaC
altercation commenced in the aisle at'th<'^ j
right of; the Speaker's chair, between Mr," ::
Keltt and Mr. Grow, In an Instant th«
House was in the, greatest possibte . cotj-», \r.
fusion. Members in every part of the. halt ' '.
rushed over to the scene of conflict, anci:
several members seemed to participate
in it." -,■ ' -. - , .; :/ . ; .
But that is a brief and not-much-to-the- >
pomt 1 account of as most historic affair-
President Buchanan had submitted his",
message' on Kansas to Congress. T he V
Democrats had a. majority of the House. ::
Galusha Grow led the minority, The^ '5
wanted to block all action on the "mes
sage, and -seemed to be sanctioned ;by .-./
the principals that the least satd about ;;
the message, the. better. They wanted to
keep the : House from talkinsr on .it.; 15. '.
wes this which- brought on. the filibuster ';■■
and the great .parliamentary duel, jin '-A
which a well-organized ; rainority " held '■
helpless a.. majority. Buchanan's messasa":
urged the admission of Kansas. : ' When :ife ft:
.was j received.;' .those .' who opposed " ift ;
wanted it referred to "a special coir.ra!tte» '"-'
of fifteen; Instead of. to the regular staijd«-' ;
ing committee on" territories." 'The Imaiv
jority tried to , force it to the committed ?; '
on territories. I"he minority Were -not'ab!* ■'.
to get it into the hands of the -spectaj' ?
committee, so they resorted to a % filibuster./ :
which lasted "air night long. I
. Such '.had ".become the" tension of affair. '
in the midnight .vigil that only -a jerk ■waa'S
need to ; part the cable. Toward 4 2
Mr. Grow gave the >jerk and It partedT •■
H*> crossed over the hall to confer with a •
Democratic ; member! .; Just then a gantle^^
man arose ■ to ask unanimous'; consent £ .to"" "■
■makeTa'.'few. remarks. But to thi3 -GroW '
and. his followers objected, and Mr. Grow -
said so/" -.*.'■'■'.•..■•;-■. ■■'... :.*...' -. :■*: - ::'.
, , ; . . _>,Sparlc .to Tinderl ..■ ;.^^;.- :
"It you" are golns to object.': shooted!^
;Keltt. of- South /.Carolina, who iwas near-^
: by. / "return .to •; your;, own ; : , side - of I th« >*
; House. You have no -bushiess over here* I
i any. Way." . " - " '
j■ ; "This , is -a ; free ; hall*; and every bgdy^ "hai* -■
j a right ; to • go Where ha pleases." "retorted >•
Grow. '■• his ganger- riisingr. - Thereupon- M^iS
•Keltt/made ,'a break -for .' Grow; w" and^i»aVf'
closely : folloWed ibyißeuben.pavia^ of "kisi' S
■ sisaippi. -:'demandtnff^to."kno-w" r X\v-liat^ti«^
Pennsylvanlah^nieant^by^suchtlajistwi^il
i- -: **Just i.-wh"a t iI : aaic! J* » was tha : iacoEiclr***B
ply^ofcthat gentlemaju-^. ". Ml-;
"You are a black Republican pujut, 1 *
, . (CO^TINTIED.ON PAGE ai>