Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-12-27

A E'SPUNKY'' ONE-A correspondent of the
Charleston News travelling on the Eastern Shore
of Virginia, gives the following in one of his let
ters
'sWe turned aside from our path for a space, to
visit object of some curiosity, which is one of
'.the lons'' of ''the Eastern shore This is an
ancient vault, belonging to a member of the Gus
tis'' family branch of the same stock with
which Washington intermarried 1t lies upon a
fine old farmstead, looking out upon "the Bay
and occupies the centre of large field, the only
prominent object; sheltered by some old trees.
The vault is of white marble, elaborateIy carved
in London, in a state of partial dilapidation. The
curious feature about it consists in its inscription,
which runs thus
''Under this marble tomb lies the body of the
HoN. JOHN CUsTIs, ESQ.
of the city of Williamsburg and parish of Burton
formerly of Hungers parish, on the Eastern shore
of Virginia, and county of North Hampton; aged
II years. and get IiVed bit gears, aOkich
the space OF time lie kept BACHELORS HOME at
Arlington, on the Eastern shore of Virginia
This inscription we are told by another, on the
opposite side, ''was put on the tomb by his own
positive ORDER The gist of it, as our lady read
ers will be pleased to perceive, consists in the lines
we have italicised the force of which will be bet
ter felt and understood from the additional fact
Wnlcl does not appear, IudG buIS DdCuciOI, WIZ
Eved only in his bachelor condition, was actually
married three times. His experience, if we are te
believe his epitaph, was greatly adverse to the
idea of any happiness in the married state vet
how strange that he should have ventured thrice
upon it The natural conclusion is that the Hon
orabe John Custis was singularly ju st and con-
scientious man, who, unwilling to do the sex any
wrong by premature judgment, gave them full
and fair trial. at the expense of his happiness
and pronounced judgment only after repeated ex
perments. Tradition has preserved some anec-
dotes ofthe sort of experience which he enjoyed
in the marrige state, one Of which will relate
1t appears that he was driving out in his ancient
coach with one of his wives, (and to do hin
Justice, we must assure the reader that he had but
one at time, and in the neighborhood of the very
spot upon which we ourselves standing, Cape
Charles, a matrimonial discussion ensued between
the pair, which warmed as they proceeded. The
lord grew angry, the lady vociferous. cit was
diamond" T" said one-and 81 insist, quoth the
other, tthat it a club" "You will drive me
mad p cried John Gusts, 81 should callthat ad
mrable driving p retorted the wife. by p
he exclaimed, eff you say another word | vii
upon the beach ''Another word p screamed the
lady "Drive where you please she added
''into the sea- can go as deep as you dare go any
dav % He became furious. took her at her word
and drove the horses and chariot into the ocean
They began to swim. He held in, looked into hel
face and she laughed in his. '.Why do yot
stop % she demanded exultingly, not viii
alarmed s'You are devil 90 he exclaimed, fling
ing the horses about, and making for the shore
with all expedition. ''Pooh pooh p laughed
bis tormenter. Learn from this that there is NJ
place where you dare go, where dare not accom-
pany you" Even to hi y he groaned eth,
only exception" she answered, with chuckle--
..there, my dear, leave you." She had con