Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-05-25
TANEYTowN. Nd. May 1a. 1860.

This village, situated in the Northwestern
part of Carroll county, is the place of my
birth, and have been spending few days
very pleasantly here among friends and ac-
quaintances of other days. and rambling over
localities and visiting scenes once quite famil-
lar, but now, owing to the changes wrought by
time, scarcely recognized,
Nearly twenty-six years have passed since
left this place for the Buckeye State, then con-
sidered almost in the far West. but at present
the centre of civilization and progress as well
as the geographical heart of the Confederacy,
aud very far removed from the region now
sought 5y those bouud for :. the West" The
changes since that time have been very great !;
bat nothing has more forcibly impressed ME
with their extent as regards the population
than visit to the village grave yards three
in number) and an examination OF the inscrip-
tions on the numerous tomb-stones that tell of
the ravages wrought by death in the space of
a quarter of century. Most of the names
that meet the eye are familiar, and the perusal
of them recalls to recollection well-known cit
izens whose places are now filed by their de-
seendants and emigrans from other localities,
with but few of whom can claim acquain-
tance. zt
/. The village itself is an ancient one, pleasant
lE situated, and though it has increased but
littlen size or population since my earliest re-
collection, is in good state of preservation,
and | have never seen it look better than at
present 1t was laid out more than a century
ago by the Taney family, Of which the present
Chief Justice, rendered famous by the Dred
Scott decision, is member. Among its cher
ished "reminiscences is visit by General WASH
ington, who spent part Of day and a night
within its limits at the close of the Revolu-
tionary war, when on his way from Philadel-
phia to his home in Virginia.
Yesterday 17th) has been for time imme-
mortal a great holiday in this region, veIy gen
orally observed, though not as a religious an
niversary except by Catholics It is univer-
sally devoted to fishing, and the entire juvenile
portion of the population spent the day luxu-
rating in that sport, many Of whom | encoun-
tered during saunter along the banks of Pi-
ney Creek making sad havoc among the Shi-
ners; while large boys and young men repair
ed to Monocacy. more pretentious stream,
where larger fish are to be caught but the
true disciples of Isack Walton, not content
with tho tame sport afforded by these streams,
hied away to Pipe Greek, the cool, clear and
impid waters of which abound with Fall
Fish," one of the most beautiful and highly
priced members Of the fnny tribe. Like the
speckled Trout they are very shy, and none
bat an expert angler can take them with sue
cess, which fact greatly enhances the sport.
There is probably no section of country in
the United States that has undergone a great
er change within the period of twenty-five
years than this. The graphic pen of Wash
ington Irving has depicted in glowing colors
the surprise and establishment of Rip Van
Wrinkle, on awakening from his sleep of years
and noticing the changes that time had
wrought in his native village. Gould the in
habitant of this neighborhood of twenty-five
years ago, who left at that time and has heard
nothing of what has since been going on, be
suddenly set down on one of the neighboring
en,inenccs, the view that would present itself
to his astonshed gaze would be as novel and
Surprising as that which confounded and be-
wildered the hero of Irving's prolific fancy
The soil here is known as red land . and it
IS most appropriately named, for the fields and
highways are the color of a well-burnt brick
Twenty-Five years ago very considerable por-
tion of laud had become from constant cult-
vation almost entirely divested of fertility, and
the best only produced very moderate crops
by constant manuring and thorough cultiya-
tion. Hundreds and thousands of acres imme-
dlately contiguous to and within few miles
of town had reached such degree of exhaus-
tion that they were hardly worth plowing be-
ing covered with feeble growth of short vel
low sedge and an abundant accompaniment of
brambles, and many broad fields and in some
cases almost entire farms were thrown out as
commons. the best efforts at farming them not
producing the seed sown. As a natural con-
sequence the farm houses were neglected and
rapidly falling into tlecay-the barns and 9th
er out-buildings dilap;dated and rickety-the
fences poor and fast disappearing-a the
prospect for the farmer and the country at
large seemed most gloomy one for the inev-
liable tendency Of such state of affairs was
to drive off population, depress every branch
of industry, and discourage those whose lands
were as yet partially productive by the pros
peet Of their own farms deter iorating in fertil-
ity to point that wonld make their cuItiya- |
ton unremunerative.
The sterile commons and exhausted fields !
referred to have been renovated and reclaimed, |
and are now covered with most uxurant crops
Of wheat, oats, clover, and leng rows of heal |
thy looking corn just peeping through the SOIL
No waste land is to be seen-and which at |
the time above named would have been regar-
ded as dear at SIS per acre, could hardly be
bought now for $65. With this improvement
in the land there has been corresponding i'm