The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-01-19
[ For fha Dnu Book. ]
EAsTvrLLE, NORTHAMPTON Co., Va,
Jan'y 16. 1865.

glrdleu county Will prove acceptable to some
of your numerous readers, many of you have
no doubt, claim this rs their native county
and towards whose familiar. shores their hearts,
still yearn with all the affectonate fondness of
exiled sons and, if you will permit me,
would indulge such comments and observa-
tons upon the manners and customs Of the
people as long and intimate acquaintance,
together with an extensive connection, has en-
abled me to form.
The hand of time, which in most other
places, has swept away the proud relics and
ancient landmarks of better days, seems to
have relented ere it reached this little PENN
sular county, and things have, for years, pur-
sued the even tenor of their way" undisturb-
ed by those unpleasant changes and revolu-
tons which have generally marked the pro-
the people, probably, retain more of their
primitive simplicity and native integrity than
almost any in the broad limits of this ancient
Commonwealth. Cut off from the rest Of the
State, by natural boundaries, its insular posi-
ton has done much to stem the unwecome tide
of reform, and roll back the dark waves of
modern philanthropy, which ever make such
havoc upon the morals of society, and trans
form their natural purity into hdeous mo-
dernism, tinged by the dark corruption of
selfish mercenary age. The native inhabi-
tants are kind, generous and hospitable, and,
whilst the county cannot boast ofany remark
able antiquities or Evolutionary romances,
many of its people are descendants of the mob
lest families of the Old Dominion, and can
trace back their primary origin to the proud
est age of titled nobility. Sociability is a
prominent feature in their character and for
years untold, business has been made second
airy and subservient to pleasure. The ladies
equal in grace and beauty those of any age or
cline and this war has developed and
brought to light hidden traits of heroism and
devotion that would have done honor to
Spartan chivalry on the proudest page of Gre
clan history. In the domestic circle around
the home-freside, their gentle influence
throws halo of happiness around the hearth
stone, and makes home, as it was ever design
" dearest spot on earth" Indeed in all the
varied relations and spheres of life whether
in the curtained chamber of sickness, around
the lonely couch of suffering, or on the floor
of gay festivity, amid the general u,v.ryment
of pleasures hour, they sustain that delicate
sensibility and lofty dignity Of character
which belongs peculiarly to woman kind
But will be no longer their historian-time
and your crowded columns warn me that l
trespass and an ADLER and more skillful pen
! than mine must award them the justice,
which only my want Of ability witholds.
| The soil of the country is favorably adapted
to the production of almost any crop of which
the southern climate can boast, and its staple
products are corn, oats, and potatoes. The
| lands have been much neglected of late, but
| with little good, judicious management, and
| by the application of manures. thoy may he
easily improved and rendered rich and highly
productive. Owing to the inef6ciency and un-
|
rulings of the Freedmen's Bureau, many of the
farmers have been compelled to employ white
labor; and, as far as have heard, its importa-
ton has operated satisfactorily. Many nation
alites are now represented here; and if our for
eign population increases in proportion to the
anticipated demand, we may soon hope 10
rival Asia in races or Hindostan in languages
Eastville, as you are aware, is the county seat
| of Northampton, and contains about two hum
| bred white inhabitants. Here the good people
assemble en- masse once during every month
10 attend the sitting of the county court, and
on those days business and pleasure join hands
in felicitous concord, whilst the public streets
are crowded with human beings, some wear
| ing upon their brows the sober seriousness OF
deep anxiety, and few whose forms reel I'M
der the dizzy touch of pleasure son the brain"
Eastvlle as your readers have probably sur
missed, is neat, modest little village, hardly
aspiring TO the dignity of a town in size. In
1t are several handsome residences, that would
adorn the principal street of large city, many
neat comfortable cottages, one church, (Epis-
copal,) several stores, two schools, and three
| hotels.
| The people of this shore were, during the
war, happily exempt from many of its atten-
dant evils to which others were subjected; but
they were not without their trials and mistor-
tunes. They have good cause, l assure you, to
remember the rigor and injustice of military
rule, and they appreciate and hail with delight
even the partial return of civil law. Ben.
Butler presided over their destinies for awhile,
and since the days of Pisistratrs to the presen
hour, no blacker fend ever disgraced the
gloomiest calends of crime. Flung, after a long
retirement, again INTO prominent notice by
treacherous, self-interested devotion to South
ern rights, and by his strong pseudo-secession
proclivties, as developed in the Charleston
Convention, falling to rise to power by an adj
herence to the party in whose ranks he was,
and in whose deliberations he bore a promi-
nent part, his was the malignant hatred of a
disa nnointed hroken-doWn potician-the ma