Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-07-20


THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS, at $6 per
snnum-paysble in advance.
BIT OF RoMANCE.-A letter from HsrrisoL-
burg, Va, in the Baltimore Sun, says:
About twenty years ago an infant, aged
about five months, was abandoned by its moth
er and left at the door OF the residence OF gen.
tleman near Harrisonburg. A note was lett
with the child, stating that it had been born
the previous December and requesting that 1t
he named Maria Catherine. 1t was we'll dress.
cd, and gave evidence of having been under
the care of a person of taste and refinement
The gentleman at whose door the little wall
had been left, having sufficient family OF his
own, sent it to the county almshouse, where 1t
was left in the tender care of pauper nurses, and
III short while it disappeared from public in
tcrcst and sight Last week letter was ad
dressed to the clerk of Rockingham county,
from the mother Of the child, making Inquiry
As TO its whereabouts The mother says she
was compelled, from the fear of losing her own
and the child's life, to leave it as she did, in
tendiog to reclaim it when free to do so. Twen-
tyyears have passed and only few weeks ago
death relieved her OF this fear, and she imme-
liateIy took steps to recover her child, who is
now, if living. b grown woman. The mother
dates her letter from tho White Sulphur
Springs, where she Is spending the summor
The letter is we'll dictated, but is evidently
spelled and written 10 disguised manner
Many of our citizens remember the child, and
the incident was mentioned in the local papers
ut the time Inquiry has been made, but the
wbtraabout. OF the child are not yet discover
TIE CASE OF BOOKER In the contested
election Of Mr. George Booker, Representative
Of the 4th Congressional District OF Virginia,
the action Of thess contestant was based Oh the
alteration that Booker, the sitting member,
could not take the Test Oath, because he had
held the Office Of Justice of the Peace under
the Confederate Government. Tucker tho
contestant, held, that no one with such antece-
dents could, without per jury, take the Iron clad
ualh OF Office. The phraseology OF the oath in
question is; 1 do solemnly swear that II have
uever sought, nor accepted, nor "attemptcd to
exercise the functions Of any "oftice whatever,
under any authority. or pretended authority
IA hostility to the United States, &c.
Here is an explicit declaration under oath,
that the rarty has never accepted nor exercised
the functions OF an Office under any authority
IN hostility to the United States government.
There is GO qualification of voluntarily at
,ached TO this, as to some other provisions OF
the oath but the language is, SO plain and ex-
plicit, that no one can pretend to misunderstood
it. 10 have held or sought any office under
The Confederate government then will, and
should prevent the holding any Office which re-
quires the taking OF the Test-Oath. And yet
Representative Booker did hold such Office, and
did swear that he never held such. No wonder
that indignant Radicals 10 Congress should de-
nouuce such an act, and openly declare that
"Mr Booker could no mora take the Test
Oath without perjury then could Jefferson
Davis. Lynch. Neacs.
VALLEY ITEMS Ten years ago tobacco
field would have been a curiosity 10 the Valley,
the production OF that article being confined
exclusively to Eastern Virginia. The produ-
cling OF tobacco is still Oh small scale, but for
the last four years has been gradually lucreas-
iog. Good farmers doubt the policy Of raising
tobacco, as it exhausts land so rapidly, but the
profits of raising it being 80 much greater than
grain will be very apt to override any other
considerations. and as it has secured a start We
may expect in few years to see the Valley
great tobacco as as we'll as grain section.
At the conjunction of the North Branch and
Shenandoah rivers, in Warren county, com
pany has established extensive lime kllns and
are turning off large quantities OF lime tor both
mechanical and agricultural purposes No
hoer limestone deposits exist than arc to be
lound in the Shenandoah valley, along it's
whole extent Individual farmers and mechan
les have always manufactured sufficient to sup
ply their own wants, but this is the first effort
that has been made to manufacture it in any
quantity and for outside consumption. With
proper transportation accommodations 1t Is
sure to be success. The kilns arc on the line
of the Orange Alexandria and Manassas rail,
road, and the Shenandoah Valley railroad will
run close to them The Company has obtain
ed consent to bridge the Shenandoah river,
and other improvements will be added as
needed.
SUMAC. This is the season in which to gath
er sumac, and for the benefit of our country
friends we give the following directions how it
should be done. The article commands ready
sale at prices ranging from sl.25 to ST. 80 per
hundred pounds according to quality. 1t can
be gathered until the first frost, which turns
the leaves red and worthless. 1t should be
cured as much as possible under shelter to pre-
serve its color and strength, and protect it from
dew and rain.
Strip the leaves and leaf stem as in pulling
fodder. Do not gather twigs or berries. Dry
It in the shade under shelter. Stir it often, as
10 curing hay, till it is perfectly dry If spread
tGo thicky, or heapcd in bulk befors dried, it
vii! heat and spoil. Exposure 10 the sun des
troys the color, which must be green.
When cured the stem snaps short and the
iest crumbles in handling 1t may then be
packed in bags, aud is ready for Market Fred.
ericksbrq Nelcs.
PRETENDED miracle WORKER called Dr.
Newton. Is exciting both public admiration and
indignation IN London. The other day about
two hundred infrm or crippled nersons we're
broupht IN him by thair frian3. "a I, o,r.d