The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-01-07
~ igGella W..
RecoIlec2iONs or The OIden Time,
First Series---No. 4.

10 the Edttors of The 4Fgis If htelHs elc,r:
MEssRs. EDITORS: My last letter, be-
lievc closed with the intimation that |
would refer, in my next, to few of the
gentler sex in Bel Air and vicinity, who
were young ladies when left there. am
afraid, however, that will be compelled
to defer such reference to another letter,
as l desire to refer to number of the
rougher sex to whom l have not yet al
luded, and without doing which, these
sketches would be incomplete. AS ladies,
| in these times of expansive crinoline, do
not love to be crowded, my next letter shall
be exclusively devoted to them.
In previous letter, / spoke of the Revs.
Davis and Morrison, of the Bel Air Acade-
my During their management of the
school, there were many pupils from dis
lance, and among them few who have
since left their impress upon the age in
which they lived. have in my mind two
of this class, one of whom believe is still
living. refer to John G. Chapman and
Anthony Mclean. Mr.. Chapman became
painter, and by the productions of
his pencil attained Il worldwide ieputa-
ton. He visited all the capitals of CONT
mental Europe, travelled in Asia, and So
journed for time in the capital of the
Caesars Rome itself He boarded,
while at the Bel Air Academy, with my
kind old friend John Calvin Norris, who
! then lived some two miles southwest from
Bel Air. John used te annoy friend Nor
ris no little by his pencil sketches on the
walls and all over the house, and there was
scarcely plank or smooth rail to be found
within his reach that bore not the impress
of his everlasting pencil. He died young,
but not until he had attained an eminence
in the art but seldom reached among our
countrymen.
Another boy from that Academy who
subsequently distinguished himself as a
great business man and fnancier, was An
thony Mclean, living few years ago, in
Alexandria, and perhaps residing there
yet. He was a noble-hearted boy and |
loved him as brother.
A Hartford boy from that Academy, still
fresh in my memory, and who subsequently
distinguished himself, was james Archer,
who was General in the Confederate Ar
my, and died in Richmond about the close
Of the war. He was one of the best boys
in school, and divided honors in scholar
ship with his cousin Tom Hays, another Of
Natures young noblemen.
There were several other boys Of promise
whose names have escaped me, but whose
features are still familiar.
Twas gratified to hear few days ago,
that Thomas Hope, Alexander Norris,
Samuel Sutton, DR.. Elijah and VIM. B.
Bond, (all of whom named in preced-
ing letter. are still living, and enjoying, l
hope, the fullest fruition earth can give, of
virtuous and useful lives. They were all
gentlemen of standing and influence, and
it will not, l am sure, initiate Mr.. Sutton,
now well on towards his three score.and ten,
to say that he was, forty years ago, regarded
as the handsomest man in Hartford, partic-
ularly by the ladies. Mr.. Norris was also
fine looking gentleman, but was about
turning down on the down-hill side Of life
before he could nerve himself to choose a
companion to share his joys and sorrows.
He married some years after | left Hartford,
but knew the lady of his choice before
she married at all, having often seen her at
the residence of Charles s. Sewell when l
was boy. l then thought she was the
prettiest creature had ever seen, and was
an angel minus the wings. l knew her
first husband, Capt. Ohio Norris, noble
SpeCllHcn VI uuniuHiIy, WHO was loSt III Cne
sloop- of-war Hornet, of which he was COM
mander, in the Gulf of Mexico, in 1927. |
brought dog he gave me into Virginia
he called him captain Sam"-and buried
him in rude coffin at the White Sulphur
Springs, where he died at very advanced
age.
Thomas Hope was plain, practical man
and possessed of rare judgment, industry
and integrity. was agreeably surprised
to hear that DR.. Elijah Bond is still living,
for if he hadn't the consumption forty
years ago, old DR.. Davidge of Baltimore