The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-02-24
THE CHESAPEAKE PENINSULA.

The reverence in which this old region is
held by those who have wandered from it
is exemplified by a late remark of William
H. Hooper, delegate in Congress from
Utah, and Mormon though not polyga-
mist. He was describing the virtues of
Eastern Shore cooking, when one said:-
"Captain Hooper, when were you last
on the old peninsula ?"
"Never Madame, since left it thirty
five years ago."
"Why, sir, from your frequent mention
of the place, should think you would
want to slip over there at least once every
session of Congress"
"Never Madame! never wish to see
it again; for I might be disappointed.
always want to remember it as it appeared
to me last in the days of my youth: the
most beautiful spot under the eyes of prov
idence.'
Similar testimony was that Of John Gus
tbs, father-in-law by her first marriage of
Mrs. George Washington. The Gusts
family had descended, in America, from
John Gusts, Hollander in name and orr
gin, who received the appointment of Col
lector of Customs on the Eastern Shore of
Virginia in 1857, and whose great estate of
Arlington there, and relative fortune in
money, attested either the richness of the
Eastern Shore at that time, or the antiquity
of the Collector of the Customs as we
know him, a Royal officer to this day. The
estate of Arlington, near Washington City,
perpetuates the name of the elder manor
of the GUSTS family near Cape Charles,
and it is authentic history that the son of
the Collector married the daughter of Dan
iel Parke, who carried the dispatches Of
Marlborough to Queen Anne, announcing
the victory of Blenheim. This second
Gusts, living unhappily with his wife, left
this tribute to the Eastern Shore on his
tombstone
Under this marble tomb lies the body
of the Hon. John Gusts, Esq, of the city
Of Williamsburg and parish of Burton,
formerly of Hungars parish on the Eastern
Shore of Virginia and County of North
ampton, aged seusnty-one gears, and got
hred but secen years. aohich aoas the space Of
time he Kept bachelors home at arlington,
on the Eastern Shore Of Virginia."
These attestations, revive the widely
known anecdote invented by Hon. Tom
Corwin, who used to tell it on the 'tstump."
A very old man with long jaws and high
chesk-bones, came once upon time to the
witness-box of an Ohio court,
"What is your ago." asked Corwin.
"Twenty- two"
"You probably mistake the question:
Tho years of your life-I wish to know the
number of them"
"Twenty-two!'
"Have you spent all your life in Ohio P"
ooh! no. did live forty year on the
Eastern Sho' of Maryland, but hope the
Lord amt counted Mom agin mep'
The queer phrases and pronunciation of
this region are of habit, and DO longer of
ignorance.
81 do'no but" is mild form of affirma-
ton. ga DANCED sightgood deal is an
ambiguous estimate of quantity. "Won't
'mung ye come to see me"' is a somewhat
querulous renewal of an invitation
" What for sort of man" is hardly
Indigenous, but sounds suspiciously like an
of "Fildelfy" or Baltmer"
business talk. Who can define an GILL
commenced day" except upon the theory
Of natural volubility unrelieved by die
tienary? Gan else" is a transportation
Of unless. "Right smart - is of universal
it applies to man of sagacity,
to quantity, and to distance; occasionally
the word "peart" takes the place of smart,
TO signify animation. "Cleverness in
Delaware means hospitality and good fell
owship solely, never skill, and it is the :
next diploma below the impossible grade
Of ga gentlemen"
Cousinship is feature of good family
life on the Peninsula, the remark being
common of $50 and So is my fourth cous-
H." Extraordinary cases of human Ion
yevity occur here, notwithstanding tho
orevalency at times Of low fevers; but tho
Eastern Shore is healthier than the oppo.
lite and higher coast Crime is rare; soci-
'ty was tranquilDduring the war; Northern
immigration is welcomed, and observes no
prejudice.
1t is to be remarked that from peninsu-
ated regions of the Chesapeake, closely
resembling the Eastern Shore, many of
'ur strongest public men have como; as,
or example, Washington, the Lee family,
oinckney and Writ, fancy and Reverdy
Johnson; in short the whole line of Vir-
,inia statesmen. William and Mary, and
IT. Johns Colleges are pitched in the low
ands of the Chesapeake.
Scri5ner's MONTHLY.