The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-18


.s Land 5nnd waser-fI II sOWlsTrap I
1orrespoa6en Of ihe Richmond T1ispatsh.I
AuaUsr 1ts 1874.
& I'd those who laye not The meaas abd the
timefor q trip to Yosemite or the Yello n-
stone {and renew their seafps) or TO Canada
srto Europe, It Is delig htful to know fi,af
there Is much to see nearer home that .felates
to nature, 10 phiiosoph TO domestic life, 70
politics, and to art, that may richly enter
tain and refresheB those who are weary OF
work and tired of the monotony OF life at
home. Indeed, those whose beds are hard
and. whose fates are sad may derive relief
from turning their beds over, and from
taking another view of their situation, seated
upon ne " g tussock.o
This Is well. It not only makes the Dis
comforts Of an unenYiable situation endu.
rable, but often cheerful may, hilarious. a
great many people will agree With me In
this opinion, and it is all the better for them
that they should. They have no doubt found
out as well as I have that there is variety
even in misfortune which gives that state OF
life no little spice.
on THE WAY.
+ So will give you little outline OF my
expedition by land and water. Leaving
Richmond by the York River railway, was
soon act down at the White House, where the
Pamunkey and Mattaponi unite their waters,
which flow through what was once amongst
the happiest lands Of Virgins. but which are
now weighed down by the evils OF domes.
tic revolution, the folly and deYillshness OF
which are without parallel in the history Oh
man. But we will not be gloomy On our
trip, so let US 90 on .ebeerily upon the 1ork
river in the fine steamer Louise, Captain
NICKEL CHATS the way you would say ID
CAV editoriaD superb steamer, unsurpassed
captaIn-along the borders Of those venera.
BILE old counties of Virginia whose names are
associated with the great aud good things,
the famous men and most charming women
that have adorned society and given lame 10
the history Of Virginia.
On we 60 looking out upon the gracefully
indcnted shores, the serene and cosey home.
steads and eYer-chsnging scene OF field and
forest, down to the Acknowledgements
Yorktown Of revolutionary fame.
GLOUCESTER POINT,
where we landed-the steamer stopping one
day at Yorktown and the next at gloucester
Point, right opposite the old town-has one
family dwelling upon it. IN the War-tne
late onpleasantness," as it is Ironically
styled-this place was considered one OF !nl-
portance for defence, and the Confederates
threw up Notifications quite elaborate, eE-
tending from the waters edge to the heignts
above, covering many acres. They were
not worth rush, and we're never useo
enough to entitle them to q place IN history.
By an opening which has been msde ;ost pe-
hind tine dwelling, the road inds It's way
among the embellishments, and obll1uely
passipg over the hill, is lost 70 view. Ii ira
verses neighborhood in old Gloucester Win
whose topography an unacaualnted, ano'
like the Arkansas traveller, mr. ASA, the oc-
cupant OF Gloucester Point, might say tnat
the road is stationary, and bias never gone
away from the Point since be has been there.
YORKTOWN.
The day following my arrival st the Point
fmore famous for fish and oysters than for
6yhting) I went to the venerable town OF
York. It has been so often described that
would only be tedious in going over the
ground again. 1t was my first visit. as
cended the bill BY the old road, which Is
much washed and quilted. I observed the
old brick sewer constructed 20 drain the
town possibly many years before the Revo-
luton. 1t is built of London brick, such as
were imported in Provincial days for build
ing purposes from that town. This sewer is
exposed by the washing rains, and we see
that it was Wen built.
Reaching the principal street, which is now
almost the only one, We see the few remain.
ing houses of Colonial times, the old
church, aud the venerable sraye-stones.
whose Inscriptions are now almost illegIbie,
ard which have so ot'en been reelted 10
looks and letters that willno undertake TO
repeat them. The old Nelson House, of Pro-
vincal fame -once the residence Of that Gov
ernor Nelson, who figures upon The WASH
ington Monument in the Capitol Square of
Richmond-iS now the most noted building
in Yorktown. Indeed there are few buildings
in the place, and decay and dilapidation are
seen on every hand. Here, indeed, are
brought into contact the revolutionary aye
and the /" fifteenth amendment" The re-
mains of the former period rest amidst the
denominations Of reconstruction, which insult
the graves Of the iilustrious dead and dehle
the old landmarks of really great society.
The man who can behold Yorktown without
pang of modification. has soul into whose
recesscs no ray OF light has ever found its
Way. What a contrast the two ages present
When shall the dead, dead weight that OPP
presses the present into the very dust he
lifted up?
Turning from the noted remains Of other
days and looking practically into things
around US, what do We see? A Struggling
village. The negroes have main possession of
the only street. The traffic has barbarous
curl aboutit. 1t is market day. Small meats
are in limited supply and very poor. The
" little calf" whose dressed quarters look
exceedingly thin and blue, predominates.
The pig has place and the cries of small
stock of chickens salute the ear. Newly
sailed SPOTS and mullets, and some small
strings of newly caught fish are hung to the
posts of the market-house. And what is
the market-house? 4 roof supported by
two or three posts in line; the roof extending
equally on each side Of the posts. There are
two Of these little shelters, one before the
principal store IN the place and one before
the store of DR.. NORTON (eolored), candidate
for Congress and formerly high deputy con-
stitution.framer and law.maker at the CAPT.
tol.
THE STORES.
The main store Is composite establish
ment more than embracing all departments
of trade. 1t is drug, dry-Soods, bard
ware, grocery, tin.ware, candy, and house
furnishing store al! in one, and has besides
the post-ofice and custom-house within its
walls. In front is long porch in which
are assembled q number of women, in
Guiding the hues of orange, pine bark, and
black-wbo sit by tables on which are dis
played cakes and beer, and cooked sweet
potatoes, boiled corn, fried fish, some fried
meats, potato pies, &C., which the negroes
seem to epjoy-i. e., those who have msney,
others hanging around with longing glances
at the Yiands. Melons the Negroes native