Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-09-14
MIStELLAMEoUS.
A "SPUNKYH ONE,

SN CORRESPONDENT Of the Charlesiok
- Erening Ne,ps, travelling on the Eastern
shore of Virginis; gives the following ID ono
of his letters:
We turned aside from our path for lpAcs
10 visit an object Of some curiosity which d
one of the ..liohsn Of lhe Eastern Shoro,--
This is an ancient vault. belonging toe mems
bsr Of the .'custisH iamly. branch of the
esme stock Of which Washington intefmAftied.
Il lies upon Zoe old iarinstead. looking out
upon the s,bsy," aud occupies the centre Of, =
large Geld, the only prominent object. shel-
tered by some old trees. The vault Is of
white marble. elaborately carved IN London;
ip state of partial dilaPidation. The cu.
rous feature about /, consisis in tu inscription,
which runs thus
Under this marble tomb lies the body e
the Hon. John Custis, ESQ, Of the city OK
Williamsburg and parish uf Burton. formerly
of Huuger's parish. on the Eastern shore OF
Virginia. and county Of Northampton eyed
Il years and get. HUe5 bWf sepeR yeurs. which
was the time he kept bachelors home %
Arlington. on the Eastern shore Of Virginia.
The inscription, We are told by another Oh
the~opposite side. was put on the tomb BY hit
own positive order. The gist of it. as our
lady readers will be pleased to perceive. oon>
sists, in the lined We have italicised the fof66
Of which will be better ieit and understood
from the additional fact, which does NOT aps
pear. that this bachelor, who lived only in HE
bachelor cundition, was actually msrFied thFe6
times. His experience, 10 We are 10 believe
his epitaph, was greatly adverse TO the ideG %
any happiness in the marriage state, Jet how
strange thSt he should have ventured thTies
upon il +! The natural conclusion is thai tb6
Hon John Custis vas sinHularly just aud
conscientious man: who, un&illibg to do lhS
sex any wrong by q premature Judgment,
gavo them n full and fair trial, at the expensS
Of his own happiness, and pronounced judgs
ment only after repeated experiments. TrhS
d'tOD has preserved some anecdotes OF tbs
sort of experience which he enjoyed in tho
marriage ktate. one of which will relate
IL appears that he was driving out 10 his aiS
cieDt coach with one OF his wives. (and 20 do
him justicc, We muat assure the reader thai
he had bur one at n time.) and 10 the beigh-
borhond Of this very spot upon which W
ourselves are now standing, Cape Charles: =
matrimonial discussion ensued between tho
pair which warmed they proceeded. The
The lord grew angry, the lady Toeiferatod.--
at WAS diamond" said ono.
And I insist" quoth the Othsr, "thsl u
was = club"
you will drive me mad ~ cried JohA
Custis.
Il should call this admirable driving |" rs>
torted the wife.
Obj" he exclaimed. "If you saS
another word will drive down into Ih6 Seap'
They were then upon the beach.
"Anoiher word r screamed the lady.-%
Drive where you please" She Added-''ibiS
tho sea, can 30 As deep rs yOu dare 80 anJ
day a"
Re became furious, Ok her 81 her WSrdJ
and drove the horses and chariot Into thS
ocean. They begun 10 swim. He hsld ipj
looked into her face and she laughed n biz.
Why do you stop !" she demanded, ex:
ultiDgIy, not . whit alarmed.
You are a devil r. he exelsimsd, bripfs
ing the horses about, and making for she sho1S
with ali expedition.
Pooh pooh r. laughed his toriLentsf.-;.
Learn from this that there is no plaso
where you dsre go where dare nos asoofss
papy you"
Even 10 h-ll" he groahed.
"The only exception she answered With
chukIe-'there my dear. leave Jon"
She had conquered. He never drove II -
Cspe Charles. seaip, but grosned With Che
recollection Of the seven years bachelors life
at Arlington.