The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-07-20


hei 3Apil qlic
nsl9l
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i.hls lls ilel9li'qf
men aa ltile
f a1a yine dance
daylight lhessde
st94s p 20 'litiH w ,e
i5qlfe sfc
tintcres " py
1aldic a y
don0le lh lonciNG ail
good olsll a aI|o q
.eoNtse eit llit 'elrn q pl'
if l0i
c0is ihS KING aid the
6il titizef were lla1 mary occit-
ssions All the neighl3dFs, men and
women, came from every portion Of
| Itheesettlement The men labored in
the fields and tile ladies worked on.
quilts. There could beno log-rolling,
house-raising, orscorn-husking, with
out a quilting. The presence of the
ladi9s was essential to the enjoyment
of suchsoeGasions. They were not
only necessary to assist in cooking
and quilting, but their presence was
also necessary to the successful con-
ducting of the dance, which always
followed such ;gatherings. They
worked hard allSday, and danced all
night and wouldSmake ahand in the
field, or at the wheel or loom, next
day.
Professional men were rarely found
among the early settlers. Once in q
great while the circuit-rider would
preach to the people who gathered in,
many of them from q great distance,
to attend divine service. A circuit
embraced two or three of the primi-
tive counties, which would now be
equal to fully one half of the State,
and although the circuitrider preach
ed a sermon every day and night, it
took him from six to eight weeks to
make the round. The sermons of
these primitive preachers were often
very effectitc. Scores of rude woods
men and their families have been
converted at single service. In early
times under the preaching of able
ministers, people would take what
was called the "jerks," and would
fall to the floor and writhe and dis
tort their features and bodies very
much like a person with an epilcptic
fit. This was Supposed to be the
power of the Spirit in casting unholi-
ness from the body and soul Of the sin
-neTs.-s.---.--,. ., .-..,.,. ..-.a, ..-s.,..,. n
Doctors were even scarccr than
preachers. They were almost as use
less as fifth wheel to a wagon, for
two reasons; First, the people were
rarely. afflicted with diseases Of any
kind, and second the old women were
always ready to treat, with herb teas,
any kind of sickness which came
around, which nearly always effected
cures. Lawyers were almost entire
ly unkown to the first settlers, 1t
was a rare thing for disputes between
them to be taken into court, hence
as a rule scholars were unnecessary,
School-tcachers were almost as
scarce as lawyers or doctors; yet once
in great while professional peda-
gogue would come along, who was al
ways engaged to "teach the young
idea how to shoot" School would
open shortly after daylight and con-
tinue until sundown, giving, in the
meantime, a recess of one hour for
dinner.
The county Of Mason was estab-
lished in 1904, and named for the
celebrated statesman, George Mason,
of whom Jefferson has this to say
"IIe was of the first order of wisdom
among those who acted on the thea
tire of the Revolution, of expansive
mind profound Judgment, cogent in
argument, learned in the lore Of our
former constitution, and earnest for
the Republican change on Democrat
ic principles. His elocution was
neither flowing nor smooth; but his
language was strong, his manner
most impressive, and strengthened
by dash of biting criticism, where