Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-09-05
wTRANsIENT BILLs-cAsn,
LETTER FROM FAIRFAX G. H.
August 2Srd. 1876,


and spent the years of 1857 aud s. They
were most pleasant years indeed in my check
cred history-made so b. n combination of
circumstauces-a good home, healthtul local
ity, Kind and genial people, etc And now
after an absence Of Is years to visit the old
place forms almost an epoch in my life. This
place and section wss the theater of stirring
scenes and events during the war Right
about here its bloody plough snare made its
dee pest burrows In nature and time have filed
the gaps, smoothed tho rough places aud
save now and then the absence of building
you were wont to see aforctimc, nought shows
itselfin the beautiful expanse around The
earth about here wears iis loveliest appear.
auce, and a stranger would never dream of
the desoiation that once teigned. To me the
most striking exhibition of the destruction
that was abroad is the entire IA ing to the
ground, not Sestisc remaining, only the
rank weeds growing there, of tho neat little
brick manse and church where dwet, around
which so many sweet memories cluster. The
county of which this is the shire WINS cstab>
il ID a far back as l742 nd takes its title from
Lord Fantax, the Eng ash ncbi-u woo f.
Cured conspicuously y Iu The very cal satt,o-
ment Of the country whose doG,rieu,s are
still abroad in the aud NoNrt Vernon,
where rcpoScs the dust of the Father of his
country, is within its borders, and Jhrrn are
yet standing two churches (f'ohick and Falls}
built in colonial times with brick brought
from old England, venerable monuments of
the honry past Tho County scat after somo
migration was Fixed at this place in 1899,
Mr.. Ratclif donating to the authorities secs
tion of land to tho extent of 4 acres for tho
erection of the public buildings II is I6
miles from Alexandria, on tho Alexandria
and Littlo river turnpike, public highway
opening up 10 the rich county OF boudoun to
the Shenandoah and to Winchester Tho
village having perhaps 500 inhabitants has
another name, that Of Providence, and wears
quite a rural aspect has some handsome resi-
dences some of which have grassy lawns,
shaded by grand old oaks towering Aloft in
their native simplicity, and stateliness. Strange
to say it is an uEincorporated town. and still
stranger, it has no paved sidewalks along the
streets. It's Court House, Clerks Office and
Jail are plain, unpretending buildings located
in spacious enclosure of acres with shade
trees and green lawn. Without any artificial
adornment. The Episcopalians have a nOat
church built since tho war and the Methodists
South have a very handsome one RpproximR-
ting completion. find tho old clerk of anti
beIlum days at his desk, Ferdinand Richard
son, Esq. uniting in himself the duties of
both Circuit and County. In the Office, l in-
spected the last viii aud testament Of George
Washington. It is written in bold legiblo
hand-at the bottom of each page is his sig
nature-the writing is not dimned by time.
Tho paper somewhat worn-very particular
in the description Of his property complete
schedule Of everything he possessed and
named-how obtained, cost and advice to leg
atees to retain in prospect Of future advance.
Aggregate value put down at $3.50, 900. It
is truly a remarkable relic Of that great and
good man. Date July 9th, 100.
1 looked in at the county court now in ses-
sion and find Judge Sangster on the bench,
and case before tho court of Magisterial
Malfeasance. Judge Sinclair, of Prince Will
liam, who was an appointcr OF President Buc-
hauau to a Judgeship in ono Of tho then
Western Territories speaking for the defence
and Colonel Ball, who has of late thrown him.
self into the arms of the Radicals, for the
plaintiff. This is tho residence OF Judge
Henry W Thomas who for many years has
been prominent in this district, is the leader
Of the bar here and is now heBpeaker of tho
Senate Of Virginia, and Lieutenant Governor,
elected in the place of Colonel Withers, u,
S. Senator. He is a gentleman of fne pres-
ence, genial manners and descrvcdly popular
and honored | have formed q most pleasant,
acquaintance with Mr.. Wells who was reared
in the Valley above Winchester, has married
and settled here, is n law.partner of Judge
Thomas and is rising and promising mem-
Der of this bar. The flight of Is years has
left its marks and made its changes Many
of those whom / formerly mot and knew on
these streets have passed away, tho yr1Dg
have grown up to manhood and wornanhood
and thus we are all moving on in the grand
march to the great unknown. After 4 most
delightful sojOurn in Loudoun of more than
TWO weeks, left it by way Of the Loudoun
and Hampshire railroad leaving il at Vienna
the nearest station to this place 5 miles away.
My stay in Loudoun was thing of bcah pity,
JOY forever" Its right royal domain its
magnificent scenery, its rich verdant pasture
fields with their lowing herds, its wonderful
growth of corn hills and vaIlies burd4ned
with it, all Of this was beautiful TO look pom,
and led the soul to adore the Giver Of ell good.
1t was my particular privilege to attend the
yearly feast of Tabernacles, the Camp Meeting
located within two miles Of my stopping place,
| Harwood, the residence of Mrs. Thomas Fran
CTS. attended the meeting daily, going in
the morning and returning in the evening.
Under the direction of Edwin Brown, Esq,
the Camp was neatly nrraDged-75 or so tents
were erected-a large cotton awning with fly,
covered the main sittings Of the congregation
to the extent suppose of 100 feet in depth,
and fifty in width, great protection from rain.
The order was good-tbe congregation very
large-the weather moderately favorable, sues
cess very good, so or 60 conversions, preach
ing in tSe main of good type, as to two of
the ministers of high order. Dr. Duncan,
whom our people know and love to hear, was
present during most of the meeting, preached
almost daily and in his happiest manner. DIR.
| Win6ald from ATkansaa who cama fowaYda
| the last, preached with great power and effect.
| The meeting on the whole was a very fine
one, q real success. lasting over two SabbAths,
nInrnn dnrn fsIInuu ,,nnIlr an Ahrr AnnAn