Ellsworth American., 1877-06-14
Correspondence.
i Maine Frost in Virginia


4. ing anllain'rI win many Of the r, ader-
ci your paitr iu Fl4ua'ia. Ea>tbraol -rI tin
a ly most oC thc towns iu Hancock County.
through which ! have travelled quite ,xisn-
..yris. | Thought perhaps q fyw woul- from an
Oh resident o. 'Ac "Pne Tree ~.are~ now
travelling n IA. might bc interesting.
l~,; the snowy and iae bound country ON.
En-l4ni f'r the more genial climate Of the
sunny south 10 J4uuar, la-i Leaving Boston
oh steamer Wm. Crane. saturday ai . +. VI.
arrived Monday "a . +. NJ. in Norfolk. Pa.
F,Et quick and Pheasant passage. Here |
was mt b., 4 delegation (eo.orodJ ready to re-
cci'e my baggage AMI escort me 10 the several
hotels. made choice Of the Mansion House.
wusr- found au excellent lIa,t. and a com.
f1r'ahi. aud Pheasant house. until the next Iay.
when lett i5i For Monroe, where found
ilcul. native u Maine wiki whom iArii.d
a Few week. Fort Monroe j. situated q. Do
doubt most of your reader, are Awarc. on the
extreme point Of the Peninsula. which j.
called Old Point Comfort. About 80 soldiers
ar gsrri-ioued in ID. fort now Abou, -
miles from Fortress Monroe in The thriving VII
wage of Hampton; near which j. situated the
Hampton Normal school. \ school for white
and colOred youths Of both sexes. and very
fine Institution, in which all citizens. white.
c0iored and without regard 10 politics or pre-
yiOu> condition OF sersitule. appear 10 be
interested. Near by the school i the National
.iiary House for Disabled Volunteer SOL
dIer-, accommodating about 80. Both these In
sututIous occupy tiue position, fronting !,amp-
ton Roads. The view from the cupo.a Of the
house l. not 10 BE- surpassed in the United
States. in my opinion. Near Hampton and
Fort Monroe, and in all this locality. wa, the
rendyzVou, Of large bodies Of Darkies in war
times, many Of whom never got away and the
county oi Elizabeth City, Of which Hampton is
the Capital or shire Town, T. Republican by a
large majority. Many people in this section
are very poor, and viii remain 20 until differ
ent habits are formed IN respect 10 drinking
liquor The greatest curse in Virginia At pres
ent j. whisky, and may God hasten the
day when the reform movement now doing 50
much good in other states shall reach this one,
and sweep like an avalanche the liquor from
her borders.
Leaving Fort Monroe. / next visited YORK
County. While there was asked by cores
pondent from 80 II County, what the State Of
: ciety was, where | was then stopping? |
VII try 10 give little idea Of il now with your
permission. Isl the prevailing church is the
Southern Methodist; although there al Bap-
tist, Episoopalions. and sect known and
called the Cameliies. The schools are free 10
black or white, much as in Maine. or any
Northern State. While in York County,
e. a 81. & ID n
II Southern Methodist Minister and brother
Mason also. He has several Parishes under
his charge, and it was my privilege to have
time to speak TO all of them, and became sat
isfied that more jealous christian people,
have never seen. Their customs vary consid-
erably in many respects from \. England.
| They are brought up to kneel at family prayers
whether professors of religion or not, so also
they are taught TO say grace. or as l term it,
ask blessing al meals, even il they do not
profess religion; this they believe to be right
that il is every persons duty to thank God for
the blessings bestowed daily upon them. This
part OF their creed | haye fell in with and Of
fciaied when called on. L have also had the
privilege of speaking TO the people ON several
occasions on The subject OF temperance.
From York, County / came across Chesa-
peake Bay TO the Eastern shore Of Virginia,
and stopped in place called Pungoteaged in
Accomae County, but had the misfortune to
be taken sick with bilious fever, but although
among entire strangers and in southern state,
was treated with the utmost respect and re-
ceiyed the best of care. On recovering ,and cali
ing for my bill OF any attending ply ysicisn, was
surprised TO learn that he had no bill az ainst
me. Although he belonged to the Fraternity,
l was not looking for so ,great a favor. The
Eastern shore Of Va, IS a low. sandy penin-
sula, lying between the Atlantic on the east
aud Chesapeake Bay on the West. l am now
stopping in Onancock, the largest village ON
the Eastern shore. The people are mostly
Farmers, although they unite oystering and
fishing with it on the shores. They raise q
vast amount Of truck. or early vegetables for
Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York mark.
cts, such as early Irish potatoes, green peas,
swee potatoes, ETC.; there are also many fine
strawberry patches, tas they call them here,J
covering acres one in sight of me now, has so
colored persons in it, picking for market.