The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-30
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what can be said of tho present? What,
intact, has not been developed IN II! Inc
iorss NJ noes condensed In this steaming age
NJ ours stands forth as the wonder Of won
ders. We overlook the tolls and the foibles
n orr ancestors, gazing through the dim
haze that intervenes between the two pc
RODS. and see only bright future beyond,
that has been toned down by the friction OF
time and left nothing to 'hate-no jealousy,
M rivalry. Can admire or censure, as our
temperature leads us. Can look upon Inc
busv period that kept improving mankind,
md filing uD the gap between the living
and the dead, until the past is the beautlui
idea, NJ all that is great or glorious, and the
nresent all that is corrupt in,the scuffic Tor
place and money. ~
=. :Westmoreland ais she is is not so poetIzlng
ast Westmoreland as 'shewas. We are deal,
!. wifi, str,bborn facts now. One IS dead
and the other liycth. Actors on 4 stage
where it is hard to draw the lines between
the virtues of the present and the vices OF
tho present.. The old rule never to speak
or n mans virtues to his face or OF his faults
hebind his back is out of fashion, anu the
living is traduccd or praised as 1t suits each
mans interest or fancy. This is the result
Of an improved age over period when men
were fined or ccnsurcd for kissing thelr
wives on the Sabbath, punished for absent
ing themselves from church on Sunday,
whipped and fined both for adding to the
Donuiation unlawfullv, when population
was mostly needed. Things are done now
more artistically. Instead OF time Tor all
things there is professor for all things,
who makes the live man live as history
unto himself and the dead man rs history
for the country.
The old landmarks OF Westmorcland are
not materially changed. The Potomac has
In places cncroachcd several hundred yards
upon the high lands within the last 100
years. Bays and inlets filled up by the
washings OF the soil run down by mise.
rable system OF cultivation along their bor-
ders the pine and the scrubby oak grow
ing where once grew the noble oak, the
walnut. and hickory-cut down in pure
thoughtle sness and burnt by those who re-
garded it az too troublesome to improve
their WORKOUT lands when labor was
cheaper than improvers. r
b 4 portion OF Westmoreland suffered
good deal in the war Of 1872. A number
OF private dwellings along the, banks OF
Nomonv creek were burnt, and other pro-
perty DESTROYED by the British forces while
the feet was anchored off that course. Ihe
civil war left her completely prostrate.
Added to this an exodus, as it were, or her
neople to the townsville loss OF her sons IN
the struggle for separatiOn-the wealthy
and most intelligent citizens hurried to the
grave from the changed position In when
they were thrown by the loss OF property
the petty tyranny exercised over them
under military rulc-thcir social position
oyerthrown-povertya and starvation staring
them in the 'facc-were too much lor thclf
big hearts. II her records show the glorleS
OF the past her present suHcrings have
pretty well cooled down her sentimental
ideas Of honor and honesty.
Montross. her capital, is one OF the cities
finished and fenced i'll. and shows but little
taste in the construction OF the houses, and
an absolute absence OF all order IN the
straight lines that govern most city fathers
in their layings-out and roundinSs-up. Yet
there is something to admire in Its very
irregularity. The Scotch namc-a few lin
rering sprigs Of the highland Scotcll-broom
planted by the hardy sons OF a country
who stamp their impress upon all countries
they settle in.
our first recollections OF MontrosS are
associated with the character OF one OF the
inn-keepers then doing fourishing busi-
ness-when brandy was sold by the ticker,
and the "Assembly" established the tavern
rates for horse-feed, meals, and bedding.
His round. rosy face was an index to the
inner mans familiarity with the good things
of this life His appearance always fascl-
mated ME. Nose the size Of turkeys egg;
hair short and stiff, that rose and fell when
talking like the crest OF fretted muscoyy
drake. In his summers dress Of "shorts"
and slippers, with few other pieces OF
dress necessary for q white man to wear, be
was daily found in the tavern-piazza sur
rounded by friends; ice, &C., the usual &C.
compartments. then edged up as near as
prudence would let me, and gazed on his
fascinating face as long as it was safe to do
so; for his stick was a potent argument with
BOYS to keep beyond its range.
The old gentleman is gathered to his
fathers now, and we can drop tear to the
memory OF one who thought mint-iuleps
good enough for the gods, and that the race
OF man was too short by few hundred
years.
The clerks Office and the monument
erected in memory of the Confederate dead
are the most attractive objects to be seen.
The Office contains many curious records.
Our ancestors must have been intensely re-
ligious. In disposing Of their worldly pos
sessions, the first item in their wills was to
give their bodies to the dust and their souls
to the God who gave it, trusting in JOY
GUS resurrection. To the antiquary the
quaint writing and contracted words are a
neYer-ending source Of interest, on which
they can study out the feelings and passions
of a past age. Some of the Federal-raiding
parties did great deal OF mischief with
the records between the years 1860 and 49,
Books are missing, and a will of one I.
Washington, dated in 1915, is lost.
Open the folds of the present books and
read Judgment after Judgment Us. the liy-
ing and the dead: sale after sale decreed for
land, the owners Of which were rich at the
beginning Of the war, now realizing the
fact that, they were bankrupts. Their chill
dren, reared in aff1uence, now poor and I'M
fitted to battle with poverty and the world.
What might be expected: Yet many came
manfulIy to the front, the good blood OF the
race cropped out, and they grappled with
the situation and sustained the fame Of their
ancestors.
:, Not sixty years ago schools were kept in
old-feld ool.houses-tobacco and corn
the tuition fee, and not great deal OF that.
Now the county is webbed over with free
schools, hastily fastened upon a ruined
State by unwise legislation. II the present
system keeps UP the past status OF the
county there can be no objections to it,