Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-05-15

-s-ese--
ST. MARY's.-We end in the last IS
sue Of the Falcon. . spirited little week
ly paper, Published al Elizabeth city.
North Carolina, under head Of special
correspondence, the following letter
from 81. Mary's which we have thought
il would interest our patrons 10 reads---
The Town Point spoken OF in The cor
respondence is aprcjection Of land from
the ancient Manor Of Harvey Town
into the Patuxent and is familiar TO our
youth as the spot where shells were
gathered and terrspin eggs hunted many
but We may not say hov many-but
many years sgoi We thank the wri-
ter for bis interesting letter and esPe-
pecialIy for the handsome reference he
makes in its concluding paragraphs to
our Town.
This warn, sultFy day finds me bask-
Ing III the shade on The banks OF the
beautiful Patuxent, The finest harbor in
Maryland, and next to Portland, Maine,
The finest in the United States. The
shade a the trees. and cool breezes
from the river. are delicious after walk
ing for short distance under the burn
ing rays Of the sun, Of such tremendous
power, that, [ am forced 10 think can
hardly be surpassed in old Z. City
Within few yards Of where ] lie, was
once, IN the olden Tins, terry, by
means Of which The state senators, and
representatives, from Charles and ST. Ma
rvs crossed into Calvert on their way
TO Annapolis, to take their seats in The
legislature. This Jerry was between
Town Point. on the st. Mary's side, and
Point Patience, on the Calvert, at which
place the river Is the deepest. Not un-
I'll lately has any person been able to
find bottom, on account oil the tremen-
dous current at this point caused by q
sharp turn IN the river. By a late
measurement, the deph has been found
to be $50 feet. About Is miles from
Town Point, is St. Mary's City, famous
as having been the landing place of the
first settlers. This place was, for a
long time, the capital of Maryland, but
although ST. Mays River is q good
harbor, il did not thrive, and now only
a few houses mark the spot. The old
mulberry tree, under which the settlers
landed, is still there, but few years
ago, il was blown down, and what was
once mighty tree now lies PROSTATE
upon the ground. The bricks OF the
state house, now form st. Mary's Epis-
copal Church, the state house having
been torn down, nearly century ago,
for that purpose. Opposite The church
is st. Mary's Seminary, an ably con-
Quoted school for girls.
About 10 miles from Town Point is
Leonardtown, the county seat Of St.
Mary's County. This beautiful little
place is situated at the head of Briton's
Bay, branch of the Potomac, and is
the gayest little town in Southern Mary
land. From here the blue hills of Vir-
GINA are plainly visible. although dis
tant nearly IS miles. Here, during the
day, the stores are crowded by the coun-
try people, who come from all parts of
the county to do their shopping, laugh
ing and talking with the polite and ac-
tive clerks, who deservingIy are the
pride oil Leonardtown. Here, at night,
you may hear the sound of music and
of many merry voices, or in the crowded
hall, may watch the nimble feet of the
youths and lovely maidens Of joyous
Leonardtown, gliding gracefully through
the mazes Of the dance. Here are two
hotels, which. in summer, are crowded
with guests from the cities OF Baltimore
and Washington. who 60 away, at the
end of the season delighted with their
visit, infatuated with their clever and
polite hosts. and fully determined 10 re-
new their visit the following summer.
The town was started about 200 years
ago, growing very slowly up 10 the
present time but now, through the ex-
ertions of northern gentleman, who
settled here few years since, il seems
to be making another start.
May it continue to grow in size and
population, but may it never lose the
mirth and gayety, which endear il to all
who may visit it.