National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-09-02
UP THE JIUES RIVER.
4 Romance OF Washington's Youth-A story
of what Might Have been.

Oh w nat might nave Been.
The correspondent OF TIE NATIONAL REPUD.
LIcAN who accompanied the Aquatic excur.
sion to Richmond, given by the Washington
and Baltimore Excursion Company, writes the
following account of the trip up the James
river, after leaving the Jane Mosolcy, and
taking passage on the Ariel at Old Point land
ing: We located ourselves comfortably on the
deck, and watched the river and the banks aud
memory went back to the days of the late war,
when this beautiful country was one vast
camping ground for hostile armies. 1t has
been written and rewritten, aud no descrip-
ton has yet told half of the story either of the
natural beauties of the country or tho horror
of the scenes enacted there. A feeling of awe
crept over us as our boat swept over tie water
through the rippes made by the great shp.of-
war Cumberland, lying still and helpless a
majestic wreck at the bottom of the river. As
deep as is the water at Newport News, the sur
face is almost always disturbed by the great
mass Of iron and wood in the channel, and the
spot is pointed out to visitors as one of great
interest. Forty officers and men fought their
last battle here, aud here sleep their last
sleep.
We pass landing after landing and town after
town, all standing as 1nger.posts on the high
way of American progress Hero is York town,
so well known to every schoolboy as the place
where Lord CORVALLIS surrendered to General
Washington and closed the struggle for Amer
lean Independence. As one of the most anus
ing incidents among the
"MIGHT.HAvE.DEEN's,"
the following anecdote is told few miles
up from Hampton are the ruins of an old place
called Ceeys. Tho buildings were long since
destroyed by fire. They were of quite stately
style of architecture and in colonial times the
roasInnnn Of totnpal Miles r
great wealth and prctensions, who lived here
in great pomp and circumstance. His eldest
daughter was on one occasion visiting friends
in Williamsburg, and at one of the many enter.
tainments was introduced to George Washing.
ton, then young man CT no very great pre-
tense or promise. Both were interested and
after a little time tho future father of his
country asked permission of Colonel Carey to
address his daughter With a somewhat lofty
air Colonel Carey remarked that his daughter
was in the habit of riding on her own coach.
distinguished by the tone and manner of the
wealthy and consequential parent, Washington
turned away without comm emit, and took his
wounded heart to solitude TO heal its hurt,
and never saw Miss Carey aiterward. On the
occasion of the surrender at Yorktown Colonel
Carey and his daughter were present. She
had married planter in the colony, a man of
no attainments and moderate abilities, and
now came over to look once more on the lover
Of her youth and brood in bitterness of spirit
over what might have been. Sitting in the
coach, which the fathers pride had held up as
the barrier between his child and happiness,
she shed bitter tears Of regret, while her
father reproached himself as he strobe up and
down the street at Il little distance. Miss
Carey lived but a short time after the surren.
der aud Colonel Carey survived her but few
months. The old place is II ruin and the
family is widely scattered. So much for the
old story.
We passed jamestown aud contracted for q
brick from the old church, expressed our
ideas of the late war, and reused the ire Of
divers and suudry Conlederates and just
about sunset
REACHED RICHMOND.
A long ride over u stony street brought rs to
the St. james Hotel, a very pleasant house
aud kept in excellent fashion, There IL, how
ever, one thing quito necessary for me TO say
here as u warning TO the proprietors They
have flown in the face Of all traditional fashion
of hotel keeping, and in the not distant future
wreck and disaster await them If they do not
turn from the error of their ways, | was
scarcely in my room when, in response 10 my
come in" after gentle rap trim chamber
maid presented herself and asked if wanted
anything, aud was comfortable. And further,
there was no delay in answering bells and tho
beef wasn't imported and dressed after we gave
our order for dinner. A walk about the
public grounds untold admiration over tho
Washington Monument, few moments mus
ing on the steps Of the old Davis mansion, n
drive IN the dim, sleepy light OF early morning
past Libby prison and the smoking remains Of
old G stle Thunder, a good morning to the
Ariel and her officers, and away we flew down
the river with wind and tide IN our favor, and
the sun of one Of brightest mornings Of the
year shining over us.
At Old Point We found the Moseley awaiting
us, and found Captain Bonneville and Purser
| Bond smiling welcome to u.s. and soon We
| were hOmeward bound, A good supper and a
| quiet night put us in the best OF spirits, and
| Washington was more attractive than ever,
and we went our various ways satisfied that
| tho Washington and Baltimore Excursion Com.
pany knows how to dispense hospitality aud
! preside over excursions 10 the profound delight
Of the many who 50 down with them to the
sea In ships.
just What We Want.