The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-01-09
5Miscrll

by W. $. T., OF DARLINGTON, MD.

No. 2.
"Ycs, home is home, where'er it be,
Or shaded by the village tree;
Or where the lofty domes arise,
To catch the passing strangers eyes"
T0UrQf Dr. Syatdr.
Before entering upon the subject-matter
of our present letter, it is proper that our
readers should be informed Of the omission,
on the part of the printer, of an entire SEN
tcnce from our previous letter As an unusual
circumstance in the experience of the careful
proof-reader of the 1Egis there occurred sew
eral slight typographical errors in our former
communication, but they were chiefly of n
kind that could be readily corrected by the
reader. No reader, however, can be expected
to supply an entire sentence. The omission
referred to was in regard to the present own
crship of the old homestead of the late
William and Duckctt Stump. twas explicit
ly stated at the beginning of our remarks in
relation to that property, in connection with
which so many of the happest memories of
our youth are united, that it was now owned
and occupied by Samuel Stump Holloway a
grandson, by the youngest daughter, of the
former proprictors. His energy and industry,
as practical and successful farmer, was
spoken of, and commended This omission
becomes apparent by the remark made further
| on in the letter, relative to the many improve
! ments in the farming fencing and buildings
| that ne has made and has in contemplation,
viz: "Mr Holloway, as bet0re stated:" The
matter "beforc stated" even his name, being
entirely omitted.
This explanatory note, Mr. Editor is not so
much designed as n censure upon yourappar-
| cnt oversight as it is necessary toward placing
| the writer in II proper position before the eyes
of your readers, especially in the sight of
those readers who are particularly interested
| i'll the property
Having "carried" our readers, to use a
Southern provincalism, from home to home
along the northern side of the Creek, from its
mouth up as far as the farm of Mr.. Joseph
Edge we now return to Stafford, and, in like
manncrwill sketch the Homes bordering upon
| the south side of this romantic stream.
The public road, from Stafford, by the way
of Wilson's Mill-ancently called alfred
Mills to a point near the little village OF
Chenille, follows Immediately along thebanks
of the south side of the Creek for the entire
distance; and, being shaded all the way with
gracefully over-hanging forest trees, and, here
and there by the beautiful evergreen hem
lock, as also by the high hills that rear their
towering heads aloft, it is really the most de-
lightful and romantic drive, for a summer af-
ternoon of any of like eXtent-bctwecn two
and three miles-that we know of in the
county. In this respect it greatly exceeds the
hr-famed Wissahickon, above Philadelphia
Our Creek being larger the hills higher, and
the scenery more wild and romantic.
In addition to the magnificent natural
scenery displayed at every step along the
Creek-road, from Stafford to Wilson's Mill
there stands n monumental object of interest
about half way between the points just
named connecting the present with the past
and illustrative of the temporary character
and the comparative furtilty of mans works
when viewed in connection with the works
of nature. The object that we refer to is that
of ruins, genuine ruins, such as are rare il
our new country,-new as regards inhabitants
who have lived in houses.
In the old countries, so-called, there are tt
be found great numbers of ruins; many o
them having remained in the ruined state fo
centuries past; the ruins of old castles, tow
ers, abbeys, &c, which their countrymen holt
in high esteem and guard with religious fidel
ity, for the traditions and legends connecte,
with them Our country is too young yet, 81
to speak, to show any of these antiquities il
the full sense.
The ruins that we refer to, and which lend
an additional charm to this romantic Dee
Creek road are those of the old C0lun'bi
: MM; by which name it is known in TIL
neighborhood. Its full history we have neve
, been able to learn; indeed, it seems to hay
been wrapped in mystery. We have bee
informed by some of the Oldest residents c
D this section of the county, who are now dC
D ceased, that certain Englishman, who's
!, name we have forgotten, game to this countr
considerably over century ago, purchase
the land, and erected this mill Before til
mill, which was large one, and built of ston,
was fully completed, the proprietor returne