Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-04-30

lancastRr fr1tfuige,,cer.
SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 30, los1.
Rambles at the Home OF Barbara
Frfetchie.
BY REV. A. ]. wEDDELL.
Norristown Register.
Among the ballads of the war, none per-
haps, are more widely known than Whit
tiers " Barbara Fritchis,'
It is simple story. told in plain way,
but its deep pathos, its glowing patriot
fallen foe, have made it universally pOpu-
lar. Whittier has conferred poetic i'm
mortality upon the old town of Frederick,
and made the home of Barbara Fritchie,
whether reality, or q myth, pilgrim S
shrine of patriotism for future genera
tiOns.
His description of the scene of his story
is SO graphic and true to nature, that
strangers cannot fail to recognize it.
Feeling the need of rest and recreation,
l left NOrristown, to spend a few days
among friends and relatives in Maryland,
and to revisit the scenes of my childhood
aud early life in Frederick and adjoining
country. Passing day in Gettysburg, l
took the train for Frederick, and arrived,
after slow and tedious ride, as the sun
of sultry summer afternoon was sinking
behind the low mountain range of the Ca
tOctin.
Frederick, now a city, is located in the
richest part Of Maryland, sometimes called
the garden spot" and is one of the old
colonial towns. During the French and
Indian wars it was one of the outposts of
civilization, and in the time of the Revolu-
tion, had barracks, still standing few
years ago, in which were quartered many
of the prisoners taken at Yorktown and
other places. Situated upon the great
national road from the East to the West
and only 45 miles from Baltimore, it was
aplace of enterprise and business, but
railroad which passes some miles to the
south, has not kept pace with its more
modern rivals in the march Of progress.
1t is now quiet old fashioned town, with
considerable wealth, aud a population of
10000, nearly 1000 of whom are colored.
In approaching the city of Frederick
from the East or West cluster of six
steeples seems to rise from the centre of
the town as if all the churches had been
'ed in Single square. 1t is a beau
EroL. :"n, and results from their rela-
tiful illus.> and the points of vision
tive positions, ." seen. Whittier dc.
from which they r.. =" lines Of his bal
scribes it in the first f0u.
lad. He says "
Up from the meadows rich with Co..
Clear IN the cool september morn
The clustered spires OF Frederick stand
Green walled by the hills OF Maryland?
Round about them orchards sweep
Annie and peach tree fruited deep,
Fair as the garden OF the Lord
To the eyes OF the f0miShed rebel horde.
Within this green frame work of hills and
mountains lies the rich valley Of Fred
erick with its central city forming beau
tiful picture, which once seen, cannot be
soon forgotten.
Passing through Frederick was Corcibly
reminded of the flight Of time. The old
familiar streets were there. Many of tho
houses remained rs they were in the days
Of my boyhood. Some had been touched
by the hand of improvement others bore
the marks of increasing age, and the mOul-
dering touch of the fingers of time. But,
the living world in which had moved was
changed. The old, one by one, had de-
parted and many Of my young companions
were sleeping in the evergreen cemeteries
around the city. New and unfamiliar faces
met me everywhere and felt the solitude
of the stranger among the living throng,
and amid scenes endeared to me by many
a social joy of youth, and manhood's carly
years.
But leaving personal feelings and senti-
ments, must return to my subject "Bar-
bara Erietchie and her home"
During my visit, glancing over Fred
erick paper, my eye rested upon the obitu-
ary notice of an old friend. 1t read as fol-
lows:
"DEATH OF AN EsTIMABLE LADY--The
many friends of Mrs. Mary A. Quantrill
(formerIy Miss Sands, who taught school
in this place., will regret to learn Of her
death. She died at her residence in Wash
ington City, d. c., in the seth year of her
age. She was a lady Of fine mind and
many accomplishments, and was beloved
for her gentle disposition and kind
ness of heart by all who knew
her. During the war she resided in
this city and was 4 most ardent aud patri-
Otic supporter of the Union cause. AS the
confederate army passed her residence, on
it's way to Antietam, she waved the stars
and stripes, and it is believed by many
that this fact gave rise to the Barbara
Frltcnle InyGn anu WulCCler CclSCTitteu
poem of the war;"
After reading statement like this,
many may be ready to eXclaim: /" Then
after all Barbara Frietchie is only myth,
and Whittier's noble and popular ballad a
patriotic fiction" We answer, no. The OBJ
iect of the poet was to present q great deed
and he has simply used common poetic
license in filling up his picture with incl
dents and characters best adapted to his
art and purpose. Most probably he re-
ceived the main fact in an indefinite Or
distorted form, and wrought it up SO as to
produce the highest poetic effect. But
Barbara Frietchie is no myth. She was
real character-a liring old woman we'll
known in the part of the city in which she
lived. She entertained strong Union sen
timents, and felt a deep interest in the
war. A gentleman with whom I am init
mately acquainted. and who lived near
her, told that she frequently came to his
store to learn the news and talk about the
prospects of the Union. When he was
discouraged, she would say "Never mind
Harry, we'll whip 'em yet"
The house in which she lived knew
fpOm boyhood as her residence. 1t was a
small one-story brick building, with two
dormer windows standing upon the
borders Of Carroll creek ION Baltimore
street, at the eastern entrance Of Bentz-
town bridge. On widening the channel
Of the stream, the house was removed
some years ago. This much is true. But
we have never seen or heard Of any one