Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1881-05-07

bv old Virginia families, says Howe, IN
quotation marks, and their descendants still
retain that high chivalrons spirit and gen
erous hospitality for which their fathers
were Distinguished. CharleStown, the
county seat. derives It's name from Colonel
Charles Washington, brother of the Fa-
ther OF His Country, who lived here. Pop
ulation Of the county in 1880, 1905, OF
whom 4,0H are b'acEs.
Charestown, which in 1910 had about
] 400 inhabitants has now 2026. had
heard that the population had doubled since
| was here in 1866. and for the first and only
time in mv l;!c drank ale with red pepper
sprinkled on top. Andrew Kennedy and
John Esten Cooke ''jined' me. We walked
ont from Ayis's to "Clssilis," where Ken
nedy resided.
Twill not allow myself 10 say that have
90 much as seen Charlestown. Nennor and
I between US got up a furious snow storm
the dav after / arrived, and the weather
during nv whole stay here has been enough
to disgust even the stomach of lecturer
and a rain fletcher ! am inclined to think
there is a long street with houses on each
side of it. some few of them being neat
stores built Of B3ltimofe pressed btick-
There are also what | took 10 he private
residences. The mayor Of the tovn, Elrom
Sifer. Esq, has more health IN one o! ms
checks than | have in my entire body, ana
is the best mayor the town ever had. Z. >.
Faulkner. Jr.. is circuit judge. Circuit
clerk is +. p. Lynch. Thomas 4. Moore
has been county clerk for upwards OF hity
years. Superintendent Of Schools, John
Hess: Sheriff. Jno. s Moore; Ministers,
PRESBYTERIAN. 4 C. Hopkins, friend OF '.
Dabney's slept under the same blanket in
the army. zone of the few preachers says
V. who kept his religion after the war was
oyer0. Episcopal, w. IL. Meade, grand
son of the Bishop; chutch the wealthiest
outside of Wheeling hundred and odd
communicants. Methodist, DR.. =. ii. Whls-
ncr. recently from Baltimore; BAPTIST 1.
3. Shopherd: colored Baptist - Vain
wright. colored Methodist, Robert Warner,
who has accepted Il call 10 Richmond and
goes there Immediately. 4 remarkable
MAJ. "a No. l, splendid negro" said a
gentleman 10 me, SIS al educated French
cook and was head waiter al the sherman
House in Chicago and Fort McHenry Hotel
at tSaratoga-glye up fine salary To- preach
the G0spcl-a good man every way.
Land sells here at from so 70 so an
acre. an advance Of some so since the
panic of 1873. Before the war SO an acre
was the common price, the best unimproyed
lands bringing $50 an acre.
No, didnotsee Charlestown. Natureun-
adorned is not like woman, adorned the most.
When the aspens that grace the sidewalks are
in bloom the place must beyery pretty. One
is attracted by the Episcopal church IN It's
large elevated yard, from which fine view OF
the town and mountains IS obtained. At
/ tended morning service. No seal-skln jack
cts on the women not One-grcat relief 10 me
after Old Point. Mr. Meade preached. A
pale face not unlike Gen I. NJ. Logan's, OF
Richmond. but broader OF brow and spiritual.
liberal sermon on the requirements for at
tanG. nee on the Lord Supper, and candid
admission Of the great harm done by the mis-
translation OF ,hc word damnation in con-
ncction with the ga cramcnt, pleased me. At
nigbt went 70 tie \. shodist church. som
hrc. poorly lighted ana .qdly inneed OF paint
Full and dcvOut cOngreg1lton. Dcller choir
singing than usual-Mr. D's roses lliumina-
ting the music-but felt more than ever tae
fitility ofwo.ship 10y proxy. Once more 10
hear the old-fashoned, iuil-lunged, whole
soulcd congregational singing would be n
boon indeed A good sermon attentiyely
listened tO-and vet somehow mo iault OF
the scrmonl the devil suggested 10 me that
preaching love to God is the devils own in
venti0n. 10 do away with preaching keen,
sharp. heart-cutting sermons on the duty oi
man 70 his fclow-man. Love 70 God Is q
iar-awav thing; duty to man Is, soto peak,
spot cotton" ] sat on one Of the back
benches; a 0Oy was behind me who chcwcd
tobacco and who walked Just ahead OF me
on my way to church, putting IN my face
tobacco smoke stt0ng enough 70 knock
down a COW. Such boy. | fcndlv dreamed
were confined 10 Lynchburg.
4 county with three t0wns-harPer Z
Ferry. Shepherdstown, and Charlcstown-
ought TO have 81 splendid courthouse. The
on here Is not particularly graceiul or
tasteful; lacks paint on the ribs or side (;
needs plugs in the front teeth-that Is 70 say
stucco in the pillars Of the po-tico, and the
green belfry reminds one of ajCckey's cap.
I enioyed an evening with gentlemen at
Mr.. W. /. Wilson's. made the acquaintance
of Col. John Jhcmas Gibson, who was with
Col. Talcott during the war. and renewed
my acquaintance with Mr.. Hulrcw Hunter,
who hold. his own wonderfully we'll
"When got ir the hack at farmyilie, ~ said
llr. Hunter. 'to 81 10 HamPden-cydncy
I had been three days staging II from
Frolcricks5urg- looked ont of the window
and saw little fellow with a bundle on
a stick over his shoulder. lie was on ms
way 10 college. havingwaked from kainea
Tavern. Jump in,' / said. He did So
That was Sherwin McRae, who became my
Hfe-lonr friend With other Hampden-
SYDNEY boys he had seen John Randolph
Of Roanoke and Peter Francisco chatting
side bv side on the steps of the courthouse
in Prince Edward He recalled the days
when Richmond was tie centre OF society a.
polished as any on the continent, and he
was invited BIZ Robert S-anard to entertain
Sir Henry and Lady Bulwer. Jane"
LYONS was with me 50 was k)oert J..
scott and Others but forgettheir names.
lie sighed. and ! with him. His word.
gave a fceting glimpse Of times that Will
return no more.
Bad weather did not keep M, from on
loving nv stav At that ancient hotel, the
Garter House. You see its name on the
sion in the picture Of CharlestOwn given by
Howe. IL has back p0rches, floors on dit
lerent levels, cellars, dormer windows,
wide archwav over the counter Of the Office
q paved courtyard. stables IN the rear, elc
Melfort kept me supplied with wood Tor my
stove. nurscd me in fact like baby. H'
il one Of the real old-time fellows, talSatiye
tough rs 4 light-wood knot, takes up burn
ING Goals in his naked hand, sleeps two
hours night and has been here clever
wears. George who waits in the dining