The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-06-25

| ton Joined this on the northwest, anu theL
you came round to the Bare Hills. There
was nothing to invite settlers in any Of
these lands. Settlers, in fact, did not go
upon them. They turned up their noses
at the Patapsco, and entered Baltimore
county by way of the Gunpowder, the Sus-
quehanna, the Bush, Back and Middle
rivers. 1t was not until settlements had
been pushed far up the Gunpowder and
Middle rivers that the fertile valleys Of
Long Green aud Green Spring were dis
covered.
HOW GARRISON FOREST WAS NAMED.
Mr.. Spencer said that the whole interior
Of the country was called "the backwoods, "
and the whole interior of Baltimore county
down to the top of the hill at Charles and
Saratoga streets was known as "the forest, "
Little Sharp street, which led up to it,
being originally called Forest street.
The French troops, after the surrender
at York ktown, encamped in the woods where
the Cathedral now stands, and this gave
intelligibility to the proposition of the Rev.
Benedict Bourdellen, rector of st. PauPs
parish, to the vestry of that parish in May,
l74l, to build a chapel for the accommo-
dation of the forest inhabitants. This led
issosths buiiaiug Of St. Rhunss ef'ihaFsaS. IN
Baltimore county. Mr.. Spencer here
quoted from Dr. Ethan Aliens sketch Of
this church, showing that the forest in
habitants were called residents of Garrison
Forest, because of fort and garrison Of
soldiers stationed there. Mr.. Spencer
said few understand why it was called
Garrison Forest. There was a garrison
there, not only in the time of the garrison
referred to by DIR. Allen, but much earlier.
The relation between Garrison Forest and
Soldiers Delight, he thought, must strike
every one. There must have been a con-
nection between the two, and he thought
the name, Soldiers Delight, was ironical.
Mr. Spencer reviewed the causes which led
to the establishment of the military post
10 Garrison Forest, aud spoke of the sol
diers who, in making their patrols, struck
the wilderness he had described. They
called it the Soldiers Delight, because it
was so difficult to get through and so easy
to get lost in. The Indian outrages in
Baltimore county in 1866 were reviewed,
aud it was shown how the worst of the
Indian troubles were over after the estab-
lishment of the garrison in 1850. The
garrison was maintained, because while
settlers pushed into the interior along the
rivers on both sides of the country, they
still avoided the middle part, and the In
dams used to hunt great deal in Soldiers
Delight, and down through the heavily
wooded country where Jones and Gwynn 5
Falls have their head waters. Referring
again to Dr. Aliens book on st. Thomas,
Mr. Spencer said
POWERS oF YE ANCIENT VESTRIES.
"Dr. Aliens little volume contains an
anecdote which must afford some eonsola-
,ioa to our modern politicians. Ii proves
that there is nothing new under the sun,
even to constructive expenses and tender
ness as to records. The old vestry of
St. Thomas Church existed in the days
when vestries were vestries. They had
police power. They could present people
for Sabbath breaking, adultery and other
iufringments upon tAe canon law and the
Ten Commandments, and they were Unable
themselves for non-attendance at vestry
meetings. These occurred oRee month,
by statutory provision, aud it member
was absent without excuse he had to pay
100 pounds Of tobacco. The vestry, By
the way, had the appointment Of tobacco
inspeetOrs-I have no doubt Governor
Hamilton wishes they had that authority
still Wen, the ST. Thomas Vestry were
jealous, they lived long way of, they
thought the laborer was worthy Of his hire,
aud accordingly, on April l6, 1850, we
fad them putting very trihiug charge
upon the parish, TO wit agreed, to
have a quart Of rum, and sugar equiva-
lent, on each vcstry day, and as much diet
as viii give the yestry dinner, at the
parish expense. The sexton was to pro-
vide the dinner, at cost Of eight shillings,
81 .06, each time. DR.. Allen thinks this
was not much rum nor much dinner; but
the register entered large, wide open eye
in the margin of the vestry book over
against this account People probably
talked about the way the Vestry was squan-
dering the public funds, aud, on Jan
uary Z, 1852, it was ordered that each
vestryman aud warden, in his turn, should
provide a dinner and quart of rum at
his own expense, "to take of the great
scandal aud charge the parish has labored
under" IL will be noticed that the YES
try stuck to their quart Of rum, even while
abandoning the idea of sweetening the
beverage at the public expense.
THE FARMERS IN THESE ROUGH HILLS
and barren plains are very different class
from the Shareholders and tobacco growers
who settled the fertile valleys They are
rude, independent, simple-manuered, fond
of keeping their own counsel, plain and
old-lashioued in dress. They like to go
to church aud camp-meetings. They
are very independent voters, but reticent
aud little tricky about it. They ride
good horses, and are fond of fox-hunting.
Indeed if they have passion it is that.
Take them altogether, they are the most
primitive people within fifty miles of Bal
timOTe.