The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-07-29
oLD VIRGINIA DAYS.
TIE Dsssy - Prsssasst Tyssv's Bssy Tesw
ns Read Ovsssesr-OaA Nsass.


RICHMOND. July 2O.--When people In vir-
ginia talk about good families" they mean
those Who by their own force Of character and
intellect. have been able TO maintain tho As.
cendancy they inherited from their colonial
progenitors. Thus. In reviewing the list OF
distinguished men In Virginia. 1t will be found
that the same surnames recur frequently.
John Randolph was only one OF number OF
Randolphs who have occupied exalted stations.
The Daniels In every generation have fur
nished u accelerated Judge or lawyer The Floyds
also have long boon distinguished people
There 10 q county In West Virginia named Tor
Governor Floyd. Mr.. Buchanan's Secretary Of
War NJ George Floyd's plantation up In Taze-
well county enjoys much distinction among
the people OF the ncighborhood. Mr. Floyd
was an eccentric man who. among other singu-
lar possessions. owned buffalo of the plains.
bought from u travelling circus The creature
was supposed to be dying when Mr.. Floyd
bought II. but 1t soon proved itself to be worth
oil the dead buifalsss. between the Atlantic and
the Pacific. II WAS q fsrocious-lo beast.
and tho terror OF the neighborhool. Marvel
lous stories wore told Of It's jumping powers.
1t chased tho negroes. the cows. the horses.
and the pigs. and several times gave Mr.. Floyd
u race for his life. One summer the colored
people had camp meeting in Floyd's Woods.
Great enthusiasm prevailed. The meeting was
kept going all night as well as all day. and was
audible mile away, One night. amid the
by tho hundrsi Were RoSiinr in tho straw
spread In front OF the pulpit. one venerable
colofed sister began to shout her 10y enoour-
aged by tho minister. who preached rom an
improvisea pulpit consisting Of II hogshead of
water, with two poles and a cross piece in front
Of It to stendy him during his gyrattohs. The
De sabin' grace am come to die here ole
na'r L %a am %sG GSlo EGOG s
WAS to jump down outen dem bushes on ter
me, les would say. Gar out Sltan! Yon
CIT away wild yo' horns an 20 hoofs!"
just then. according to the story. below
mined 10 put himself where he could do the
most harm made r y, 10, for the crowd AND, md
ground fur2'nsly; she mnde terrified spring
Of the hogshend and the preacher, az well as
herself. tpmbled into the water. The buffalo,
at ne noEsheai. In ten minute. ihe camp
had ned. lsnving, the hai-lrowped eoored
that when the old woman finally got on her
feet, and took to flight. holly pursued by the
10 sns 9T Court mSs
,ant. where the buffalo gave up the chase. :,
Among the families which have always had
n SHIRE In the conduct OF affairs IN the State
are the Tylers. President Tyiers old neigh
bQrs in Chnrles, City, county tell with great rel
and am ns wn" wiz eo@
stiiusney th,y made hin oysrsescr of the he; roads
| Of dignity and sly humor, He told them 1t had
| been his pleasure as well rs his privilege TO
time he was first elected 10 the Legislature.
upon completing his twenty-nrst year. rs their
uelega5e. US STARE senator. as governor as
| Ram
dent. he had ssrnesti j. underworld to iala
accented any Of those Nigh Offices; and would
,s hsy na thew Ind CAUGHT Tnp
tar tai. Hs - had the Whole popuintlon. white
and black out u, working on the roads az
often oiiener than they liked: nor would he he accep
any excuse. or allow the customary commutn
one OF them he mustered out. on the roads n
daylight whenever he wanted them. he mean
while riding around and exasperatlng them b!
iiks = turnpke. Then he began imrrsy,ns |Lh'
come SO trying that various plans ior GottinI
rid OF him before, his term OF Office expired
Sssee too Wary for Them o ne e"na ony
turned out for malfensance in Office. und no
body could accuse him Of that. 50 for tw'
ton, would be called upon 70 turn out on tn
Presidents own eye. When his term expire
the laugh was ON the other side. and 1t was nc
knowledged that MIR. Tyler had made the OBJ
trick and hOnOrs wer" easy.
A hirh-soundng Christian name ia mucl
priznd by tho Virginia p"groes and the whit
families have always been appealed to for hell
in providing magniIOuuent names. Character
istic names were frequently bestowed. an,
Ananias was one OF the commonrst. One well
known planter. gave all Of his servants name
distinguished in history. Visitors NJ the hous
were waited on by H.rodotns. Juvenal AM
Nenophnn and tho cook was Filth PiHntuge
net. She always insisted on her whole mai me
and was much afrnntel by the curious twist
tor who was waited on by II delft hnndmaid. VIII
gave her name ~ Laura. iokinFy asked: An,
whsrp's pe'rarch?" to which Laura prompt,
replied: Petrarch. he's in de kitchen. pselin
de 'taters fur Edith PIantodgerki,"