Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-09-06
Correspondence of the BeaoOn.1
MILLBoRo' SPRINGS, C. g. o. R.R. I
August 25th. 1899.


MILLBoRO' SPRIxGs, C. & O.R.R.
August 25th, 1883.
MessEs. Editors :---0n Monday morning.
July - 1883, a pleasant party boarded a
cOIumOdiOus steamer at a seaport town of
Virginia, and in seamans phrascology. set
sail for Richmond EN- route for tie Virginia
Springs. The course was over the Elizabeth
River, Hampton Roads, the historic and
classic james River and the picturesque C.
" U. X. X. The voyage over, curiosity sated
and the morbid inquisitiyeness Of human
nature satisfied, "Arbaces," Of the party, has
concluded to write you letter somewhat
descriptive Of his trip and his present sur
rOundings with few notes upon his sally.
ings forth into the near and distant neigh
borhoOds, for the qualification of those of
your readers who are not so provincial in
their tastes as to exclude everything of cos
mopolitan nature. On the Elizabeth, we
moved along in liStless, Indifferent man.
ner with but few objects 10 claim our espec-
al attention. Hampton Rhodes and its as
sOciations have been described by your cor
respondent, Apecides, still all has not been
exhausted in rs much as the James has been
left---the richest river Of this country in in
cidents connected with our early and late
history. Three quarters of an hour and we
are at the mouth of oui river. Upon its
broad expanse of water the throbbing engine
moves our stately craft. Newport News.
the formidable exporting rival of Norfolk,
is soon passed, and now we are ushered into
a grand agricultural country. Fine planta-
tons on each side Of the river give evidence
OF the thrift and prosperity of those who till
the soil. Luxuriantly growing crops be-
speak the 'peace and plenty" of those who
live in this highly favored section. Upon
one OF these farms of five hundred acres. we
were told by one whose veracity Que would
hardly question, that seventy-six< thousand
bushels of corn was raised. FrunA the rev.
erie Of such an announcement, am aroused
by the guides informing me that we are
nearing King Mill wharf. The importance
Of this landing arises from the fact that il is
within four miles Of Williamsburg. the seat of
colonial government anterior to and for a
short time during the Revolution. We Weld
10 the temptation Of paying this venerable
spot n visit. Ii is soon reached Our re-
spect for the antique, here finds an opportu-
nifty for its greatest amplitude HOary with
years, William and Mary College, as being
the oldest within the United States but one.
claims our unbounded veneratiOn. As be-
ing the Alma Mater of many ''whO wrought
the ribs Of STEEL for our great ship of State
il commands our admiration without limit.
As being the ignored mother of an ungrateful
nation, it demands and receives without hest.
tation, our prOfoundest sympathy. Yet, how
few seem to be at all conscious of these
claims upon them? It was only few years
ago when the Hon. John GOode of Virginia.
made most earnest appeal for its relief be-
fore Congress. its losses during the war hav-
ing been upwards of eighty thousand dol
lars by the Union forces. This noble meas
ure was thwarted by the senseless howl COM
menced by COnger and his tribe. ''of South
ern raid upon the Treasury Of the United.
States" IL is q sad spectacle to see this ven
cradle revolutionary pile falling to pieces,
whilst our government, regal in its wealth.
at the instigation Of iconoclasts, refuses To
pay its just claims. The situation of the
Old Capital is only to be traced by its foun-
dalton stones. This was the celebrated
blouse of Burgesses" Here it was that
Patrick Henry made his famous revolution
airy speech and took up the volume of indie-
nation thrown upon him by loyal subjects,
and hurled it back upon them in that ever
10 be remembered sentence---"If this be trea-
son, make the most Of it." Many other
objects of interest attracted our attention. of
which neither time nor space will permit
MS to write. On leaving next morning to
continue our trip up the James, the common
feeling Of the party was, that we had been
standing upon grounds that were holy and
consecrated by the genius and blood of those
who had lived, fought and died for the ac-
QUESTION Of mans most cherished rights
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit Of Happi-
ness"
Upon the boat, once more we moved along
our tortuous route. Soon We were aroused
from our meditation upon the scenes through
which we had jusfspassed by the announce
ment of JAMES CITTIE.n We looked and
looked in vain for some perfect memorial of
our forefather's works. Only the ruins of |
princely structures mark the spots where |
our sires with mimic pride emulated the |
pOmp and pageantTy Of their old country. |
Upon this spot, John Rolf wOed and won |
the dusky Indian maid whilst waiting for |
Powhatan 10 send the ransom for his
daughter. There is bus one standing mon
ument Of all they did, and that is about 10 /
join the ashes Of those who have long since /
gone---the ruins Of the old church,
"0ne Wondering tower Overgrown with ivy
shows
Where first Virginia's Capital arose.
Go read the record on the messy stone
lis brief and sad---oblivion claims its own. -
Standing amidst such scenes as these it is /
difficult 10 portray the feelings which ebb /
and flow within human heart. We stand /
in the presence Of facts born Of the past and /
present and Of which the future is pregnant.
We see all within the short span Of human
vision. What the past has become, what
the present must eventually be, and what
the future win become is most graphically 1
shown. All that man can erect upon moth /
er earth, frum the most enduring brass and /
granite TO tho ''frail tenements Of our hume
must likewise ut last yield 20 the remorse-
less hand Of time. Neither the present nor