Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-06-13
The Eastern Shore.

The Eastern Shore.
FOLLY CREEK, Va, April %
Being at Norfolk recently, we lie
cided to return to New York by the
new line, making a leisurely pro
gress along the Eastern Shore. The
''new line" written out, is the New
York, Philadelphia, and Norfolk
Railroad, the creation of Pennsyl-
vania Central capitalists, with a
view OF opening Il new short line
between New York and the South.
1t has ninety fv, miles OF rail be.
tween Delmar. Del, and Cape
Charles, and thirty-six miles of
steamer service between Cape
Charles and Norfolk. We take the
steamer at 10 ~. M, and after 4 de-
lighttul sail over the bright waters
Of Hampton Roads, calling at Fort.
ress Monroe by the way, reach Cape
Charles. 1t is some ten miles north
west of the geographical cape, an
embryo city, the creation Of the
railroad, with breakwater, long
piers, and sundry warehouses and
other buildings. Over the fat low
Surface Of the peninsula northward,
Che railroad stretches almost in air
line, walled in by pine forests.
A T,>1f Al IL.
ly Creek to visit Captain .Orris A.
Brown, who has the reputation of
being most intimately acquainted
with the resources and antiquities
Of the Eastern shore. Our path
leads through the odorous piny
woods chat cover the peninsula
wherever "cl'arings" do not pre-
vail. These clearings are the farms.
They comprise 500 to 1000 acres,
and are usually separated from each
other by narrow belts of forest. In
the centre, preferably on the bank
OF a creek, if one flows there stands
the farmers dwelling, with usually
"a row of small negro cabins in the
rear-relcs Of the slave era. The
house is the exponent of the own
er's character and condition. If it
is neat. white-painted, shaded, a
yard filled with lowers in front,
with walks, and stars, squares, and
pcntagons bordered with conch-
shell (they have 10 turf here), one
may conclude that the cultivation
Of the one staple-sweet potatoes
has made the owner prosperous.
If on the other hand, it is a brown,
dilapidated structure, yard untidy
gate on one hinge, a window pane
gone, may know that the farmer
has had Il ''pOor crap" for years
back, and is in arrears to the butch
er, baker, and fertilizer dealer, with
il long score at the tavern bar.
A cluster OF graves surrounded
by IL wooden railing is often seen,
private burial being the rule rather
than the exception on the peninsu.
la. After four miles we stopped
an intelligent looking gentleman in
~ buggy, and inquired tile way
"Well,o said he, "pass yonder belt
of woods and you will see a cabin
with the chimney leaning over
looks as ifit needed propping. Take
down the cross road on the right
and it will lead you direct to Capt
Browns. The .'cross-road" was a
lane ihat led through gate over a
clearing Of a thousand acres, and
through another gate to the hospi
table door Of Captain Brown. The
house is prettily built on a bluff al
the head of a little bay, just where
Folly Creek entered it. The boom
ing of the Atlantic three miles ont
was heard plainly, aud we caught
glimpses Of its waters through the
trees.
The Captain unfortunately was
not at home, and | crossed the clear
ing to chat with a farmer, Whom
saw on the other side turning III
the sandy loan with one mule pow
er: lie threw up furrow, a color
ed woman followed dropping q ker
+ mel every two feet, and negro
came behind with harrow to cove
,, lt-this was his method Of planting
! corn. The workman-tall, lank
with that sand bued complexion
!, which au exclusive diet OF hog ant
hominy, the curse of the Southern
poor white, is almost certain to pro
duce-was quite willing to sit OF
his plough.haudles and talk. Mean
time | took a mental inventory 0
his etfects-four room frame dwell
ing, hot beds in the rear filled will
> growing sweet-potato plants, 50'
acres OF good sandy loan cleared
and fenced, two sorry mules rop'
Ilarnesses-and the background o
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