Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-18
A nuAIyr OLD MARYLAND TOWN.
Some Interesting Relics and Remfn.
iscence8.

Corresnondence of THE EVENING STAR.
OXFORD, Nd, July 10th, 1885.
Knowing YOU like to print interesting items
from the watering places, send you screed
from this old town. To commence: Oxford was
laid ont In 1854: and, by some wonderful piece
of lack. the cornerstone Of the principal street
still stands In the middle Of the foo tpath, right
in the way of pedestrians, and, except some
chips taken off by curiosity hunters, is in good
condition About five hundred yards from this
stone stands one of the largest grape vim es In
the United States The main stem is forty.
two inches in circumference, and the branches
cover about one hundred feet square. The fruit
is a small wine grape, but very sweet when ripe.
The plant was brought from Italy In q potato to
keep the root alive. The house in the rear OF
the vine looks rs though 1t was bullt about the
time the grape was planted-at least one hun
a short distance further up the street another
Old house. said to be 200 years old, stands with
the side to the street, the front being in a gar
den with an old rose bush that 0verruns the
porch, the rose being an early English variety.
About six miles out on the road, passing
through a village called "The Hole-in-the-
the old hote in Feet Street. London sop come
to the parish church of Vhtemarsh now In
ruins; but it has many old relies in the grave
yard attached thereto. The one that struck me
rs most interesting was the tomb OF Robert
Norris father of the great financier of the Rev
olution. tried to read the old inscription and
dals had Clipped off pieces to carry away. After
q search, with the assistance OF Mr.. Reynolds,
one OF the land owners in this region, and a
weI!-knOwn Baltimore attorney, found u copy
OF the inscription, which is Us follows:
I'm memory of Robert Morris, anative OF Liverpool
In Great Britain. late merchant Of Oxford In this
province. punc;ual integrity influenced his dealings
PRINCIPLES OF honor governed his actions. With an
uncommon degree ofsincery he desp sed artitce and
discrimination. His friendship was lair, candid aud
valuable. His charity frequent. secret, and well
versaon seasoned with cheerful wit and sound judg
ment.
"a salute from the cannon of ship (the wad strik-
greatly Mmented As he was esteemed in the torteth
year Of his age on the 18th day OF July. 1862
The legend is that he always watched for his
ships from the point which Col. Wethral's
house now stands, and when he saw one Cum
Ing In from the Chesapeake he waved his hand
kerchief us signal of welcome, and the ship re-
piled by q salute from the cannon, at that time
always carried on vessels going to sea; the wad
struck his arm, and, tearing its way through
the side, killed him.
The whole country is full Of ancient relics.
Tench Tighlmans monument stands in the
home grounds Of a farm yard-a plain marble
shaft-kept in good condition by the present
owners OF the land.
I visited the splendid house Of Col. Wether.
all, which stands almost in the center of the
famous six miles in circumference, selected by
u u. ). commission as the hcaithiest portion OF
the United States, and partook of his home
made wine twelve and fourteen years old,
although Oxford Is Il local option town. The
colonel is II hale fellow well met, and loves to
greet strangers.
Mine host of the River-View hotel, whose ad.
vertisement by the way I found III your STAR
Is ever ready TO receive guests and treat them
right. JG..JR