Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-10-01
AN OLD VIRGINIA TOWN.
Williamsburg ~ n Place of Historical
Intcrest-A Famous old College
The Scene OF Patrick IIenry's
ElOUupnce

A Williamsburg. Va, correspondent
of The Philddelphia Press writes
Boarding the steamer at Richmond, a
| pleasant ride of about seventy miles
will bring you to what there is left Of
james Cittie," the first English settle
ment in America. The spot where the
town once stood is on an island, half
milo from the mainland, and nothing is
now left to mark the site of the town
save a few rough stones, said to have
been used in the chimney of one Of the
houses. The village was never rebuilt
after it was burnt by Bacon during his
rebellion.
A dilapidated coach awaited the
arrival OF the steamer. for the con-
venience Of such passengers as wished
to go to Williamsburg The distance
is eight niles on very good road, but
the country was the most dreary one
can imagine. Here and there we
passed what had once been fine old
mansion. but now most of them are
fast going to decay. They are monu-
ments of another age, and their days of
usefulness are past.
Entering Williamsburg, the first
thing that attracts the attention
of the stranger is the antiquated
appe arance of the buildings and the
absence of that enterprise and push
that is the characteristic OF even
the small American towns. The old
chapel is situated on the peninsula that
is made by the York river on one side
and the James on the other. In
colonial times this slip of land was the
center of civilization of Virginia, and
on it were born many Of the men who
played \ prominent part in the great
drama of the American Revolution.
At the time the town was laid out Will
liam and Mary sat upon the English
throne. and out of compliment to them
the loyal colonists determined to lay
the streets out in the form of w and
Nj. But this inconvenent plan was
never carried out for the village has
but one street that deserves the name.
This is the Duke Of Gloucester street,
or rs il is now called Gloucester.
At one end of this avenue stands the
famous William and Mary college. and
at the other the old capital building.
Scattered between these two principal
buildings are the residences of the lead
ing citizens and two or three public
| hti 81 lat.
The building around which centers
the most interest for the stranger is the
ruins of William and Mary college, for
it is now not much moro than pile of
ruins that mutely speak of its departed
glory. 1t is the oldest college, with
the exception of Harvard, in America,
and that antedatcs it few years 1t is
another sad monument Of the ruin that
war spread over the south. but it may
not long remain useless, for there is
now movement on foot among the
alumni that may end in its restoration
to the place it formerly held among
American colleges. A university that
is the alma mater of three presidents,
seventeen governors, seven cabinet Of
ficers. and numerous generals. senator's,
congressman and Judges, ought surely
to be considered worth restoration.
was shown chronicle Of life at the
college, couched in the quaint language
of the time, and. if it be true, the STU
dents were an unruly lot. 1t was re-
corded that "they would keep race
horses ut We college, and be at We gam
ing tables" and this, too. "where youth
can be piously educated in good letters
and manners certain place of uni
versal study or perpetual college of di-
vinity." as the charter hath it. Even
the professors did not escape the re-
proach of the old-fashoned author.
There was law of the college that
read. "All professors and masters
to be hereafter appointed must be con-
stantly resident at We college. and upon
the marriage of such professor that his
profcssorship be Immediately vacat-
ed" A number were dismissed for
breaking this law, but the others were
not to be intimidated and Cupid contin-
ucd his ravages with the hearts of the
learned men until the trustees revoked
the law and the wrath of the Williams
burg bellies were appeased.
The building next in interest to the
collsgc, though first in an historical
point of view, is the old capitol, where in
colonial days the burgess met and made
the laws to govern the royal colony of
Virginia
When it was in use it was large
brick building, with broad portico
running the entire length of the house.
After the seat of government was re-
moved TO Richmond 1t was used as fe-
male college, but during the war was
burnt, and has never been restored.