Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-11-05
Sixth District.
Montgomery County. Md.


The following letter is taken from the
Westminster Advocate, Carroll county, and
written by W. H. Waters, Esq, now resi-
dent of Kentucky. The author is native
of this county and member of an cid and
popular family that Sas d knowledge OF this
county ia its infancy
NEwPoRr, KY, Oct. %, 1886.
Messrs. Editors During the latter part
of August and the first Of September, this
year, had the pleasure Of visiting the scenes
OF my early recollections In Montgomery
county, Md. AS if by the waving OF the
magician's wand, old fields and barren
wastes, not capable, in their former sterile
condition, of producing any thing except
broom sage, brars and poverty grass, have
been reclaimed, and by proper system of
fertiliZing and farming produce luxuriant
crops, rewarding the farmer for his toll,
identifying the face of the country, adorn.
ing the landscape, and thus making Old
Montgomery, that was once by-word, on
account of her sterility, one Of the first coun-
ties in the State.
Frederick county people used TO say,
shat the land was so poor that the kill
deers used to bring their rations with them,
when they had to pass over Montgomery,
as it was u land that yielded no supplies :"
and that, "the dogs used to seek aspost or
fence to lean against when they wanted To
bark, as they were too poor to stand alone"
and that "you could Always tell Mont
gomerian, even in the dark, by rubbing your
hands over him, as they would come in
contact with the protruding herring bones"
These were extravagant expressions used
to signify the contempt OF the speakers for
Montgomery and its citizens. Now, how
changed the scenes There are many farm.
ers from Frederick county located in Mont
gomery, whose beautiful homes and we'll
titled farms, together with those of her ma
tive sons are not surpassed by those in other
counties.
do not think, in all my travels, that
have seen farming country that has added
more to her material wealth and general
prosperity; these things, in her history, to-
gether with her moral prosperity, are GER
tainly very marked.
1t is true her taxes are high, but then the
largest item, is for the education of her
children. Her system of education, learn,
is liberal and bears very evident improve
ment over the old subscription system,
which was in vogue when was boy, and
subsequently, when it was my lot To be
known and recognized as teacher of some
of her children. Many of the most pleasant
recollections OF my earlier life linger around
this period. Some of the pleasant incidents
of my visits are those in connection with
the meeting Of my former pupils, grown
from childhood and youth 10 full manhood
and womanhood, with the impressions made
during their school life stamped ndelibly
upon the tablets of their memory, infuenc
ing them for veal or woe, in their respec
tive spheres and callings. or the number
OF children intrusted to my care during an
experience of ten years, have never met
one of them, in after life, who did not greet
me with words Of kindness and pleasant
smiles
Truly it must be said the position of a
teacher is full Of responsibility, and is second
only to that of the faithful and devoted
parent. Respectfully,
w. H. WATERS