The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1886-12-28
OLD VIRGINIA SCENES.
s.TURDAY NIGHT AT THE COUN-
TRY CROSS ROADS STCRE.


ccantry notwithstanding tho Mails.
Us and Jub".
The visitor from the wide awake and more
...r-etic northern or western states in pass
y, through Virginia will. first OF all, be at.
.~s.,ed by the old time and decidedly anti
,osiei customs and modes Of life peculiar to
!, earlier period which still cling like thread
tsrs garments TO the noble form Of the old
.,rmonwealth. Not the least interesting of
,bese varied phases Of existence in the once
~eslthy state is what might be very properly
sosi1natod as her cross roads life. This term
sem particularly appropriate to this class,
,hich is as extended as the boundaries Of the
s.sto itself, and viii be met with in every
sa.ton, irrespective Of its agricultural adj
vancemcnt or social status The inevitable
little store, the representative Of the class,
psies cozily and quietly in its midst At
avery corner the contracted catch-penny
s.ore sits complacently awaiting tho tardy
nsrchaser OF its limited stock OF wares, con-
ssing Of a "little Of ali, as the merchant in
Aarge would say while in reality limited TO
few every day articles necessary TO the
oentry folk around for whom the ordinary
hopkeeper caters
THE COUNTRY MERCHANT.
These stores are in most instances kept by
Virginia gentlemen whose property was
went away by wa and who have calmly
,a+,ied into a dormouse state OF slumber
within the shadow of the ghostly old guide
,ost at the cross roads TO drone out bare
.ris,ence-a life as shadowy and unsatisfac-
tory as though absorbed and lost in Rip
VanWmkle sleep 1t is somewhat amusing to
go with what address and elegance Of man
per these Virginia country merchants preside
aver their unpretentiouS establishments,
vhilewith the broad a and other peculiaTities
Of accent and expression, which they declare
% be purely Elizabethan, they trace back for
centuries to an ancestor OF the "blue blooded"
sristocracy; later TO a first rank among the
F. F. Vs." and later still, TO a colonelship-
never the rank Of private-in the Confed-
srate army. or IN intimate relationship with
some leader Of "the lost cause"
In many Of these stores is located the
country pOstOffice, the once lord OF the manor
becoming the duly qualified and recognized
representative of one of the most extensive
md most important departments of the
American government. The mails, in sx-
Sptional cases. are received daily; at other
remote places, semi-weekly, tri-weekly and
q others less frequently still.
The mode Of carrying the mails is in places
Is quaint and primitive as that of many
cher sections of century ago employing
arriages as ancient in appearance as the old
e in in.
eanceS being carried on horses as dilapidated
the revolutionary saddle upon which the
not less dilapidated messenger rides; and, in
deed, the United States mail department. is
represented on foot.
A favOrite expression, and one which seems
bhave a soothing effect upon the dignitied
Goss roads merchant and postmaster IS "be-
tors the war; what he did and how be lived,
nd if then a SELLER Of wares and trader
IN eggs and general country produce,
b speaks with feeling Of romantic pride,
avored with regret, of the superior stock and
rgs sales before the war" but times have
hanged, while, save in financial condition,
tie merchant remains the same.
ON SATURDAY NIGHT
Saturday night is the only time that the
average store throws off its quiet sleepy way
q existence. The weeks work is finished, and
he colored population from far and near as
amble at the place Of fanciful name TO spend
tho results Of their labors and pass much Of
tho night in social dance, songs and jokes,
while the dignifed parsonage of the duller
week day, in the crush of business" becomes
jolly and sociablc, and waits upon the colored
brotherhood with that ease and courtesy
which the southern gentleman possesses so
well.
These local peculiarities of life can in no
way be so fully appreciated as by actual asso-
cation. and no other means is so favorable to
this rs a tour on foot, being thereby thrown
actual contact TO q greater or less extent
With the more practical life of the people. In
astern Virginia, Oh one Of the most pictur-
sque Of her numerous water courses, sits one
Of these little penny-a-day stores, seated on
ile white sand beach, at the very waters
edge The Pickering lights cast weird shad-
0Ts far out on the restless waves and serve as
abeacOn for the numerous fleet of small oys-
1r boats which pass daily to and from the
ieep sea home of the delicious bivalve This
Place is the most perfect representative Of
he particular class composing cross roads life,
1ough there is not a road within mile of
he place-the river forming the great high
way
This diminutive castle by the sea was visit
Ion Saturday night, when ablaze with light
nd basling in all the glory Of a "big night"
had assumed the boisterOuS revelry and
lTestrained pleasure Of some bacchanal
last The oystermen for miles around had
sembled TO engage in their varied pro-
CANINE, which commenced with some old
iantation Song, sung in the rich though I'M
-ltrcd voice, full and clear, peculiar to the
mihern negro Then the accordion, jews
arp and violin played their several parts,
'lie the jig and juba-most popular negro
demanded a series Of grotesque atti- f
lie and contortiOns Of body. After days
Mney over dusty roads TO one unaccus-
elod 20 such scenes they have a strange fas-
nation, and afford an amount of pleasure
'1ch all the manufactured negro Ministries .
ID jubilee singers Of the tinseled theaterS
onbinel could never give Yorktown (Va) .
.T Baltimore American