The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-10

smaller rooms than those below The
PECULIARLY of this style of house was
that the roof dropped suddenly down.
wards. back and front, the effect of
which was 10 lose space. but nj the same
time save expense Ia construction aud
material. Still another and more hum
hlc style was the modest little cottage
with iis two rOoms-one on either side
OF a narrow hall and its contracted gar.
ret above, with occasionally smaller
apartment in the rear OF ut the side of
the house. Within a few years many
specimens Of the. e structures were TO be
seen In Richmond, but under the march
Of Improvement they have nearly all dis
appeared In the lower part If the city
they were particularly numerous, and
even a. far mp a. Frsnklia. street some
remained until very recent date.
THE OLD vs. TIKI NEW.
Many OF the best people In the land lived
IN some Of these unpreteniing houses
The truth ia, when they were built
mans merits were not guaged by The
display he could make or the circum-
stances under which he was born When,
Tor instance. SIR Jefferson married his
wife at "The Forest" in Charles City cOun
Is, he TOOK her from an unpretending
country cottage. but which was at th,
same time the abode of culture and refine
ment. TIE writer well remembers the
boast made by one Of the sblest lawyers
and most prominent men of the State
that his father had lived great many
years IN certain very plain wooden
house. now standing, and had there
raised a large family ION bread and mo
lasses' This gentleman could boast of
as pure blood rs cOursed the veins OF
Norman Duke, or even Of that OF all
the Howards Near the corner OF Mar
shall and Eleventh streets In this city
si0Od within the memory OF the writer
an Insignificant looking wooden siuc-
mic. painted white, and with green Nenc
iian blinds The two rooms below were
under steep roof pierced by pair OF
dormer windows 10 admit light into the
marrow apartments above The tall brick
chimupys Of this humble abode stood oil
at either end as if keeping ward over the
premises Here lived for many years
General Darlington, Green's quarter
master general during the Revolution of
i,7G. whose services to his country made
him distinguished among the patriots OF
that day
An HUMBLE DWELLING.
Among the humble dwellings like
those inst described was one which be-
came not only noted place in Rich
mond. but was subsequently made his
toric by It's associations Not a vesiige
of the house nov remains 10 mark the
spot where it stood Perhaps q few per
sons now living can recall small TWO
story white wooden building situated on
the banks of James river, Just near
enough for Its occupants TO enjoy the
sounds OF flowing waters and admire the
i.lets that then divided the river INTO
many rapid streams. Attached TO this
place were spacious grounds enclosing
earden Astounding in shrubbery and
adorned with handsome trees. These
grounds were arranged in successive ter
races down 10 the rivers edge in one I'll.
recil0n but spreading ont into bIoad
level space In the other Who built aud
decorated this delightful retreat 20 one
nov can tell. The writer remembers its
dilapidatel remains when rambling
about that part Of the town as boy, or
goiue with Others TO battle In the river
below At the time Of which we now
snesk the place was known Rs
.'Pryors Garden During the Rev
dictionary war Captain John Pryor
bore military commission as nelO com
missary of ordinance, and played quite
conspicuous part in the events OF that
period lie became the fsvorite OF Baron
Steuhen as an efficient and faithful officer.
I'm time he was promoted TO the rank OF
major. and was chief ordnance officer OF
the virginia troops at the siege OF ORR
town His duties called him to many parts
of the country. Those who in late years
were accustomed 10 campaigning are
familiar with the habits consequent
upon such mode OF lille.
The soldier was always welcome
M the habitatiOns of his patriotic
countrymen, particularly Ii he were a
nromiueIt officer OF course our captain
If ordnance had a like experience. In
one of these accidental visits to the house
ola gentleman in the neighbOrhood, Cap
lain Pryor became acquainted with the
lovely daughter OF lis host. She Is re-
presented 10 have been great beauty.
PRYOR was bachelor, past middle-hle'
hui must have been remarkably manu-
SOME at that time, iuasmuch as the writer
has heard from those who saw him IN
after wears. that even In old age he re-
tanned the remains of great manly beauty
However this may be-, Venus and Mars
intimately came 10 a satisfactory under
standing, which resulted 10 the surrender
of the Young lady's affections TO the sui
Of her lover The truth Is, In time Of
war every man who bears Ills part be
comes q hero in the eyes Of women. par
ticularlv if to ordinary ATTRACTIONS are
added the glare and gsudery OF gold lace
and buttons. In due time The lucky cap
tain and the low country beauty
we're not only married, but thelr
fortunes were frightened by MS
promotion to the RANK OF major !.
When peace came Major Pryor brought
his Young wife 10 Richmond. Where
they first lived or what he did we knO"
not A late experience has taught lne
present generation that the consequences
of war are disastrous, no matter VINO
may have been successful In the struggle
This was es, ,ecially the case In virginia
alter the Revelation Almost everybody
was poor -,
our gallant Major must have been IN
this unfortunate category, for we soon
find him the occupant Of the humble
dwelling described above, and which he
hsd now changed into place OF resor'
for the misunderstanding people oil lh'
town For years afterwards 1t was known
as the "Haymarket," where all manner o.
/ Games and diversions were exhloi'eu
rom which its owner derived considera
he revenue. Among other attractions
was a circus, which becam; u peTmanen
feature of the place, and was successfully
managed by one Brichaud, Frenchman
FROM some unknown cause this season o.
prosperity after a while came to Al emo
and the imposing name by when 'n'
Mace was first known, was changer ''
that of "Pryor's Garden.
A FRENCH DANCING MASTER.
About the time these events were trans
hiring French dancing master free
, lao name WAS figuring III hlCn