The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-25
YuLe LOVER VIRGINIA.
An Old English Christmas on the jaime
and at williamsburg.

Captain Bob BRIGHT and DR.. !. ID. Moncure
at Williamsburg. The old colonial capital Of
the state. was written az the time and then
appeared in thu Richmond Wing. By spc-
clal request it is now rewritten to be pub
: iished in the present Christmas edition If
the DAILY TTMEs:
In accordance with m invitation pre-
ViOusly extended. your correspondent. ac-
cOmpanied By Messrs. John 4. Elder. Raj
egh 7. Daniel .lr.. and Lyon G.. Tyler. lett
Richmond on the train over the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad on Friday evening last.
for Grove Station. James CITY county, 10
spend an old-ilme. anie-belum Christmas
at '''lhe Grove" the hOspitablo residence Of
DR.. and Mrs. l.. G. Booth.
This j. truly grand Old historic man.
sion. II was built about 1910 by Lewis
| Burwell. son Of Major Nathaniel and Eliza
beth (Cartcr) Burwell. Of English brick
and in the substantial style ia which the
the old English houses Of the colonial pc
Rod are 80 we'll noted. Ii was constructed
TO last, for though it has been subjected
to the rayages Of time for more than a
century and half. and has been the mute
| witness Of three Wars-the revolution. the
war Of 1872. and the recent conflict be-
tween the >iatcs-it still remains appar-
emily rs firm and solid as when first erect
ed. Its location is simply magnificent. &c
being situated on the banks Of the noble
James. OF which majestic river Il commands
a view Of more than twenty miles. the river
AT that point. being four mile, In width. pre-
,eniing the appearance Of aNast inland sea.
Ii may. therefore. readily be seen what n
crowd Of interesting "reminiscences cluster
around this ancient relic OF colonial days
| in old Virginia. Could they speak. what
thrilling story might be told by It's grand
old halls and spacious rooms. wainscoited
and celed 80 compactly that il is impO.-
sible 10 discover whore the pllnks join each
other. and by its broad stlircases. which
still bear evidence 10 British vandalism
IN the marks lelt or them by the cuts OF the
sabres Of iareton's cayalrlmeu. who occu.
pied the house during the revolutionary
war.
An OLD VIRGINIA CHRISTMAS REVIVAL.
The idea OF Or. Booth IN extending an I'M
yitatiOn 10 visit him al this particular time
was ~ have christian revival" gcuu-
inc, Od-fashiOned entertainment. such as
would not Only recall the charming de-
,cripiun Of Christmas no BraccWell Han.
| England. as portrayed ly Washington
Irving. i'm his Well-kuOWn sketch Book"
Tut would bring back happy recollectlons
f EYE Oldcu tymes' In iidewaier. Virginia.
/ Right well was the idea carried ont. The
spacious halls were brilliantly lighted up
with handsome chandeliers. from which
hung pendant the venerable mi-tctOc while
the walls were decorated with the holly
bOugh. sacred 90 this happy season from time
.mmtmOriIl. The ample lifc-place,. in
each Of which half cord Of wood
might be contained. blZed AMI cracked
out cheerful welcome. while the yule log
rl0Wcd and sparklci with ihe warmest of
receptions. The customary bowl OF egg-n0g
also stood forth prominently o. offer % cheer
within corresponding o. that without. and .
meuimpnt. f'-tiyiiy and music rigned su-
preme until the small hours OF abe morning
10 was truly "a glorious ,hristmas-tide.
in which ail souuw aud worry were for
gotten. happiness was Che rule ANA every
ones heart was glad. The accomplished /.
most and hosto-- both delighted in dispcns-
ing their generous hospitality without stint
or limit. and Santa Claus. a- may we'll be-
guessed. did not forget to brighten zap the
hearts ami faces az the children. according
% his custom on every anniversary OF the
birth Of the loving Chris.-child.
ODD BRUToN PARISH
Thus passed away Christmas eve and
Christmas day. and 0n ths following morn
ing Sunday il was arranged chat the cu-
tire party should drive over io ODE ancient
city ri williamsburg. the colonial capital
0f Nirginii-named after kimg William OF
Old Bruion Parish Church. erected of br'k /.
brought from England la the days al " IL
iiim aila Mary. and the bell Of which. s0
tradition Says. was partly moulded
from silver ieWclry belonging o. the
daughter OF James J. VI England, who
afterwards became Queen Anne. The SER
vice was beautiful and impressive, ana
when 10 was ended % stroll around tne
cLurch-yanl. in which rrT0se ih' remains OF
4 D. Id. a.
the old Dominion. long since m0uiicrod
into dust. furnished sitting conclusion 60
a Christmas entertainment which bad been
thoroughly enjoyed without the sacfedn-ss
of the season being lost -ht Of
ADAY Is WILLIAMSBURG.
Bui the festivities were not all over set.
Wewere met in WILLIAMSBURG hy that prince
of good fellows. snd soul of hospitality.
Captain Robert Bright everybody knows
Bob Bright who took as 90 his elighilul
home Just outside the city limits. where we
were % spend the dag and night
Here another oid-f,shioncd Virginia
welcome awaited as. Alter enjoy
Ing the usual preliminary greetings
customary 10 the season. We were invited
lo an ample rppast, al which good cheer
and good fellowship crowned the enjoyment .
of the good thing, prepared by Our genial
host. owing 10 its being sunday the even
ing was spent i'm quiet. but lighitul con- ,
y,rsalion around blazing wood fire. such
n only Virginia can provide. The follow
ing morning, however, bright and early,
while the ground WAS yet white
with frost. the festivities again began
with renewed arlOr. We had hardly
arrived 40 Captain Bright's bel0re-a courier.
swiftly dispatched by DR.. j. y. Moncure,
the efficient superintendent ~ the Eastern
Lunatic Asylum 40 Williamsburg. came 10
bring Ms an invitation 10 dine with him on
Monday, which was. Of course, accepted.
Arrangements were therefore made to that
end, and II was agreed that after breakfast 4
Wc should drive with Captain Bright
around the city and visit the various
points made interesting through their
Yenerableness. and sanctihed by the
association OF the classic age with which
they are so intimately connected. in-
happily, many Of these footsteps Of the
past have fallen into oblivion. for the tire {
iend has played sad havoc with the old city.
The old capitol in which the House OF Bur .
.esses were wont L. 81 has long since sue &
cumbed 10 the flames. The old palace OF Lord
Dunmore has yielded 10 the inroads OF time
and % the vandalism Of the United states
troops while the city VAS occupied by them
during the late war. The bricks Of the two
wings which were left until pulled down 10y
the Eedcrals 10 build winter quarters for
themselves in 1862, have since been used in
the building Of the ~ Matty school, The
celebrated Old Raleigh tavern IN the Apollo
room OF which Patrick Henry wa, ac-
customed 20 stir up the patriotism 0f h- ;
hearers against British oppression. fell a
victim 20 the fiery demon in The early DAYS
Of the late conflict. while the Old college
building OF William and Mary College was
burned about ls.,o. This building. was re-
stored about 30. hUi only i0 lIli again
victim To the flames after the city had been
surrendered 20 the Northern army. /.
stands out now solitary and forlorn, with
not a student to awaken the echoes IN its
halls. and j, watched over by Colonel Ewe.l
who has been il, president for 80 many
wears. and the mutllited statue OF Lord
Bo,ctourt There are left Of the Colonial
relies. besides BrutOBtOn Parish hurch, AZ
ready mentioned. only the professors resi-
deuces 40 tnr College, the Chanctry Court
building. and the quaint ODD Powder
Horn used as powder magazine before
and during the Revolution. some years ago.
this structure was converted into "a Baptist
church. where old Ceryent jones, ct scccu-