The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-07
TALES OF TIE POTOMAC.
FOLK LORE THAT HAS INVESTED
THE RIVER WITH MYSTERIES.


fractions for almost every one, but there
ara few, at least in Washington, who
have devoted as much time TO II, or
whose Investigations into the realms OF
quaint sayings and queer superstitions
have been attended with more interest
| ing results than those OF Mr.. William III.
BabcoCk, who has Contributed many val
liable articles on the folk lore Of America
TO leading journals both in England and
this country. In a recent article he tells
Of legend which has n host Of believers
along the banks Of the Potomac, in the
vicinity Of Little Falls. which is only
about three miles above Georgetown.
The story runs that in the early days OF
Washington. during one of the first Brit
ish expeditions against tie colonists,
a number Of soldiers, one Of them o
drummer boy, attempted to cross the
river at point about n quarter of
mile south Of the falls. just before the
| Maryland shore was reached the boat was
overturned and the drummer drowned,
and ever since persons rowing over the
spot where he went down can hear the
mulfied notes of the drum and his spirit
plays the dead march The place is gen.
orally given wide berth by those who
know the story.
THE I'm CUSHION STONE.
Another story which comes from along
the banks Of the Potomac is that Of tho
pin cushion stone which marks the cross
Il. M.,,.t l..
reached. In the old days when that his
torieal spot was alive with the happy
voices Of the plantation darkies, a man
killed his wife in a quarrel over pin
cushion, and as the murdered woman
fell over the stone it has since been called
the pin cushion stone, and is said TO DO
possessed Of an owl spirit
A venturesome farmer, TO show his
contempt for the stone and its traditions,
once took it home with him and placed
it in his barn. That very night the barn
caught fire and was burned to the
ground, and rs he met with a succession
of disasters, his experiment tended only
to increase the popular belief in the
stone, and it was subsequently taken
back to its original resting place.
In travelling about the country in the
vicinity of Washington one is struck by
the changes wrought by time even in the
names Of places. On the banks Of the
AnacOstia river is one Of the most
charming spots in the neighborhood Of
Washington, and is fayorite resort for
picnickers from the city. 1t is known
as Lincoln Banks, and one would nat
urally suppose thespot had been named
in honor of President Lincoln; but that
such ia not the case is vouched for by
many persons who remember when it
Vas Lickin Bank, and even this was not
It's original name. 1t seems it was first
known by old trappers, who designated
it ne the Lick in the Bank" and it has
gradually grown into its present cogno-
men Of Lincoln Bank.
Further up in Maryland is a village
now known as Forrestvile, but which in
past years was known as Long Old
Fields. Civilization flowed in two streams
up the valleys Of the Patuxent and Po-
tomac. The former was the greater,
having the richer roofing and broader
base. It's outpost was on the crest Of
the rough ridge which separates them,
and which was and is to this day n viii
derness. Here long fields were cleared
along the road at an early day, and in
time grew into old long fields. The travel
from valley to valley halted here as at a
half way house. and does SO now For
generations it has been known as Old
Long Fields, and it was only recently
tina, its name has been changed by the
postoflice department.
ORIGIN OF SOME SUGGESTIONS.
As far as can be learned the greater
number of traditions and superstitions
which are familiar in America had their
origin in England and upon the CONT
nent, but there are many which seem to
have originated among the slaves in ante
bellum days. They have been handed
down from generation 10 generation |
until they have come TO form part Of the
religion Of a vast ma ority o; the negroes,
and in the interior of many southern
states, where plantation life is but little |
changed from what it WAS forty or fifty |
years ago, the farm hands have the |
greatest terror Of a voudoo doctor, and |
believe implicitly in his power to work
them good or i'll, whichever he sees fit.
But the belief in old saws is not con-
fined to the cOlored race by any means,
for there is many farmer who will not |
plant his crops save lin the dark Of the |
moon, and any one who has lived in a
seaboard town has heard many 4 time
the merry notes of the sailors in a pas
sing sloopas they ''whistle for the wind
In many homestead a spider will be
allowed TO live, as the lord Of the manor
is convinced that 10 kill one will surely |
cause disaster to fall upon himself or fam
lily. There is also a superstition, COM
mon in many New England states, &c
the effect that if two persons are walk
ing along hand in hand and meet with
post or any obstacle which causes them
to separate. that the one who passes on
the right Of it will go 10 heaven and the
other TO he'll. Washington Post
An Unhappy Position.