The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-30
WHY The BALL WAS HELD.
Some Of the Objects For Which They All
Danced.

l
Danced.
The next move to be made by the ladies OF
the society is 10 be the purchase OF so much
Of jamestown Island as includes the ruins
Of the old church and the old church-yard.
This was the first English settlement IN the
United States, and WINS named after King
James. It is situated in the western limits
of James City county. thirty-swO miles
about the mouth Of James river, and was
| founded in 1907. by 100 cOlOnists sent out
under command of Christopher Newport,
after whom NewpOrt's News is named.
CAPTAIN John Smith was a member Of the
expedition, and the colonists anchored
there on their reconnaissance up the James
because they found il 10 be "a beautiful
prOmOntOry." which they believed would De
a good location for town. They first pro-
ceeded TO erect a church. which was des-
tr0yed. but afterwards substantial brick
structure was built for the worship Of God.
which was again destroyed during the
Bacon rebellion, and the ruined walls OF
the tower OF this church are still standing.
The cOlOnists suffered great want and
restitution, and many OF them died, but
they st0utly maintg ined their position, and
on June 26tn. 1919, the first Colonial As
sembly ever held i'm Virginia met %. James
town. ON the 22d Of March, 1872, several
hundred Of the cOlOnists were mastered by
Indians, and the colony was virtually de-
stroyed.
As stated, only the ruins Of the old
church. built Of bricks imported from Eng
land, and some Of the grayestOnes are all
that is now left Of this relic Of the early days
Of the Old Dominion. A number Of the
grayestOnes were taken away during the
war by the Federal soldiers, and others
were pulled down from sheer vandalism.
The ladies Of the Society for the Preserya-
ton of Virginia Antiquities viii probably
find the purchase and preservation Of
jamestown, very expensive undertaking
The river has already made such rapid en-
crOachments on the spot that what was
originally prOm0nt0ry is now an island,
and the tides and currents are still cutting
80 deeply into the land that the old church
ruins are now very close 20 the banks, and
every year the distance t shortening. The
property is owned by Mr.. Brown and wife.
OF New York, and they ask $4,000 for quar-
ter of an acre Of the land, including the
walls OF the church and the graveyard.
Unless this particular property is reserved
in the original bill Of sale, the ladies can
not secure il for less than the above
named amount and then by The
time leyee or dyke is built so
as to ehectually restrain the inroads
OF the river. il will probably cost double that
sum. The object Of the ladies, however, is
most laudabe and the fact that the fund
they will need in carrying out their pur-
poses will be so considerable should incite
Nirginians TO aid them as literally as pos
sible.
A TRADITION OF THE "POwDER-HORG.r
Mr.. "Aleck Southall" was one Of the old
timed chiyalric residents Of the old Colonial
Capital Of Virginia, and he was, when
young man, full OF fun and trolic which
meant no harm. but which rather showed
the genial, generous, g00d-heartedness
which characterized the Nirginan OF that
day. In fact, the people Of Williamsburg
were at that time more like
one big family than anything
else, they not only being dependent on each
other for social entertainment but being
nearly all really allied either by blood or
marriage. Those, therefore, familiar with
the social status in the old capital in the
golden time before the war, will fully appre-
ciate the following incidents
The "Old Powder Horn" was many years
ago used as Baptist church, mnistered 10
by that prince Of eccentrics and most con-
scienti0us Of men, old Servant Jones. On
one occasion he was holding something like
revival meeting, and just as mis- hearers
had been worked up 10 the highest pitch Of
excitement, a hideOus face cut into pump
kin and Illuminated from within with can
die, making il d0ubly diabOlical in appear
ance, was seen suspended in the air from the
gallery. The congregation became panic
stricken, and crying out 1T is the Devil. -
started to rush out in confusion. But old
Servant was equal 10 the occasion. He
saw through the whole thing at a glance.
and in his peculiarly cracked, nasal voice.
which is still so we'll remembered by the
old people Of Williamsburg, he said: "Keep
your seats, my friends. IL is not the devil:
il is only Aleck sOuthall in some Of his dew
ilishness. You needn't be afraid Of Satan
leaving his warm, comfortable dominion on
such a night as this 10 come 10 earth to take
YOU 10 hell, when three-fOurths OF you are
going there rs fast as you can Of your own
accord" This incident can be yOuched for