Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-25
HISTORIC ST. JOHNS.
ONE OF R,CHMOND'S OLD LAND
MARKS OF UNKNOWN ANTIQUITY.
A Church Around which There Cluster
Many Memories Of the Old
Colonial Times.


This very interesting letter about one OF
the most historic buildings III this city or
in the South was published in the Phila-
delphia Times of yesterday:
The following extract from letter writ
ten in 1873 describes the city Of Richmond
OF the time when il became the capital of
Virginia:
IL is indeed a lovely situation and may
at some future period be great city, but
Mt present il will afford scarce one comfort
of life With the exception of two or
three families, this little town is made up
of Scotch factors, who inhabit small tene
ments here and there from the river to the
hill. some of which looking-as Colonel
Marshall. afterwards Chief-Justice Mar
shall. Observed If the pure Caledonians
had brought them over on their backs, the
weaker of whom were glad to stop at the
bottom Of the hill, Others little stronger
proceeded higher, while a few of the
stoutest and bravest reached the summit.
which. once accomplished, affords situa-
tion beautiful and picturesque. One OF
these hardy Scots has thought proper TO
vacate his little dwelling ard, though our
family can scarcely stand up altogether IN
II, my father has determined To rent 1t, as
THR PRESENT TINE.
Could The writer Of the above be called
back from the land whence there IL no re,
turning to-day she would doubtless marvel
much to see how beautifully this little
town" has spread itself over the surround
ing hills and dales. and her bewilderlng
spirit would wander hither and thlther
searching like Rip Van WInkle. in vain for
the well known landmarks and familiar
ha,lnts of auld lang syne. Ore spot alone
| she would perchance recognize as belong
ing TO the Richmond of other days. for shut
away from the city ot life around II by
massive cty-wall of stout bricks and NOR
tar. the cool quiet city of death which sur
rounds historic old st. Johns church still
crowns the brow of the hill with Its ver-
dure and with it's peace, with its vine,
wreathed monuments, solemn trees ana
| fitting sun and shadow.
THE sURRoUNDISGs.
Without this city-wsll the spirit OF the
nineteenth century walks abroad. On the
north side the electric cars go hashlng ana
dashing by: to the south. where old King
Powhatan, the royal father of Pocahontass,
oftimes held his court. the whilom. PLACID,
and undistuTbed bosom of the river James
is furrowed by the cruel prows of steam
ships. while at distance may be heard the
busy hum of whlrling wheels III MANY fac-
tories. Within the wall al Is silence, save
where the Zephyrs whisper To the lOIty
poplars and sigh to the dropping willows
and breathe through the waving grasses,
"repdeScdt in p1ce" -,
The whole place Is pervaded Win the
mystery of a day that is dead ana whlle Is
borne up from below the sound of hurry
ing feet, bearing tEeir owners upon vari-
ous errands of business or pleasure, we
learn the history OF those VINO trod the
same WAYS q hundred years ago. 1hey
have long since passed away, but the eter-
nal marble remains 10 bear testimony 10
the good that is too OFT. alas inferred with
their bones" All-all are here; men and
women who shone in public and IN private
life: in society and ut the treslde;, VINO
sang and wept and toiled and sInned and
suffered; children who slept and waKed
and laughed and cried and died.
SOME INSCRIPTIONS.
Upon almost every marble is Inscribed
the profession or trade of the man 10 wnom
il was raised, which shows at least that
they were not ashamed of the sweat OF
their brow. One dilapidated old stone
bears the following:
In memory OF
Abraham shield. Stonecutier ara
BricklsyeT, Native Ia the
County Of Durham, Old England,
who Departed This Life
October y, j.bS,
Aged 2S years.
When was young and in my prime
IL pleased the Lord 20 end my Time
Aud took me 20 n Place OF Hest,
Where Jesus Christ did think IL DesI
Another says;
Here lies the body
Mr. Daniel DenvOn,
Gunmaker OF tuis city, who was
Shot by James NcNaught,
After having been in his employ
syears3 months and 10 days,
Not far from this sleeps "Mr. Charles
Soutlgate. poet and musician" samuel
Shepard Is described as having done elgh-
| teen years faithful servlceln the honorable
station of Auditor of PublIck Accounts OF
| the Commonwealth OF Virginia" AnoIher
| distinguished himself as soldier another
as a physician, &C.. &c. Here lies " the late
editor and proprietor of the Southern Lite
| r0,7, Hessenqe7."; there the founder OF an
academy a. early as 1799 MANY OF the IN
script,ons are entirely obliterated by the
effects of time and the elements, but the
Oldest tomb whose date is distinguishable is
| that OF Robert Rose, Rector oil AIDE
marie Parish, died l751."
| CURIOUS EPITAPHs.
| Some Of the most curious epitaphs and
| inscriptions are as follows:
Here lieih the body
| OF
| Maria Dounan alias Smith.
Sacred
| 10 the memory OF
Dear departed Henry,
youngest son OK
| John j. Werth,
| who was enatched from his fond parents by
death on the 5th Of November, 1918, at the ten
der age of nine years seven months ana ten
days
Tread gently on his ashes
Sarah Ann Smith.
| Died September %, ls25.
Aged ~ years.
Return my friends, and cease TO weep
| While In Christ Jesus here sleep
Prepare yourself your soul TO save.
There la no repentance in the grave.
! stop, my friends, as you pass py'
As YOU are now 50 once was /,
As am now you soon must be,
Prepare yourself TO follow me.
II is said that wag once wrote WIN a
pencil under the above epltaph:
"To follow you Pm not content, go,
Unless knew which way you went
The following is pleasingly quaint;
So unaffected 90 composed mind,
so arm. yetso
| So strong. yet 50 refined.
| Heaven as Its purest gold by tortures Uyu,
| The Sain. sustaind but the Woman died.
] The kev'd Winchester's
| Wife lies here
| n Companion Whome
| he loved most dear