Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-15

VI american trade, the
great hogsheads OF the
leaf tobacco used to be moved from the
country about the headwaters of the Po-
tomac into the ware houses further down
the river by a simple process. No trucks
or wagons were used, but tho tobacco was
packed tightly IN the hogshead, some pulling
gear was attached and a steer and mule were
put one ahead OF the other before it, and il
was rolled along the road to its destination,
and thus the principal route for this travel
came TO be known as the Rolling road
The beautiful city that we live in has sprung
up almost under our very eyes. From the
time when John Randolph of Roanoke fell
from his horse about where Washington Circle
now is, and lay wallowing and roaring in the
mud. remote from any habitation, to the
present day, Is not many years In the life of O
city. The history of Washington is thus al
most contemporary history, but all around our
boundaries are points teeming with recollec-
tions Of remoter times. The famous old DWELL
ing grounds, the noble old estates and their
noble owners. the important places of colonial
or revolutionary Happenings of importance,
have all received attention and have had the
benefit OF description, but, strange to say. the
historians have overlooked the roads around US.
THE TOBACCO BOILING ROAD.
Through the heart of the town of Falls
Church runs what used to be known as the
Tobacco Rolling road The quiet place of which
it forms the principal thoroughfare is one of
those prosperous communities which are be-
coming more numerous each year, which are
fed by the overlooking population of Washing
ton Without the aid of clamorous advertising
II has grown into proportions that are fair to
look upon. There Is a peaceful, placid air
about Falls Church which makes ii a most en-
tlclng place Of retreat to the busy city man.
Nestled in n lovely valley, with the tall hills
around 1t, from the submits of which the city
can be seen lying white and red in the dis
lance. 1t has all the natural advantages to make
II attractive. unfortunately, like most subur-
ban towns, it IL but dormitOry. Except for
few women and children the houses are empty
all day. Not until late in the afternoon and in
the evening, after the train from the city has
deposited Its load, Is Falls Church inhabited
1t may be described in single sentence. 1t is
q suburb of Washington.
But who shall tell the history Of the road
which intersects it2 Silently. for over two CEN
turtles, 1t has looked upon succeeding genera
tohs of men and horses. II has seen the
frisky colt bound gayly over its stones and ruts.
and IL has presented the same uneven surface
Tor his feet when age AMI hard work have
stiffened his old joints. And the boy Just
learning to ride Is the same to the road as
the old man who joys quietly along toward the
last stage in lifss journey. Just as mariners
love the sea, just as men and cats become at
tached to the houses in which they
have lived for many years. so do the people
who travel certain road year In and year out
come nnally to have a certain affection for il.
Roads have expression, too. Stretching along
yellow in the hot sunshine. how weary and
tiresome they look! What a difference there is
between the ragged old road that has seen bet
ter days, the stones that were once its founda-
lion sticking dehantly up-a road out at elbows,
as 1t were-and the smooth new road that
looks SO rich and prosperousI
BACON, THE REBEL OF 1916.
More than 200 years ago, wher Nathaniel
Bacon OF Virginia. the rebel of 1916 and the
fOrerunner Of the rebels of 1776. defed and
conquered the tyrannical old colonial governor
Sir William Berkeley, there marched from the
Potomac country to oppose the victorious adj
venturer 1000 men under the gallant Col
Brent, and the part Of the wilderness that thew
came from and the route by which they
marched was the region OF the Rolling road
IL Is pity. but it seems to be undeniable that
Col Brents men, being frightened by the tales
they neard OF Bacons successes. ran inconti-
nently away before they had had glimpse of
the enemy. 1t was some years after this and
when tobacco became VIrginia's staple produc-
ton, that the real road came gradually into ex-
lstence. Such road grew, and was not made
wherever the distractions were the least
wherever there was partial clearing wherever
the streams that must be crossed were most
shallow the traveller directed his course One
person followed another and soon the road be-
came an established track of travel
DnNDDOShS AhAA TRAVELLED
In the heyday of yirginia's pride and pomp
it was gay with the country gentry, interchano-
ing visits or vending their way southwark to
the fashionable routs and drums that were 90
frequent IN Alexandria. or perhaps to attend a
me masked ball IN the long room of the CITY
tavern The old tavern still stands and the Old
long room may still be seen by any one who
cares to penetrate the boxes and furniture that
are stored there. And IN the year 1855 the
Rolling road saw Braddock's army and the pom
derous chariot of the honest old general him
self-for his headquarters were near its ter
minus, and he must have jolted over its stumps
and bitches Immediately before he started on
ms fatal expedition against Fort Duopesne
And the youthful Col. Washington who yolUu-
teered upon the British generals staff. had rid
den over II before. for he probably went bv this
route from Alexandria to Winchester
when he was on public business for
Gov. Dlnwlddie, and DinwIddie himself must
have been familiar with it And then il was
the way to the old Falls Church. the ancient
edIfice which still stands and from which the
more modern town has taken its name and not
so pious proceeding as the church going but
equally popular with the masculine population
o: old Virginia, IL was travelled over by many a
party on the way to an exciting cooking match,
and Its woods echoed in the evening to the
loud shouts and bacchanalian laughter of the
gentlemen who had partaken too freely of sack
or usquebaugh.
oLD-FAsHIoSED JoIIIrY
What gadabOuts our ancestors in VIRGINIA
and Maryland were, They were always visit
ing one another, and dancing and making love
aud having dinner parties, never content with
quiet solitude, always on the road in chariots
or on horseback. No part OF the old domiuion
was gayer than the territory between the Poto-
mac and the Rappahanuock rivers, known as the
Northern Neck, and the Rolling road saw much
OF this Old-fashioned iollity. II was not con-
sidered crime In those days for a gentleman
10 get drunk, and when a masculine dinner
party occurred the ladies rather expected
their husbands and brothers to come home
tipsy. We have supped and the gentlomen
have not returned yet" says the journal OF a
young lady OF the Northern Neck in 1882.
Lucy and myself In a peck OF trouble
Tor fear they should return drunk Sister
has had our bed moved in her room
Just as we were addressed and going to bed the
gentlemen arrived and We had 10 scamper
Both upsy' Ii must have been n singular
sight 10 see the lady Of the house having sent
the girls TO bed. herself finely arrayed lin a
blue lute-string habit, taffeta apron and hand
kerchlei, receive these bewigged bepowdered
knlckerbOckered gentlemen as thew reeled into
the great hall with their tbree-cornered gold
laced hats knocked over their eyes Probably
sue called the servants and had them carried
safely to bed and made them cooling drinks
the next morning and scolded them hardly
NJ all
IT ECHOED THE TREAD or PArRrors
Many scenes OF less peaceful character has
the old road seen. When the war of indanan5