New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-29
of thirty and greatcrandtnter Of twelve he bears his

faxes and Washlngtons | imagined that he was
scion Of nobility when first obtained near view Of
him, l approached the house, for il seemed TO me
that his coat of was enblazoned the seat Of
his trousers, which consisted of about twenty patches
OF many different eoors and shades, and he wore
a battered white derby hat through the crown Of which
red cotton handkerchief protruded like a knghtB
plume. lie gave me n glowing description of his
troubles during the war, and how he was plundcred
by both sides. The old rascal protested to be Union
man. and thought that lie harshly dealt with be-
the southern Claims Commission would not
allow him compensation for his losses because he had
three who vent into the Confedrt' army against
his WILL and two of whom in "Kaintucky."
His loyalty however, tpped on his tongue for In his
narrative he always spoke of the rebels men"
and the Union troops Yankees" All through this
country, Northern and Western men are called
Yankees and frpm the manner in which they
mentioned one would imagine they belonged 70
strange and foreign
The supper consisted Of corn-bread. salt herring,
sorghum and coffee. The corn-bread was baked in an
iron skillet with three legs, which in some parts OF
the South is called "spder," live Goals being placed
beneath it and more on the lid. Whether 1t Is in tie
knacl of cooking it, in the meal cannot say, bus
certain is that in this quarter they can make the
best cornbread tasted, using nothing but meal,
water and salt. The herring they obtain from the
fishing shores of the Potomac, about forty-iive miles
distant, going after them during the season in wagons
provided with boxes and salt.
After supper the old man sat me for conversation
in the parlOr! in which were two beds. a BUREAU
washstand and a sbley stove the pipe OF which pro
trlded through the window. The latter three articles
the old man said came out OF the " Yankee camps
which were all around him. We were soon Joined by
the cid woman eiglty-seven years of age, she said,
and she proceeded to help the old man out III
his story and correct him occasionally, which led 10
frequent alteration and argument. lie houhds
frequently came in and settled themselves, and were
as often kicked ont by one of the boys over SIX
feet tall who came in occasionally to see how things
were going and report TO some OF the neghDorhoI
men who were sitting or the fence outside. Inc
virgnan Of these parts has great curiosity and love
OF news aud he can take most graceful pose on Top
vi fence While drinking In the gossip WHICH cau9eS
him to ne lcct his work. , -.
Next morning proceeded to stevensburg and from
Church Hill RECALLED myself with that delicious we"
mcnds as being 50 fine The hazy Blue Ridge In lons
stretch to the west, with Pony Mountain IN ihe hoar
of 10 the south with the hills Of Brandy to the north
The line OF smoke along the lowlandS indicating t'e
scene while the old town at feet with Its many
ruined houses lends tic finishing touch 10 the pcture
these fair surroundings. small frame building ao0nt
lGX3O it seemed to me disgrace To = iicii coHliuiI
such apparently lives near here bnt soon loula
its explanation The rich farmers, rich only in name
but f5rmcr savcloldeT& viii ngt send their children
teachers at small salaries for home Instruction. lhey
do not yet believe the poor mans children good enough
have small attendance while the coloed schools show
good enrolment. Under these circumstances the rlcn
farmer can hardly be expected TO be friendly u Ile
nuLlic schools as he derives benefit from them
III, interest with getting some frlend or reIaNe
ag ~ thn Confederate Ccnera Wcalam's buGer. APP
pointed more for his experience with the sword uian
Turnng Jack the old fredericksburg road through
IIancocks and Kpatrlcks camps toward h' gooGed
country where the sawmiIl5 have used up all te isSo
timber Tile land are cala1e %, % any can bS
bought for from - ID - per acre: Inc people arc
numerous but poor in ChEqu&R Ne snGr Sg ia deS
and their faith in the future superb l9 cannon h.p
Of them 10 work while lie is anyt EdG t To ea meal
barrel and shaken ont ,Ae remains then he VII Worh
for you unul the !o9 IS coHpG,eg i,cs Sn itIner,nt
| preacher named PhilT Male holds meetings every
! tr'rt1d a cave on a line farm which he owns nerr
the Rapdan. lie lives in it all me winter eaI a cor,
bread {a'P c s ST r on mission and reached
New York. where hi, cXhortatons attracted tle a t
ton OF the police who took nm ID cIrsc au 90 h
Although thc,e people are so seemingly relisions.
tlcy pav bnt little attention 10 the form Of marriage
MANY Of them live together BY agreement a'.u ian,o
children in nearly every house This state OF affairs
3, trlceabie 10 the Old slave times. feN years a.o
an cud,avor wa, made los The CUlpcper Comfy tout
to compel couples living together TO get married, bis
without avail. men took ont licenses but never
pointed Gut 10 me, hanging IN little bas over ;le n i"
/ and YOU can leave money or NallaOles ar0lnu iu.,
IL anotbor cE,r,rt,ri. tic and they never think ot
ri.rgiur f,r , MI ar ,o.d f,r bors, II You wish
! -, n''i'r9 ,,,,, . =" , ~ i5.,u II j. al right
7 " over ~, pon,dan ~, a GOOD bridge where tho
! ,ivcr ,,,, r r',,f,ne ~ thev call them are
yrry ri, lnt Liable 49, 0crisiorai overflow and in
low niles am m tI,e he,dyotcrs Of Mine Run, and
| soon u the -rUcn fields II orange ,oiAl,, t &c
chmncys OF he old rebel camps are all through the
woods Inc scattered arms are well fenced but poorly
titled ana but Few az Inc farm houses present any In
dic9t!on, Of thrift The UeOpa are ignorant and M
/ co,tI tbe mon rourh and Inc women Slltternly.
/ Stained ali ui,bt NJ :" Icnp IIumcs one mile from
Ion. t.,, a. ~. N,ar'- n... lie Keep, store.
! an ,rljs,cr ard ans farm ncar the store on
tih 49, a. In. ,..'or,iv b,rned down There
" M MT. H. nm, ornl, ir,-dr in mis- region
- ~ u VI. nv ga w.. i'- 80. cali ,ha,