The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-21

Ms ietter bis GOOD nature would not per,.1i.,s,
hin, 20 forcpt others OF the old set. W ni
,,o a ,s INV excellent friend Wilson that
| never smoke apipe (Which IS SIX .i w h;,n
| day) without thinking ahecud3hha'eS RulInct
and Price y This Mr.. Wilson then hved in
the old pillared house on frank I'm S.rees'
lately occnpied by the venerable Mrs. Gen.
eral Bayly.
FATE OF DoBsoS's.
wben mite an old man Major Clarke re-
,;rod from "Dobsonsp 10 end his DAYS at kes-
wick in Powhatan. IL continued to be ac-
cupied by his descendants for many years;
n was finally Sold passed through several
ownerships. until 1t ultimately became 'ne
property Of the city OF Richmond.
APLsAsAsT RESORT.
With the departure Of Major Clarke passed
away "Dobsons." The entire premises soon
becarns publicly known as 'Clarke's Spring"
The reason for this was that in timet became
A popular resort It's natural beauties were
| enticinp its distance from the town was con-
veniept and the genius Of the place seemed
auspcous. About 200 yards southeast OF the
mansion was never-failing spring. OK pure
| grayel-ftered water. 1t was not sucn stream
"a one sees bursting from some mountain
prison home as if clad TO find relief from i'm
nending weight 1t emerged from under the
grassy hill. quietly persistenty; always IN tho
same quantity, giving assurance IN us modest
way that it never meant 20 fall OF us supply,
although it made no extraordinary preteh-
tons. Major CI6rke had long appreciated the
merits Of his pelucid pet ana had eIlcouraseu
it accordingly He had constructed stone
arch lust within the bank under which the
water found room TO collect and flow out into
a bason From this point it fell into the dell
below. which was enclosed by series or cir
cuar terraces enclosing pond or clear
spring water. Upon these terraces were con
struCted of brick. succeed and whltened,
EIGHT small sylvan temples. each one OF which
could conveniently hold four persons seated
at n small table. two on each side. In TINS
diminutive lake were preserved various KINDS
of fish for the use of thotamlly. The premises
thus arranged by art were then consigned 70
the keeping of nature. The shadows OF the
overhanging forest. the songs OF birds, tile
ripllng of the waters in their way down
through the woods 10 be lost in the volume Of
the James. were the daily events expected of
the genius of the place, until some I'M
welcome intruder should dissolve the
spell. This was "Clarke's Spring immedl-
ately after its venerebe owner had LETT 1t.
Too much familiarity with the world became
its ruin. 1t became the seat of all manner of
open-air celebrations. bar5ecues, tsh-trles
FCurth-Of-July dinners and political gather
ings The schools at that time never gave
holiday until the 1st of August. when tho
close Of the session was celebrated by a water
melon feast in tho woods at Clarkes Spring,
or some other convenient spot.
THE PAST AND PBEsEST--A CONTRAST.
Long before Hollywood was thought Of for
a cemetery one OF the hills now a beautiful
part Of tire silent city was often scene OF
teastiug and banquetIng and uprOarl0us mlrth.
TOaSts were drunk; the voice OF the patriot
was heard in the land: the welkin rang with
the rough pastlme Of the soldier mid song
and Joke and gatherings. On Chapel Hill.
where now stand the tOmbs of many noted
dead-the Guilds, the Deanes, the DOggets.
HerndOns, Baylys and others--and there, as If
appropriately the great STUART himself, the
Richmond Light Drae oOns were wont in years
gone TO celebrate the anniversary Of their
cOuntrys freedom. On that very spot had
been constructed a long, substantial shed.
The preparations for the feast were made
at the spring, only a short distance of. As
soon as the national salute had been tired at
II o'clock on the Capitol Square. the several
companies having previously paraded through
the chief streets. repaired 20 their respective
groves 10 spend the rest of the day. In these
woods. near Clarke's Spring, was often 10 10
heard tho neighiug Of horses, the clangor Of
sabres. the rafting Of helmets. aud black
Dicks bugle blast, announcing the arrival OF
the troopers at their Welcome resting place:
Under the protection Of this substantial
covering the gay cavalcade sat down 10 feast,
where new men are Toasted upon. Who could
have foreeen, who could have OWNED so
solemn a change, in the wild woods OF that
romantic region:
Years have passed Tho remains OF the
"springn are there The water still flows per-
sstent. obedicnt as ever. for it must flow on
forever" The lakelet of clear water. tho
green terraces, the temples are all gone The
rains have beat upon the neglected turf, the
marauder has passed over 1t and all the beau
" OF it has departed. one. and only one
tree, patrarchai forest poplar is left stand
ing. This hollow scorched, weather-beaten
veteran stands, piteousiy appealing 10 lis old
friends. who since the days of their boyhood
have looked with yeneratOn upon Its aged
trunk a taste of the water showed that II
alone had not changed Its sources, like the
fountain Of truth. have all this time been too
far removed from the touch OF man.
JAMESTOWN.
Before leaving this subject and the locality
SO generaly relorred 10 itmay beproper 10 say
something OF Bankstown, an unpretentiou5
village that occupied the hills on which the
Lew additions 10 Hollywood cemetery have
been made. about the time that Major Clark
lived at DOds0ns. Between the canal and
James river may DO seen stone rum.
IT is a picturesque spot from which
the city is first and last seen IN passing 20 and
from il on the railroad. This is the remains
Of a cotton factory. 10 WAS built by Mr..
Thomas Ruthcroord and others early in tins
century. II was failure, not So much for
want OF funds or of proper management rs
for want Of health. A bridge connected the
mainland with the mill over the canal. The
employees worked all day at the factory and
returned TO their dwellings at BaDkstown, on
the neighborng hills at night This was a
cluster or row of comfortable brick cottages
for ele special accommodation of the fac
tory hands. They made every effort to con
tnue 70 live there. But after many years OF
fruitless endeavor on the part OF both en-
ployers and employees the scheme had 10
be abandoned Fever-,fever Of every posi-
bic kind and type seized upon everybody. 10
was in yam medical advice was gotten; DO
measures OF hygeian had any effect year after
wear the fight for bodily and for commercial
existence was maintained, until at last man
and manufactures were vanlulshed. The
mill had TO be abandoned The place on the
hill was left desOlate and is now more appro-
pria.ely devoted than it ever has been except
when bearing grain it NAV chance. of wheat
or some other grain All the things herein re-
ferrcd 10 have almost ia ded from view, and
are now but dimy seen, far away on
Tho silent shore Of memory"
p.
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