Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-29

1 WEsTMORELAND COUNTY, VA,
AUGUST &c, 1891.
1t may not be known to many of your readeri
that at one time the laws of Virginia were
much stricter than now in references to marri
ages. No marriage could be celebrated unless
the clerk issued the license upon the applica.
ton OF both parties, known to be of lawful age
twenty-one years. or due consent given by the
parent or guardian, and then the man was com.
PEELED to enter into a bond with approved
sureties before the clerk conditioned that there
was no lawful impeachment to the marriage.
This to a certain extent kept the hot-headed
| youths of Virginia from rushing into impru-
| dent marriages. and had the happy result OF
keeping the old commonwealth clear OF divorce
proceedings. And even to this day, with the
relaxed laws on the subject OF marriages and
| divorces, few divorces are ever heard of in that
| state.
HOW SHE CONSENTED TO MARRIAGE.
But to return. The following is a letter filed
among the marriage records of Westmoreland
in the early days of the county by a lady as ex-
pressing her consent to marriage with the
| bearer thereof
The bearer hereof Mr.. John Randall OF
Westmoreland County and State Of Virginia has
my permission to procure from authority the
| necessary credentials which shall duly and
| honorably merit my attention in the support OF
| my affections, to continue through the end OF
\ all things; which shall reflect every ray OF
honor as ascribable to SO resplendant an eliment
or sentiment of my right mind, and which shall
henceforth be strictly adheared to the proper
| form at my instance, and his importantly in
| the making valid all things pertaining to the
stream Of my desire to become his partner in
| the vigor of my youth in the morning of af-
| lection properly directed to the momentous
obligations of conjugal embraces in endless
felicity: In witness to the above l have here
unto set my hand. SALLIK BARRETT.
Test: JAMES WEAVER
Age first sworn to before John Smith clerk,
by the witness"
Bond was duly given by John Randall with
| the witness James Weaver as surety and license
issued. We are left in the pleasing belief that
the happy pair were duly made man and wife
with no fear OF the divorce mill before them to
disturb 1.-The momentous obligations Of con-
tugal embraces in endless felicity"
AT COLONIAL BEACH.
Leaving the musty records of Westmoreland,
embarking at Nominy on the steamer Arrow
| smith, after few hours on the bosom Of the
broad and beautiful Potomac. whose name
translated from the Indian tongue means
the River OF Swans, landing was made at
Colonial Beach. After Refreshments we strolled
out to look at the rising town, this new devel-
opment along the shore of this inland sea. We
bent our steps down aid along the coast to the
cottage Of Prof Alexander Melville Bell, pass
we found near the snore tastefully built mod
ern dwelling embowered in shrubbery and sur
rounded by porches, with lattice work and
trailing vines, and we were met on the door
step by gentleman Of digniied mien, strong
and impressive features, clothed in q cool
dressing gown and with head surmounted by o
smoking cap with tassel, and who reminded me
for all the world of a venerable sheik that had
met in my travels in the east, only younger
| looking. With courteous hospitality We wore
| ,,yNVa x0 L.. L. I'D
hour Of pleasure and instructive conversation.
BATHERs AND OILERS.
On our way back to the hotel we passed many
tents along the shore, and here we observed
the extremes Of ,ntense activity and absolute
rest, There were mon and women, maidens,
boys and children Of both sexes: some disport-
ing themselves in the water in the very acme
Of enjoyment, displaying the most variegated
bathing apparel, from the striped suit Of the
convict to the red dress of the matador; the
maidens graceful as mermaids and the men like
porpoises; and some on the shore in ham
mocks, under trees and in fly tents, reclining
stless and idle, with the inevitable latest novel
by their sides. seemingly too indoleIt to raise
their eyelids to look at you. We passed many
beautiful cottages owned by residents Of your
city, many OF whom We have since met Many
new buildings are going up and the spirit Of
Improvement Is abroad. Three steamers lay
| at the wharves and excursionists thronged the
board walk and shore Some we're sitting
under the shade of trees eating their lunches,
some bathing and some dancing. We we're
told that 5000 people were at the Beach that
day and that the average daily population for
the season was about 1000.
PRESIDENT MoNRoE's BIRTHPLACE.
"How far to the birthplace of President Mon
roe?' was asked Of negro man holding a
horse attached to a buggy standing before the
door.
Three miles, sah."
Can we get that rig to go there, and how
much to payi'
lis you bound to 60, sah?'
"Yes"
swell. sab. bein' as dar is two un you an
you is bound to go l charge you eight dollars +"
what! Eight dollars?'
''Yes sab; we ornary charges Ave- but as YOU
| is boun' togo. my boss he tells me when gifts a
lemon to squeZ 1t.
This frank avowal of business methods re-
minded US OF new western towns and unsettled
values, and indicated that the Bleach" was
growing town with upward tendency in
prices. The owner, however, came up and we
struck q bargain with him at less price than
the ''lemon-squeZlng figure. and of we went to
the birthplace Of Monroe; over a road part good
and part rough. Corduroy was what they call
it, and he who has travelled over q corduroy
road knows what it is. We reached our desti-
nation at last. Here in an old field is pointed
Monroe was born. A few brickbats indicated
| it, and that was all. The plough had done its
| work. and all the bricks worth anything long
| ago used. Tradition tells OF the house
| as q low frame structure, a story and
half high. with Dutch roof and
| dormer windows, porch in front, and wide
passage running through the house. and four
rooms on a floor. The country around is fiat,
and no extended view. 1t is near the head
| waters of Monroe creek, which, forming a wide
bay to the west Of Colonial Beach, empties into
| the Potomac through a narrow channel at its
mouth 1t was at one time navigabie for
vessels of considerable size, and in early
| colonial days ships that crossed the ocean were
laden with tobacco and found harbor within its
shores But now it is filed with washings from
| the lands around, and is nayigable for only
crafts Of a small size. The line OF the creek
can he seen from the birthplace, and we could
| imagine in our minds eye the youthful states
| man and President, q barefoot boy, coming
| along that patti that winds to the creek with
his fishing rod on mis- shoulder and the results
| OF his days sport in his banda bunch of fine
rock and perch. Monroe is said to have visited
| the home OF his childhood during the war OF
| 1912. and standing Oh the banks of the Poto-
| mac presumably at Colonial Beach, saw the
British feet under Admiral Cockburn pass up
the river. With his heart fired by patriotism,
which he aftcrward promulgated. and which il
| known as the Monroe doctrine.
From where we stood ebou. eight miles in q
direct line was Wakefield, the birthplace OF
| Washington, and near Port Conway, fifteen
miles away, Madison was born. His family
| lived in the Piedmont region of Virginia but
his mother was on visit to n friend nj the time