Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-08-03
"reminiscences OF Alexandria.

anu \to me- ever allraCtlNc CitS ,
] enjoyed the Inequalities of Mr.. VIM.
Moore and his wife, who made me their
guest during my stay, and to whom 1
feel under many obligations for their
kindness. whereby l was enabled to
obtain information in reference to many
of my comrades of early days, with
whom grew up from infancy to man
hood, and participated in the sports
and pleasures Of youth and advancing
years.
Many ofthe scenes and localities in
connection Herewith, ever present in
memory, were again wildly present in
reality, and as I gazed with fond recol-
lection upon some favorite locality, in
delibly impressed on my memory, the
blood would Jingle through my veins
and impart feeling Of inspiration sim
liar to the sensation of an old soldier
upon visiting the battle field of his
youthful days. A particularly favorite
resort for large number of young men
and maidens. was known as Ice-house
hill which afforded beautiful view.
OF that grand and beautiful river,
Whose glistening waves are plainly III sight.
I can see old Potomac ripple and culver,
The source of much pleasurc-my boyh0od's
delight.
The house of my childhood is also in sight
As plain to my eye rs it was when boy,
When we entered its portals night after night,
At the close of each day of innocent JOY.
csn sec the blue smoke ascending above
IL fantastic curls DER the roof of our home,
That sheltered my childhood-my earliest
love,
And also my latest-whcrcver roam.
Upon the old hearth gaze with delight
And imaginc it still is the same,
Its hickory logs glowing with light
And fantastic forms assumed by the flame.
We see the same forms around the old hearth,
Those that we honorcd and loved in our
youth;
Brothers and sisters and comrades from birth,
And parents who taught us virtue and truth.
plainly can see our champion Dan,S
Black, though he was, yet faithful and true.
He stood ut the head of our Juvenile clan,
Commander-in-chief Of the ncighborhood
crew.
He was our leader, acknowledged by ill,
In hunting and fishing or sports of the day;
Wrestling and running or throwing the ball
Dan was unequalcd, none could gainsay.
Perfection, we thought. was centred in him
His equal could not be living on earth.
He taught us 20 hunt, to fish and 10 swim,
And trained us to manhood from birth.
Our faithful old dog. although passed away.
imagine is now i'll my sight.
1 think I can hear his deep-sounding bay,
That warning he gave TO prowlcrs at night.
Old Tige was a terror to wandering hogs,
Who defed all attempts to restrain
4 scourge to worthless, itinerdnt dogs.
Who dared to approach or invade his domain.
This beautiful picture, impressed on my brain,
Appears to my vision day after day.
Some call it mirage see it quite plain
Though wars desoation swept it away.
"a colorcd boy, servant of Matthew Robinson.
Alexandria abounds in recollections
and localities consecrated in early days
by the presence OF earth's greatest NOR
tai, some of which, no doubt, will be
rescued from the brink ofoblivion upon
which they are tottcring by some other
sons endowed with genius to portray
with pen pictures equally as graphic us
one of her earlier sons Crhos. Semmes)
did with magic phraseology on the ros-
trum and at the bar, and who passed
away much regretted in early manhood
at the portal Of a brilliant future.
Among the noticeable historical points
the Braddock House still exists III as
good condition, comparatively, rs when
the unfortunate Gen. Braddock met Col.
Washington previous to their march
through the trackless forest to Fort Du-
quesne.
Another memorable locality still e1-
lists in good state Of preservation, the
old English church in which is the pew
where Washington and his family knclt
in worship in Colonial days and also
subsequent to the revolution.
The above interesting localities, with
their historical connections, are ample
to crafty the pen of a genius equal to
Washington Irving or Walter Scott.
There are numerous other points of
interest, and also remarkable incidents
or events rapidly sinking into obscurity,
sutlicientIto excite the imagination of
the most brilliant writer of romance
who desires a foundation upon which
he can erect a fabric pleasing to the in
tellectual mind, one of which is the
mysterious legend of one who lies in
one of the cemeteries beneath stone in
scribed 1.-THE Female Stranger"
In addition there are many highly
priced relics, invaluable as souvenirs, in
possession of families contemporaneous
or those allied or related by blood to
the illustrious family.
I might continue the subject indef-
nitely as the material is inexhaustible,
but limited space in daily journal adj
monishes me to close. JAS. NORRIS.
MAGNOLIA, Md, Aug. l.
How THEY DINE IN JAPAN.-Dining
is not in Japan the serious business it is
in England or America. The Japanese