The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-09-03
THE EASTERN SHORE.
Its HOspIIabIe PeOPIe-Its Fine Ola
MamsiOns-Its Productive SOIL anu
SaIubrIOus Climate.


Eastern Maryland is terra iac0gn'td
to MANY of the Inhabitants of the Western
mart of the State. The Maryland part OF
the Peninsula between the Chesapeake and
Delaware bays is called the Eastern Shore
of Maryland. 1t comprises nine counties,
and with the two Virginia counties, Is
nearly two hundred miles in length. Its
general topography is that of an extensive
savannah with only few insignificant
hills at the heads of streams. No section
in the world, perhaps, is better watered,
not only by tide water but also by running
streams The first affords abundant and
cheap transportation, by boat, to Baltimore
market, of all the products Of that region.
The second affords numerous mill sites for
lumber and flour mills, and running streams
for fertile pastures of grazing kline. The
Peninsula is also herring-boned by rail
roads, giving rapid transit to all the great
commercial cities. These travelling faclll-
ties render all parts Of the Peninsula the
mere suburbs of the great cities of Balti-
more, Washington, Philadelphia and New
York. Fruits and vegetables Of all kinds
grown upon the Peninsula, are gathered
and shipped today, and tomorrow they are
upon the tables of the citizens Of all those
cities. The sane may be said of all the
products of the water-ish, oysters, crabs,
terrapins and wild fowl, in season. These
facilities for marketing have transformed
some parts of the Peninsula, both in
MARYLAND and Delaware, into gardens and
fruitful fields, where are grown, instead
of wheat and corn and other cereals, straw
berries, raspberries, gooseberries, black
berries, rhubarb, celery, tomatoes, sweet
corn. peas, beans, potatoes, cabbages, and
orchards of peaches, pears, plums, cherries,
grapes, and all the other fruits, which
flourish in all paris of the Peninsula The
Golfers of the farmers, truckers, and fruit
growers, are thus replenished by the ease
with which they can reach these great
markets, and many of them are realizing
handsome returns from their industry and
enterprise. These advantages, so largely
enjoyed by the citizens of the Eastern
Shore, are telling upon their general pros
perity, and making it one of the most
favored spots in all this broad land. In
addition to all that has been said of the
Peninsula, it may also be said that it is
one of the most healthy regions to be found
on the face Of the globe. OctOgenarians,
nonogenarians, and even centenarians,
abound throughout its confines. Its win
tiers are mild and its summers tempered by
proximity to the ocean. Its inhabitants
are a robust and well developed people;
they are also cultured and intelligent. No
people ON earth live better. Rev. DIR.
Thomas IL. Stockton said of thcm-''thcy
live to eat, they do not cat to live. This
is literally true, as every one familiar with
the Eastern Shore can attest. Their tables
are loaded with every delicacy that can
crafty the palate or tempt the appetite.
They are also most hospitable people,
seeming never to be able to do enough for
their guests or those who enjoy their hos
pitality. Life indeed is boon. but it is
more than boon when ones lot is cast
With such Il people.
In recent visit to Talbot county, one
of the most favored counties of that favored
region, representative of the DEMOCRATIC
ADVOCATE had occasion to note the adj
vaneement which it is making in the rural
districts, as well as in the beautiful metrop-
oils of the county. Easton enjoys the
distinction of being the largest and most
fourishiEg town upon the Eastern Shore.
Its inhabitants number between four and
five thousand, its streets well paved and
laid out at right angles. The most super
fetal glance will show it to be busy mart
of trade and industry, with all the busting
activity of city, instead of the quiet and
inertia of the hamlet But it is of the
country, in the midst of which she sits as
queen, that we wish to speak more fully,
Talbot contains some of the finest estates
and some of the NEST stately and cOmmo-
dious mansions to be found in Maryland.
We will not attempt to enumerate them,
for it would require more space than can
be conveniently devoted to this article.
Many of them are located upon the water
courses, and the lands situated near the
water are esteemed preferable to those in
the interior. They are also assessed higher
and pay more taxes, in proportion, into the
county treasury, on account of their sup
posed advantages and convenience to fish
and oysters. 0ystermen, however, do not
regard riparian rights, and will peach upon
oyster preserves with very little eompunc'
ton, seeming to act upon the principle
that they are the benefces of the habitues
of the coves, the creeks and the rivers,
whether natural beds or planted by proprie-
tors. The cupidity of these people is fast des-
troyisg the oyster, and without stringent
protective legislation, there will soon be no
oysters except those which have been
planted in closed protected coyes.
One of these fine old mansions was Wis
tied by the writer. 1t is located upon the
margin of the beautiful Chesapeake, nearly
opposite Kent Point, and not far from
Claiborne, the western terminus OF the
Eastern Shore railroad 1t is called "Mary'
Delight" and is the home of Mrs. Mary
II Lava and her son .Tohn III Lowe ESQ,