The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-09-30
OLD CUSTOMS IN VIRGINIA.

The genuine untouched Enginian of
today has often been declared to be the
most complete survival OF eighteenth
century England now in existence. There
are certain eighteenth century customs
and phrases and manners in common uso
here that have lot been heard of in
hundred years in England. One of the
uuaintest is custom cf the road which
died out in England when the poStroad
and the travelling chariot went out Of
vogue.
In those days ii was considered almost
an affrout for those travelling II a CARR
age to drive past another going The same
way. The travelling class was made up
generally of the rich and leisurely, and
as they boWled along in their coaches, to
have another coach dash by and give
back it's dust, and perhaps inoite the
coachman to race, was considered
highly irdecorous. To take ones dust"
was common expression of contempt.
The custom was not without its uses in
its day. But will it be believed that at
the close of the nineteenth century this
etiquette of the road is religiously main
tanned, and that among well bred people
each equipage has to take the gait of the
slowest?
True it is, some iconoclasts ard cut
siders drive past their fellow travellers
without conjunction, but they, therefore
prove their claim to be called iconoclasts
and outsiders. When it is a very press
ing case an apology is called. out, such as
Pray, excuse me, but my horse is rest
less" orr am in haste to catch boat
or something of the kind. But to drive
rutblessly ahead without a word of
apology is considered the acme of i'll
breeding.
The roads in this part of the world are
not interesting, except for their natural
beauty, as the people of wealth, follow
ing their English ancestors in practice,
sought proud seclusion for their houses
Only the poorest people built their homes
on the main road, and one may travel
from one end of this fair country to the
other and not find single handsome
residence on the public highway. There
was another and : very practical reason
for abjuring this public highway. Every
mans house was at the service of every
man, woman aud child In the country.
An Arab hospitality obtained and was
enjoyed to the full. The people who had
| undesirable homes were always willing
to bestow their company upon their
more fortunate neighbors, so that it
wouldn't do to be too convenient to the
main arteries of travel. Especially
was this SO when a visit from : family
meant the entertaining of two coach
horses, a coachman and a maid; for the
negroes went visiting with the white
people, and enjoyed it just as much
Hospitality was one of their great virtues
and this particular virtue costs little.
It only meant the killing of half a
dozen more chickens for dinner, when
there were hundreds perhaps, scratching
about IN the poultry yard and the garden
was overgrown with vegetables, for
which there was neither sale nor con
sumption. There were ice houses full
of ice, and meadows full! of cows, and ice
cream was manufactured IN big tin
bucket, turned about in a keg OF ice and
salt. 1t took two women and man and
boy to make the ice cream, but it took
that many to do everything.
The ice houses are among the most
picturesque features in the landscape
here. A great mound of earth, 30 or 40
feet high, was thrown up around place
that was bricked up and looked like a
gigantic WELL This was finished at the
| top by circular roof. The sides of the
mound were graded and turfed, and
made uice places for boys and girls to
roll down when the short, slippery grass
was wet