Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-30
THE NORTHERN NECK
HOW THE HOLIDAYS ARE ENJOYED m
THIS FAVORED SECTION.


Correspondence Of the Dispatch-l
CONFORM, KING GEORGE COUNTY.
VA, December sS.-The sombrous silence
Of last Tuesdays dawn was broken by
the firing OF thousands OF guns, which
echoed through the pine-clad forests from
river to river, and from that hour the
country folks have been "fuIl of Christ
mas --some few full OF eggnog and hot
pot--all participating in special pleasures
and festivities mapped out many months
ago. each playing the part best suited 10
his own peculiar tastes and notions.
Christmas-trees, Sunday-school treats
and celebrations. religious services, &C.,
have drawn crowds to the churches and
chapels during the week, and such SER
vices have In all cases been interesting.
Parties, plays. dances, &C.. have been
the general order among the lads and las
sizes inclined to mirth and gayety, while
hundreds of men and boys have spent
the week with guns and dogs, tramping
over hills and valleys, and trudging
through marsh and tumble In pursuit OF
fox, squirrel, rabbit. and partridge. And
though the week has been quiet one
here, a majority OF our people have spent
very pleasant Christmas. John Barley
corn" as usual, entered home here
and there, dethroned reason, transform
ed father and husband into brutes, and
cast a shadow OF gloom over innocent.
helpless hearts, making Christmas. to
these exceptionally few, an occasion OF
htt<ar o,ouicb of al othera most dreaded
RECOVERY PROBABLE.
To the surprise Of the whole community,
Mr.. Richard l.. Sullavin, whose critical
illness was mentioned in this correspond
ence last week, has SO much improved
that his recovery seems quite probable.
The surgical operation performed on nm
by Dr. M. w. Minor, OF this place, was
the most delicate, difficult, and success
ful case Of surgery ever attempted In this
section of the country. or, perhaps, any
where outside of a HOSPITAL or institute.
This and other marvellous successes In
surgery and medicine have won for DR..
Minor a reputation rarely attained by
country practitioner, especially by one 30
young In years.
A gentleman from Washington, ID. c..
was accidentally shot one day last week
while duck-hunting on the Potomac, and
died Immediately on his arrival In Wash
ington several hours afterwards. He, In
company with several friends. was Sc
GREETED in "blind' within easy gun-shot
OF the ducking- grounds, and just as one
of the party raised his gun twfg caught
the hammer OF the frearm, causing a
premature discharge, which sent the en-
tire load Of shot into the body Of the I'M
fortunate man.
RAPID TRANSIT NEEDED.
The Rappahannock Valley has developed
into one Of the finest trucking sections
Of the country, and the need Of shipping
facilities direct to Philadelphia has long
since become obvious and ELECTED public
interest. Several counties along the Rap
pahannock river have appointed able conf
mittees to meet In conference AMI con-
slider the FEASIBILITY Of establishing a
steamboat line from this trucking section
10 Cape Charles, and there connect with
the Philadelphia railroad. The latest in
telligence indicates strong PROBABILITY
OF such a line materiallzing. Such an en-
terprise would not only meet with very
general public favor, but would incaicu-
lably facilitate the trucking lniustry'
which has already assumed enormous
did resources and capabilities of this fertile
valley.
Mrs. Jemima Mountjoy, of this county,
left last week for New York and other
large cities, where she will spend the
winter.
MIR. B. S. Minor, attorney at law, OF
Washington, ID. c., is spending the hoii-
days with his parents at this place.
SMALLPOX SCARE.
1t was rumored last week that Their
was case of smallpox In the lowe
end of this county, and the report caused
quite a sensation In the neighborhood
Later II was supposed that the rumo
grew out of the reported case at War
saw, and our peop.e partially settled
down" from the scare, but 1t was SAT-
yesterday that a colored smallpox pa
tient came down from Washington SOM
days ago and went to a house in tn
county. The report will be investigated
without delay, and suitable steps taken
The gale OF Wednesday and Thursda,
of this week interfered considerably will
navigation on the Potomac river. NAM
small sail vessels, oyster-sloops, &C., wer'
caught out Of harbor, and, anticipating {
freeze. struggled nightly to reach thei
destination and unload. but had to sue
cumb to wind and wave and anchor
wherever they could. Thousands Of bush
els Of oysters were en- route to Washing
ton and Alexandria when the blizzard
struck the Potomac.
The Potomac fisheries. which were sue.
ceedng well, had to suspend operations
this week on account of stormy weather
The United States mails on several
routes were somewhat behind time or
Thursday. being delayed by ice and snow
POOR MAIL FACILITIES.
The Dispatch and other newspapers are
sometimes a day or two behind time here
and occasionally a subscriber does moi
get his paper at all. The impression pre-
walls that this Is due to objectionable
carelessness somewhere, and 1t certainly
subjects subscribers to no inconsiderable
inconvenience and disappointment.
Sleighing was right good here on Thurs.
day, and the young folks enjoyed the
day immensely, Notwithstanding the high
wind and the fact that the mercury
slipped down to rs degrees.
Our charitable people have looked nobly
after their poor and needy neighbors
and almost every destitute family and
individual have been provided for.