Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-08-09
"REMINISCENCES OF ALEXAN-
DRIA.
BY JAMES NORRIS


The recollection of o pleasant visit o
few years ago to Alexandra, my native
city, induced me to repeat my exper-
ience and wander again amidst familiar
localities and call up from memory
scenes from my childhood and youth.
Although nearly all of my companions
and friends nave passed down the
stream of time by advancing years, or
the unrelenting vortex of wars devasta-
tation, yet a few still survive, as me-
mentoes of a people proverbial for their
sincere hospitality. Among them the
estimable widow of Mr.. VIM. S. Moore,
(the lamented friend of my youth and
early manhoodl whose unbounded hos
pitality and unremiting attention of
herself and numerous descendants made
my visit exceedingly pheasant. AL
though Mrs. Moore is somewhat ad-
vanced in years, with five sons and
numerous grandchildren, yet vgovous
and enengetic, she continues 10 prose-
cute successfully the diverse aud ex-
tensive business established by her hus-
band. During some of my itinerant
wanderings around the city, upon COM
ing suddenly in view of some long-for-
gotten locality it would instantly resus-
citste my memory, and many of my
early companions in connection there
with would apparently rise before me.
1t was on one of those occasions, on
June 30th, with the locality and sur
roundings perfectly familiar, yet all of
the human race who passed me by,
were strangers. While rejecting upon
the novelty of my situation and inad-
vertently repeating the words of Rip
Van Winkle, "If my dog Snider was
here he would know me-" two gentle
men met and one said Lewis Mckenzie
was dead. He was man when / was a
boy. Although l had not lost sight of
his career, yet, was uncertain in regard
to his being alive until the above re-
mark called my attention 10 him. And
with your permission, Mr.. Editor, per
NIT me to say, although differed with
him in political sentiment, yet / be-
lieve he was great benefactor to Al
exsndria, not only in business projec
ton, but the sentiments he entertained
being in accord with the North, or those
supposed to be at that time hostile,
may possibly. have had the effect Of
averting direful calamity during the
fearful excitement and threatenings to
avenge the death of Ellsworth. AL
though Mr.. Mckenzie was one OF the
very few of that class in your
city, vet his position may be
aptly compared to lightning
rod on the temple of liberty, to con-
duct and carry off the destructive ele-
ment and leave the votaries in thetem
pie unharmed.
The portion of Alexandria which
enjoyed the greatest prosperity in my
boyhood was along the river strand.
Her mercantile marine, coaStwise and
foreign, was at the zenith of prosperity.
But from some cause (perhaps the one
most vital was the B. 4 O. railroad in-
vadiDg the territory, the source of sup
plies hitherto transported to your
city by wagon9 her commerce is nearly
destroyed. As compensation for the
decline on the river front, she appears
to be developing rapidly westward.
May she continue to prosper and be-
come equally celebrated as business
centre, as she is renowned for her his
torical ssociations-with which she is
teeming. All the great intellectual
architects who formulated and con-
sumated our great republic were fa-
miliar and frequent visitors here. And
many stately mansions still remain in
good preservation which have been re-
peatedly honored by the most illustrious
men, whose names adorn the pages of
history, and whose stars are still in the
ascendant as beacon lights for the op-
pressed of all nations. Washington
may be considered citizen as 1 believe
he voted here; George Mason, the au-
thor of Virginia's bill of rights, which
IS the foundation upon which the re-
pubic was constructed, also the conf
dental adviser of Washington, was a
frequent visitor; Thomas Jefferson
was also here frequently, and
some Of the descendants of his
family reside here at present.
In fact all the men ofnote in the North
ern Neck, and they were numerous.
came after--Lighthorse Harry Lee and
his kindred and descendents, Patrick
Henry, Pendleton, Monroe Madison
and others. If Athens is considered
the classic city of Greece, on the ground
of great statesmen, what city can enter
the lists in competition with Alexan-
dria as the classic city of America.
During my ranlblings visited Mount
Vernon via the electric road, which
route was exceedingly interesting, as it
passed Immediately over the sporting
grounds of my youth. The property at
that time was owned by DR.. Smith,
from whom it passed to Dennis John
ston. and the ground now covered by
New Alexandria was then celebrated
as a nocturnal hunting ground for rae.
coons. Many times In company with
Nathan and Isaac K.ell have tramped
silently through the gloomy shades OF
the forest listening to the tongueing
hounds until the peculiar notes from
them gave unmistakable evidence that
| the game was located. Then we made
the welkin ring with shouts of en-.
couragement to the hounds, and rapid
strides to the arena beneath the tree
of the anticipated battle. There stood
near the margin of the adjacent Pocosin
la large wild cherry tree, where I have