Evening star., 1895-09-14

lit night on the broad expanse of water.
The steamer steers her course to the mouth
of the Rappahannock and then up this
river between the yellow cliffs of Virginia.
Toward ) O'Clock the next morning at a
distance of twenty miles from the bay the
wharf of Urbanna, one of the oldest set
Elements in the old dominion. is reached.
This quaint village of Middlesex county
was founded in 1852, the same year with
Philadelphia, and is said to have been
originally laid out upon design similar
to that of the "city Of brotherly love-"
After jamestown it was the most import
ant importing town in Virginia. There was
direct trade between Liverpool and Ur-
banna, and the old brick house is still
standing in which a great wholesale trade
was carried on, goods being furnished to
re tail merchants up and down the Kappa
hammock. from Fredericksburg. at the head
of navigation, down to the mouth Of the
river
Historic Memories.
Urbanna Is also place Of historic in
terest. The ancient records of the county
oe Middlesex, which are still in existence,
cor tain in queer old volume. bound in
sheep and now yellow as gold with age. the
following order Of the county court of Mid
dlesex:
''URBANNA, Middlesex county. Va.
July 4, 1872.
Middesex On the fourth day of July, in the
year of our Lord 1872 Present, the Hon.
Christopher Robinson, chief justice. and
Thomas Trice, Robert Barrick, Zachery
Street and Walter Healey, associate JUS
uces:
TT appearing to the court and having
been duly proven that John Stiff and Pencil
ope Perkins did in high contempt of his
majesty's authority tie and fasten to a
dogs tail his majestys warrant of Hue
and Cry against Thomas JONES' it is
therefore ordered that the said John Stiff
be taken to the public whipping post of
this county and that thirty nine lashes
well laid on be put upon his bare back.
but that Penelope Perkins. in considera-
ton Of her sex, at the same time and place
have twenty lashes well laid on her bare
back. The sheriff will execute this order
Immediately"
So these old records. written in a remark
able chirography. show that the spirit Ct
resistance to British authority and of
civil liberty first arose in the old county
of Middlesex. Virginia, long before the
Declaration Of Independence. long before
the Boston tea party, and long before
Patrick Henry was born.
A Marvel of a Market.
There is also at Urbanna the most
archaic and quaint market house on rec
ord. The building Is at least two hun
dred years old and is made of wood. 1t is
circular. efgfty feet in height sixteen
feet in circumference and Is Of a style Of
architecture that cannot be initiated by
any architect on the globe. 1t once took
fire, burned for four days and nights, and
so far from being consumed, it was greatly
improved. These facts may appear start
ling, but they are literally true. as the
market house Of Urbanna is an enormous
sycamore tree with hollow in it large
enough to accommodate several people.
1t took fire i'll the hollow inside from the
spark of an old negro womans pipe and
all the dead wood. insects and yermin that
would in time have destroyed the tree
were consumed.
Several well-known lawyers and jurists
were born and reared near Urbanna.
Grimes, Robert Montague, who was at one
time lieutenant governor of Virginia, and
Christopher Robinson. This town was also
the home of Philip Grimes. the friend of
Jefferson, who appointed him attorney gem
eral of the territory of Louisiana.
1t was my good fortune to be visiting Ur-
banna at the time that the negroes were
holding their annual protracted meeting.
Those religiously inclined, decked out in
bright-coiored ribbons and laces, assembled
at the meeting house early in the morning
and did not 'disperse until late at night,
except to enjoy their midday meal in the
church yard. Those who were specially
seeking or getting religion" occupied the
nreurners' bench, directly in front of the
pulpit, and sat during the services with
bowed heads. During the sermon and
approval at times by some such exefama-
ton as Just right!' Keep on!' Good
Lordw and then again by weirdly chanting
some hymn. During the day it was not an
unusual occurrence for several of those
present to become converted or ''get hap
py." as 1t is called by them, and when thus
moved they would Immediately jump from
their seats and begin a round Of vigorous
hand-shaking with every oae in the church.
al the same time mutterng some words
about 'de goodness of de Lord" In sew
eral cases the converts were so wrought UP
with excitement as to become unconscious.
A Baptism In the River.
Sunday morning after the protracted
meeting was over was the appointed time
for baptism in the Rappahannock river.
The witnesses gathered on the shore and,
after a short address by the pastor, re-
r1iEding his congregation of the solemnity
of the occasion. a hymn was chanted, the
words being sung at the dictation of the
pastor. then the converts were led out into
few feet of water and there immersed.
The Rappahannock river Is five miles wide
at Urbanna. and its waters afford splendid
opportunities for sailing, rowing, fishing,
grabbing and saltwater bathing. Early one
morning party of sailed a few miles
up the river to see what fish had been
caught in the pound within twenty-four
hours. 1t was sight long to be remember
ed to view 100 saltwater trout in addition
which had been ensnared by this labyrinth
of nets.
On account of the sea nettles and crabs
the water for bathing purposes is inclosei
by boards, placed just near enough to-
gether to exclude them and still allow a
constant flow and change of water. The
depth varies with the tide, and the tenn
perature is at all hours agreeable.
In addition to the sports afforded by the
water. there are delightful drives in the
Eeighborhood of Urbanna. The roads are
shaded by trees of every variety-walnut,
chestnut, locust, elm, spruce and pine trees
are seen growing side by SIDE and here and
there are patches of flowers, 'unma tched
for tint and lovelness." Now and then
a picturesque pond, reminding one of an
English lake, comes into view.
Leaving Grbanna, the river gradually
rarrows as you ascend it, and at frequent
intervals on either side are wharves where
the boat stops to land and receive passen-
gers and freight. Just before Fredericks-
burg is reached, at a distance of one hun
dred miles from the bay, the two shores
of the river so nearly meet that there ia