Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-25
PIEDMONT REGION or VIRGINIA.
Loyalty TO the Mother Countryside
form in the Matter Of Drinking.

Rev Dr. j. c. Hiden. IN his notes and
comments" in the Religious Herald
writes:
The Piedmont region Of Virginia is
notable country from many points OF
view; but one OF the most striking
things in its history is its pronounced
loyalty TO the mother country durin g
the Colonial days Of the cod Dominion"
The very names of its rivers attest
this loyalty I'm accordance with popular
custom, ] write "Rapidan'; but the Hon
b. Johnson Barbour. who was excellent
authority On such matters, used 10 say
that this was a corruption OF the Rapid
Anne" The river was named for queen
Anne. One Of the counties along whose
borders 10 flows is named Orange, for
William. Prince OF Orange. and not ION
account Of the red color Of its soil
Queen Anne must have been highly popu-
lar here in the Colonial days; for
u this region we have not only the
Rapid Anne river, but the North Anna,
the South Anna, and the Rivanna, and
one Of the counties 10 called Fluvanna
Why so many rivers should have been
named Anna" or Anne" for a queen
who was VIGOROUSLY not fond Of
water, but decidedly preferred somethins
stronger. is a question with which my
antiquarian lore is not strong enough 10
grlpple and / must leave IL 10 those who
are curious and expert I'm such matters.
In the days Of queen Anne, however.
Temperance had not been invented.
Nearly every one Of the biographers Of
that excellent man. son, mentions
the fact that this great writer was fond
of his glass, and sometimes drank too
freely. But, as Alacaulay very justly OBJ
serves this fault. i'm that day, and even
among serious people. was regarded as
one Of the smallest OF peccadillOcs; and
he adds that it was almost as common
for a gentleman" to drink too much as
1t was for him 10 wear a wig and
sword. Really. and in spite OF the pes
simsts," IL does seem that in our time
We have reformed that indimerently";
nor do we think IL altogether Wild %
hope that we shall I'm time. reform II
altogether" Certainly, 10 is now no part
OF the character Of Zine gentleman"
TO get drunk. To any American states
man 10 is now "a decided disadvantage 10
be known as a hard drinker. Fifty years
ago. quite q considerable number Of the
ablest party leaders. Wings and Demo
Gratis. were VIGOROUSLY and shameess.y
Incorporate in their habits. and several
OF them were known 10 appear as speak
els in the Senate. in the "hOuse."
and on the stump" 80 far gone in
drink as TO be scarcely able 20 stand.
Nowadays we seldom hear Of these
melancholy exhibitions Public sent-
ment on this subject is growing healthier.
and it is now very generally desired
that our legislators, judges and other
public officials should be sober men. Some
forty years ago, at a county courthouse
i'm Virginia, a friend Of mine was re-
questcd to use his influence TO release a
prisoner who had been committed TO jail
on the charge. Drunk and disorderly."
My friend undertook the task. In per-
forming IL, he had to do with the Com
hitting Justice" the Sheriff. the Clerk
of the Court, tho Commonwealth -Attor-
ney, and the jailer; and every one Of
these officials was found TO be drunk,
and. upon reaching the JAIL he found the
prisoner drunk l do not believe that this
case could now be matched anywhere in
Virginia