The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-16

bccause the relies end evidences Of anti
| Quiiy there are more numerous ana
| noteworthy.
Many. indeed. most OF the monuments
and hcad-stones are very old. some cauhs
back upwards Of a century. and the ma
jorlty are adorned with crests. shields
and sundry heraldc devices. The con-
| vontlonal, PUFFY. estimate looking cherub
may be seen here and there. besides
! other conceits that immcmOfial usage
| made almost invariahle features OF mohn-
! mental Establishment. Many OF the hcau-
stones, slabs and obclisks are so hlack-
encd and lichon-spOttcd by long exposure
that II Is difficult 20 decipher either dates
or inscriptions. Some OF these 100 as
| well as notices. crcsts ana quafterihts
have been defaced either by accident
vandalism. or the insiduous effects OF sun
and frost The quaint verbiage, ana
/ formal. stiltcd style OF such OLD oplaphS
and inscriptions. are sometimes amusing,
occasionally touching and always inter
csting.
THE COLLEGE.
Leaving the church-yard ] resumed my
stroll toward the college. and as / saun-
tered along / bet an imaginary compan-
| ion half a dollar 10 a dime that We would
not meet a soul between tho church-yari
/ gate and the college grounds, distant
! about the eighth Of a mile. possibly more,
and won his dime triumphantly Blythe
by, the gentleman stnl owes me that
dime
The feature in The college grounds that
first claims my attention is the statue OF
a. former colonial governor. As l am not
/ sufficiently versed in the technical Jargon
OF art % do the trick I'm style. | shall not
attempt a criticism of that piece OF sculp-
ture further than to say That on the
whole my impressions were rather iaNor-
able Lapse Of time and incidental vicis-
situdes. duly considered. the efhgy Is re-
markably well preserved. Unless my
memory cheats me, there are some irac-
lures and abrasions TO be regretted but
luckily not Of an irremediablo character.
Although William and Mary College
has not been restored to the position 1T
once occupied. II is nevertheless rehabili-
tatcd. sufficiently to admit Of its doing
valuable and worthy work in the propo-
cation of education
From the college | wended my way 40
the asylum for the insane. 1 was little
surprised 10 hnd how much larger ana
handsomer the buildings wero than had
supposed. the two main buildings making
quite stately ana Imposing group
which with the ample. well kept grounds
semble ornamental 10 Williamsburg ana
creditable TO the state.
was pleased. too. TO note The VISION
and prOpriety evinced IN assigning us
iinct and separate quarters Tor the pa
tients of each sex. an arrangement de-
.sirable and ccmmcndable on sundry ac-
counts. Circumstances did not permit me
TO take more than a partial view OF the
institution externally. consequently ! am
... .f..fft ON 10
i'm which IL Is managed. but having heard
nothing to the contrary one may reason
ably assume that the affairs OF the instl-
tuition arc properly administered
BY the time my visit 10 the asylum was
concluded. the morning had slipped by,
noon was drawing on. and had explored
the town quite thoroughly.
PHENOMENAL STIFFNESS.
Williamsburg has much relating TO
former times and a notable past 10 com
mend IL 10 a tourists attention and make
il worth a visit. but the most salient
feature of Williamsburg of to-day IS its
Quietude. its profound almost pnehoine-
nal stiffness. l had spent morning Il
good long morning. roaming about slshl-
seeing. and although / was investigating
a. town of some hundreds of inhabitants
1 found II as still. as preternaturally
noiscless as any secluded nook i'm an out
of-the-way rural district. There was even
"A dcarfh of such sounds as are usually
iuseparablc from almost any settlement or
human beings. as for instance the shouts
and whistlng OF boys, the voices OF chill
dren. the rumble Of vehicles and sundry
others too trivial to be mentioned here.
As / rambled along my route crossed
an open lot where a solitary COW was
sedately browsing. AT my approach she
mild eyes upon me with something of an
anxious gaze as though she feared 1
might possibly make a noise When,
however. TO allay her fears ] proceeded TO
walk on tip-tOe, she was apparently re-
assured and so resumed her grazing.
Everything i'm and about Williamsburg
looks old seasoned and mellow, In fact
the place is a relic a remnant lcft in thp
track of receding years. Its profound
quiet. the placid. unrufled tenor of life
that seems TO prevail. supericially at
least. lend II a character of restiuncss
and repose that COMFORTS well with IT'S |
venerable age. and the dignity incidental
10 an historic and brilliant past. The
hustle and fuss the jostle and scramble |
so characteristic Of the average nine
teenth century town. so commonplace and |
tiresome. would in comport with the dig |
nifty and traditions of the good old town. |
one can find new. noisy. intolerahly busy, !
and utterly unintcrestng cities and towns |
in scores. but one would have TO seek /
long and far to ina another Williams
burg.
I'm this our land of the noisy aud new |
the little we have that SIS mcilowed by |
time and endearcd by history and tradi- /
tion Is being rapidly swept away, scatter /
ed and destroyed IN the interests OF busi- /
ness and the passion for material inn |
Old land marks OF the past. |
relics OF by gone DAYS. even homes ana |
haunts of tho illustrious and honored /
dead arc sacrificed 10 thc Moloch OF busi- |
ress. tho Unsuitable grecd for money /
When. then. one happens or spot yet |
redoleht OF the past. rich with the aroma
OF times and events. the records of when 1
mon term "Mstory." ono congratulates !
himself at having seen and enjoyed ere
destruction i'm the guise of improvement
has rcmodenod or cffaced either all eNl-
dcncc Of what 10 was or else every Nes-
tioe of it's existence G. II. Is.
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