Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-05
TOM PAGES HOME.
The Country House where His
Youth WAS spent.


Youth WAS spent.
CORRESPONDENCE of the Lexington CKy)
Neader)
OAKLAND. HANOVER COUNTY, VA
December 2G.-It IS a long thought from
the noise and hustle of the nineteenth
century to this place Of peacefulness ana
rest. Much of the spirit of the early
masters Of the land still fingers here. The
very names that are used to divide the
ground into parts have no meaning to-
day except 10 those who know the story
of our country Across the brown fields
where the "broomstraw" and the young
pines are struggling with each other for
supremacy lies tho "Glebc" the property
once of the Church now long since dis
established. and its property sequestered
by the state But even now that parcel
of land is yet the "Glebe." and VIII dOupt-
less so remain long after the story or now
the master Of the house bought the
Church's forfeited property for the
Cburch's sake has become a legend all
most forgotten by the masters descend
ants.
And here may be told a tale'of the lady
of the manor and those early days Of this
country:
When the Church in Virginia was dis
established. an Of its property Of what
ever kind went into the states posses
sion. In some counties even the COM
munion-plate was taken. Here, in Old
ST. Martins Parish. the plate was i'm
the keeping Of this old lady. The officers
of the law sent TO her messenger, de-
manding the Church's sacred vessels.
She returned TO them as their answer
Ia Cd fnnfn-tl
and take the plate"
Her descendants still receive the con-
secrated bread and wine from the cups
and paten, which the gentlemen saw
fit not TO demand in person. Some black
letter lawyer can work out the question
ms to the legal ownership of these yenera-
bic and much-prized relics.
The lovers Of those tales found In
volume daintily done this year in holi-
day dress. and now known to many de-
lighted readers as "In ole Virginia. Will
feel some interest i'm this old home, where
was born the author of those tales:
where he lived and grew up, surrounded
bv that fine air, whose inspiration made
him the charming writer that he is, and
where before him was born his mother
the gracious lady who gave TO him so
much of mis- gifted nature.
A visitor here once said: THE marvel
is not how Page came TO write OF AlaIse
chan and of those other delicious crea-
lures of his imaginings. The mafNel IL
how he could keep from doing SO. For
the place is full of all that makes his
stories beautiful
Even to-day it has been a bit out OF
some of Pages tales to see the coming
of the old servants to greet descehHdit
of their whilom master and mistress, 10
rltfe
these ancient retainers accept as graz
ciouslv as the beggar jpn Spain takes ms
dole. And the prettiest scene Of all was
one enacted by one OF these Old gentle
men,
The descendant stood upon the porch
stems behind his young wife, ana ne
held i'm his hands q bottle and glass as
he asked the old gentleman once one OF
his grandfather's trusted ploughmen, MS
opinion as to the young wite's beauty
Before reply was made, the glass was
filed and handed TO the ancient as ne
stood hat I'm hand, bowling almost TO the
Ground. Then be lifted the glass TO his
Inns saving as he did so: Il drinks your
health nv beautiful young mistress
And when the toast was finished he put
the glass down, took the lady's hand, bent
over il with great dignity, saying as MS
dark lips touched the white skin: And /
kiss your hand.
The room IN which this letter Is being
written is historic I'm the many remi-
niscences that cover its walls, and IN the
recollections suggested by its associations
TO the children Of the household. Por-
traits OF Mr.. Pages mothers ancestors
look down upon the chairs where the
originals sat I'm days gone by. Through
them the present Is linked on 10 the past
when the large estates of Mr.. Pages
ereat-erandfather Thomas Nelson, were
pledged for ana sold to pay the debt in
Cured by Virginia when General Nelson
commanded that CoiOny's forces during
the war of the Revolution.
OF a later DAY is the picture OF WI
liam C. Eives. the senator who refused
IN obey the instructions OF his States
General Assembly IN the matter OF the
Expunging Resolutions because he had
"A country 10 serve, as well as a party TO
chew" "A sentiment often quoted during
the recent campaign.
Next come such faces as bring back the
etirrlng times when all about Oakland"
armies were moving, and The Two Lit
tIe Confederates" were living the story
that one Of them wrote for mis- genera
ton.
A much-przed print, now yellow and
drained with a small flag Of the Confede-
rlcy is one that shows President
Davis as he was when he ruled for its
Sort and tragic life the nation" that
sfrove for existence vainly, though
bravelv. ON one side of this hangs the
face of "Stonewall" Jackson; on the
otber Robert T. Lee: and beneath is a
,hotoeraph Of the late General Williams
4. Wickham, a kinsman Of the house a
iashing cavalry commander, member OF
The Confederate Congress and now
nonored by a statue in one OF Richmond's
squares. placed there by his friends. the
employees Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
railway. of which he was the able execu-
tfve officer for many years.
NOW as the hour for retiring has come
mo head Of the house gives the call,
Come to prayers And we all gather
FOR the third devotion OF the day. First
came the morning prayer, just before
breakfast. Then comes the midday as
sambling. relic Of the civil war, when
Inc mistress OF the house, now gathered
10 her Father, prayed especially for the
r..-tHeot of the Confederate States "