Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-10
A MADISON FISH FRY.
A Famous One Attended by rroini-
pent People OF That section
Correspondence OF the DlspatcH'J

MADISON COUNTY, VA, August J.
Many OF your readers have never par
ticipated in one of those most enjoyable
Of festivities, so often INDUCED in In this
section OF the Old Dominion-namely, a
fish fry"
OF course. one and all have eaten fried
FISH but few of them know what q
genuine. old Virginia fish fry means. 1t
was my good fortune to be guest al
one of these festivities few days ago.
I have eaten fried fish at home and
abroad on the land and on the sea, by
tho seashore, and in palace hotels, but
they ARE not in It" in comparison with
a fish fry by the side of a mountain
stream i'm this county. old Madison is
famous for them.
The one | attended was given by the
Hon. John c. Utz and his estimable wife,
assisted by DR.. and Mrs. Ed. W. Troy
man. Mr. Utz represented this county
in the last Legislature The generous
hospitality OF our host and hostess, and
their unremitting attention TO the plea
sure and comfort Of their guests, rendered
| the occasion so enjoyable and free
| from tho usual formality and stiffness,
| that usually characterizes such festiv-
| ties, that nothing was lacking TO make
it complete success.
The day was almost perfect for an
outing. The catch OF fish was album
dant and served i'm such a tempting and
appetizing style that it would put a
French chef on his mettle and cause the
most fastdious epicure to smack his lips
with delight. ] arrived too late to wit
ness the catching Of the fish from the
mountain stream flowing through the
| lands of Mr. Utz, but l witnessed the
preparations with much interest and
greatly enjoyed tho feast. 1t was a feast
| fit for royalty
Among those present whose names 1
can recall were the Hon. John G.. Utz
and wife. Miss Annie Utz Or. and Mrs.
Ed w. Troyman; Mrs. James Hay, wife
of Hon. James Hay. member of Con-
gress from this district; Miss Norma
Cave. Miss Lillian Banks. Miss Lula
| Grimsley, Miss Dolby Thomas. Mr.. and
Mrs II. b. Fray. Mr.. James II. Utz
| Colonel Lester Hill. Mr. Travis j. Twyman
Captain William a. Hill, Mr.. Charles ID.
Twyman; Mr.. G.. u. Hill, of Richmond;
Mr. Russell II. Fray. Of Washington, ID.
c.; James w. Twyman. Mr.. $. b. Settle
DR.. Ernest Thrift, DR. William l.. Early
Mr. Hunter Miller, Masters James and
Willie Hay, and others.
| have had frequent opportunities to
talk with some of the citizens OF the
county, particularly in the southeast por-
ton. and am gratified TO learn that.
Notwithstanding. the delegates to the
convention have been instructed for
Major Tyler. Mr.. Ellyson has many adj
mirers here who hold him in very high
esteem and deem him worthy Of any
honors that could be heaped upon him.
fc
in this cou@N this year, inasmuch as
Greene is entitled to the naming Of the
candidate for member to the next House
Of Delegates as successor to Hon. John
G. UtZ In the race for State senator 10
succeed Hon. James Hay, who is now
member of Congress- Mr.. John l.. Jeffries,
of Culpeper, will likely have Il walk
over" Mr.. Jeffries is the law partner OF
Mr.. Hay, and it is thought that he will
have his support and influence, If needed.
BY the way, Madison county has in NJ.
Hay a man OF destiny. Success has
crowned his every political aspiration,
and he has filled the various positions TO
which he was elected with honor and
credit to himself and satisfaction TO his
constituency. He is spoken of as the
winning man in politics, and when he
shall have become surfeited with con-
gressional hoEors, and, like our present
Chief Magistrate, should desire TO be-
come Governor, he could lead the Demo-
cratic hosts TO victory. We do not need
him at present for that place, as we have
several very worthy and deserving citi-
Zens capable of filling the position with
great honor and credit, two of whom are
now before the people, and either OF
whom would be acceptable.
The political pot has been boiling IN
the adjacent county of CUlpeper. The
recent primary 10 nominate a candidate
for the Legislature, resulting in the
choice Of DR.. McClannahan. was so close
that some persons believe Mr.. Newhouse
will contest. If so. the fires will be re-
kindled and the political pot will boil
with such rapidity as will astonish the
natives.
The crops in this section are fine, ex-
cept the hay crop. The acreage is not so
large as in former years. but the yield has
turned out thus far 10 be much above the
average. The wheat crop, which is now
being threshed has in nearly every in
stance surpassed expectations, both In
quantity and quality. The hap crop Is
disappointing, both as to quantity ana
quality. The same may be said Of the
fruit crop. The corn Is very promising
and with few weeks longer of such IA
NOIdblt NtdlNtT the gltlu Will bt lti -
The delicious watermelon IS not much IN
evidence hereabout yet awhile, but there
are promising patches here and there that
indicate a plentiful supply in the near
future 10 their owners. provided thieves
do not escape the watchful guard, who
now stand sentry day and night. Like
the chicken roosts and lighthouses Of your
sister city CanchesteD. the watermelon
patches offer strong temptations to a GER
tain class OF the American citizens when
IS not wholly confined to our colored fell
low-citizens.
The summer boarder is not so numerous
in this section this summer as in former
years. No doubt hard times and scarcity
of money has had something TO do with
this falling on.
Mr. and Mrs G.. Powell Hill. Of 302 west
Main street. are visiting the formers
brother. Captain William a. Hill, In the
Locust Dale neighborhood
Mr. Hill. who was so badly injured last
summer in front of his residence by
runaway team. has so far improved as
to put aside his crutches. but is COM
PEELED to use a brace on the broken limb
to support it. The brace is one OF MS
own invention, and answers the purpose.
Mrs. Hill's health has also improved since
her sojourn In the country.
---.z--
x.rnDx. IN, InI<E SMITH