Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-25
AN OLD VIRGINIA VILLAGE.
Bowling Green, Present and Past
A virginia Fishery.
New York Evening Postl

CNew York Evening Post)
During last August I determined TO for
get as far as possible. all business, and
all concern about the respective merits
Of silver and gold, and to occupy myself
for three weeks with different scenes,
peoples. and ideas. To this end l turned
nv face towards Eastern Virginia, and
selected as a suitable spot the old and
uuAt village OF Bowling Green. i knew
there was nothing there to suggest bust
ness, that haste was foreign TO the habits
of the place and repugnant to the incli-
nations of its people. As for excitement,
the community has been really excited
but once since the war, on the occasion,
some twelve months ago. of chance
visit OF a strolling company with "mer-
ry-go-'round."
Bowling Green situated forty miles
ncrth of Richmond, and two and one-hah
miles back from the Richmond, Frede-
ricksburg and Potomac railroad. is the
county seat Of Caroline, county, county
that has given three or four counties TO
the State. and still retains land enough
10 keep itself forever impoverished. The
population Of Bowling Green at present
is about 500 souls; as far as trustworthy
information goes IL has not varied much
from this within the last 100 years.
Here ia a type of the old-time Vir-
ginia village, quaint in customs, old,
but fairly well-kept In appearance, dig
nlfied and strict in government, and es-
pecially Jealous Of its corporate prero-
gatiyes, as every proprietor OF dancing
bear or patent-medicine vender who has
CHANGED that way will attest It's two
streets cross at right angles, and its
corporate territory extends on an ave-
rage about a half-mile In all directions
from the point of intersection. 1t is
built up on each side Of each street TO
about the same eXtent-more thickly
towards the centre, more scattering to-
ward the suburbs.
For more than a century Bowling
Green has been the centre OF life of its
community. Except during the time of
the war, il has had but little CONNER
cial or social intercourse with that part
Of the world outside Of its community.
In the middle Of the town is the large
xreen-now the court green-years ago
the bowling green" whence it's name.
Here. in 1.-THE good old times" was the
rendezvous for the gentlemen OF the
countryside, when the times fell dull
or the chase went slow and they were
driven 10 such less stirring amusements
as bowls, barbecues, and cock-hghts,
for Which aforementioned sport por-
ton Of the green was especially set
apart The outline Of the old cockpit
~ stili visible. and many OF the trees
which surrounded 1t are still standing
TO this day the good citizens Of the
village and community are wont to as
samble there for the news and gossip
and 10 discuss the political issues Of the
day
i,,st across the street from the green
stands a nice, modern hotel. Near the
xaune site. half a century ago. stood
ths old hostelry where the stage-coach
from Washington TO Richmond stopped
overnight, famous for its style and So
clety life. IL was here that she grand
mothers of the present generation used
20 attend those wonderful balls. the like
OF which they Rravely assure US, this
generation has never seen and never Will.
One can readily believe It. for this was
- 4eaAsA of tina Iifa Of thu community