Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-26
NORTHERN NECK.
THE WORK OF WINDING UP FOR
THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.
Farmers Setting Their Places in
Order-A DisordePIy set-stricken
Monument at Wakefield.
(Correspondence OF the Dispatch.)

Correspondence OF the Dispatch)
CONFORM, KING GEORGE COUNTY.
VA, December 25-This has been decided
ly the busiest week Of the year with
country people. A general winding up OF
the years work and getting ready for
Christmas and winter Is the work set
apart by all classes Of rural citizens for
the week ending on the night Of Christ
mas-eve. Committees from the various
Sunday schools have been as busy since
Monday morning as bave the most proyi'
dent housekeepers, purchasing supplies
for the Christma s-trees and celebrations
appointed for next week, and arranging
all these things; and then the churches
have been decorated for the big days"
which will begin Tuesday morning. The
sober-sided old farmers have toiied early
and late all the week-rising at I'm the
morning and working till 3 at night
hauling together great piles of wood and
cutting 1t up "fireplace-length." ana
rounding up" all the jobs about the
plantation, so that nothing akin TO work
will have TO be touched during the holi-
days. Those OF them who did not go to
town" this week, and who prepare Tor
war in time of peace" had their jugs
brought down by the mail-carriers or
near neighbors. OF course, no one pre-
tends to guess what good old farmers
Jug contains about Christmas-time, but
very few deny the necessity OF some
thing or other 10 brace the nerves or
mortal man during the season OF tin
horns, Christmas guns. firecrackers, ana
L. - nf VaNH
to which the small boy" falls heir on
the night of December 2Nh.
The row which occurred among the coli
ored people at their "Gethsemane" lodge.
near here. Saturday night has aroused
very strong feeling throughout the COM
munity against the frequent night festi-
walls held at that place. IL is claimed
that these festivals are not only fruitful
of much disorder among the colored par
Elephants, but have become a great an
noyance TO the citizens residing in the
neighborhood. Our citizens have COM
planned for some time that the parades
and public demonstrations up and down
the public roads by these "Gethsemane"
people are a nuisance. because the beat
ing of drums and marching. &c, Tighten
horses, and, TO a certain extent. en-
danger the life and limbs OF persons who
are obliged TO pass alcng the highways
while such demonstrations are in pro-
gress.
STRICKEN WITH BLINDNESS.
Mr.. Alden Kennedy, one OF the Oldest
residents of this county, a former north-
ern man, was come time ago strickea
with blindness, and thought IL was only
a temporary impairment of his vision,
but ne Is now hopelessly blind and de-
spondent.
little daughter OF Mr.. Nicholas Farm
err, OF this neighborhood, has also lost
her sight, and 1t is feared that her optic
nerves are very seriously. IL not perma-
nently, impaired.
There was such strong sentiment
throughout this section of the state in
favor of the bill against football that
the name Of Senator Barksdale, who so
vigorously advocated the measure, has
been a household word here since. The
Dispatch containing the Senator's pic
ture was eagerly sought after by men.
women. and children, who crayed TO 'see
the face OF the man who opposed the OBJ
jectionable game"
Mr.. Tilden Henderson, the enterprising
young merchant and postmaster at Car
nation. this county, and Miss Alice Bowie,
also OF this county, will be married at
Potomac Baptist church on Monday eve
ming, the 9th instant. at s o'clock. The
prospective groom, though a prosperous
businessman and the founder Of Carna-
ton, his place of business, Is very young.
having not yet reached his 2ist year, ana
the bride-elect is in her teens. Imms-
diately after the ceremony the bridal
party will be rendered an elaborate re-
ception at Cash Corner. the home OF the
groom's parents.
UActIINynrnNy afnAsr-ALsNT
The Northern Neck people express q
hope that the press of the State Will give
wide publicity to the fact that the Wash
ington monument at Wakefield, West
moreland county, will be dedicated on
the 30th day OF April, 1898. Everything
possible will be done by the Northern
Neckers TO make the dedication the
grandest and most notable event ever
witnessed IN this section OF the Old Do
minlon, and II Is most earnestly desired
that historic Wakefield" the birthplace
OF Washington, will on that occasion DC
visited by men. women. and children from
every section of Virginia.
Mr.. Charles Rogers. OF Louisa county,
arrived In King George yesterday 10
spend the holidays with his uncle. near
this place.
Mr.. w. II. Baker Jr., principal OF the
Newiand High School. Richmond county,
came up yesterday TO spend Christmas
with his parents and relatives here.
Dr. Thomas r Arnold and oldest dsugh-
ter. Miss Mary Grey. OF this county VIII
spend the holidays IN Washington. d.
c., where his children are attending
school this session.
Mr.. Thomas w. Franklin and his wife
and daughter, OF Serena, Stafford county,
are visiting relatives in Lancaster. Pa.
Mr.. Benjamin S. Minor, Washington
Cd. CT lawyer. win spend Christmas
week with his parents. Me-. and Mrs.
John T. Minor. at this place
Mr.. Robert coakley. OF hanover. who
has been spending some tirae with his