Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-21
THE RICHMOND D1sPATCH-sUNDAY FEBRUARY p. 1897.

ing ma NJ hia ynf;sfc classes. Mrs. Coax
ley. who was upstairs In her champeF,
heard some one in the pantry below, ana
supposing that her husband mad 'etufnee
and was hunting bis supper, SEQ c.'leu
out and announced Just where the choiceS1
eatables could be found. Tho response
being peculiar and unsatistactory' Hi
Coakley repaired to the dining-room' oi'u,
10 her surprise and horror, the oury
negro stood before her. busy refreshing
the inner man. The frightened lady made
an alarm. and the nocturnal intruder was
driven away at the point OF a oouple-
barrelled gun in the hands or spunky
Baptist divine but the pantry invader did
not fee SO fast as to relinquish his nolo
upon q huge sweet potato, which be was
applying as a capstone to his midnight
lunch. lie had stored away in his anato-
my one-half OF a boiled ham. plate OF
cold biscuits. and various other remnants
Of bountifUl dinner.
DESTITUTIoN.
II has come to light this week that the
want and restitution among the very poor
people OF this section far exceeds anything
OF the kind ever before known here. As
before noticed in this correspondence, the
laboring classes are without employment
and without the necessaries OF life, ana
bodied young men who have never before
worked for less than s. per month are
now asking for work at 81 per month.
Some OF the colored people who worked
and voted for the Republican ticket last
fall say to-day that the terrible state or
affairs existing just now Is due TO the
election Of Mckinley, and claim that they
were deceived by the white leaders, who
declared that the election of the gold
ticket would open an era OF prosperity
and good times. Never before have our
own people been compelled TO ask aims.
but now many OF them are appealing for
work and for something 10 eat.
Nearly every oysterman IN Tidewater
who has any intelligence at all Is now a
staunch friend and ardent admirer OF the
Dispatch-this. regardless Of political
proclivities-and they are very outspoken
and sincere In their utterances about the
paper which has so nobly championed
their cause and defended their rights and
their calling. To-day the Dispatch has
more friends among our oystermen than
any other great daily on the face Of the
earth. He who regards the average oys-
terman as a heartless, unappreciatiye
creature is a mistaken man. AS rule,
our oystermen are a very hard-worked
and very poorly-paid class of people, ana
they deserve much higher respect, and
their rights much more Difference and con-
sideration, than have ever been accorded
them.
A number of building lots have just been
sold at Somerset" the new summer re-
sort in course Of construction on the Poto-
mac, near this place, and it is understood
that the purchasers contemplate the erec-
ton of cottages ON these lots in the near
future. The place Is beginning TO attract
considerable interest and TO grow I'm pub
lie favor.
Judge G. r. Ashton, Of this county, has
returned home from washington, d. C.,
where he has been on professional bust
ness.
Mr.. Theodore LeofTloe, OF this neighbor-
hood, who went to Germany the first or
the year TO visit his parents, is expected
to return home to-day.
Captain Bob Adams, the boss" Poto-
mac fisherman Of this section launched
his immence seine at Fowke's Shore this
week, and is catching some very fine
winter fish.
good many King Georglans and
Staffordians are making arrangements TO
attend the inauguration on the dth OF
March. Many Of them will leave on the
2d for Washington in order to secure
choice quarters before the great crowd
gathers. having not forgotten that ac-
commodations were at q premium four
years ago.
The fine grounding weather a major
part Of this week enabled the farmers 10
resume ploughing and other farming ope-
| rations.