The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-02

pretty Polly Clarke her beauty being
Of the pure Greek type. deep blue eyes
delicate. shell-like complexion. she was
n sister OF Mrs. Woodbridge and cousin
Of Maxwell Clarke. of Richmond ana OF
Colonel Lyle Clarke, or Baltimore. IN
social graces and diplomacy Mrs. Wool
bridge had few equals, and her diction
was as classic as though she had min
gled in the brilliant literary circles which
adorned the British metropolis in the gold
On age of Bryon. Moore. Southey. Cole
ridge and Leigh Hunt, and was crowned
queen by right Of every social realm.
Mr.. Franklin stearns, OF Richmond Is
now the owner of old Wiverton.
JOHN BROWNS DOUBLE.
Speaking OF the old times, John Brown
OF Ossawatomie and Harper's Ferry
fame Is thought to have spent a day or
two at Wilverton IN February 1851 and
a night az Hyde Park ian adjoining
farm about the Same time. At the lat
ter place the story IS that he introduced
himself as DIR McLain, OF Ohio going
around relieving the afflicted lie
was selling trusses. lie claimed
10 be a member Of tho Christian
church and was well versed in the Scrip
lures. and loved 10 talk on the subject
of religion. lie had with him an old Bible
concordance and its old yellow pages
torn and faded gave the impression II
might be one hundred years old lie
sang for the children that night the Old
temperate song Away the Bowl. anu
BE Kind % the Loved ones at Home.
When helped the third or fourth time 20
oag ,batter) bread at supper he remarked
that IL suited his teeth as well as his
nc wrote several letters and one was adj
dressed 10 Mrs. Mary Brown. Il had been
the positive belief here that McLain
was none other than the notorious John
Brown until the startling and exhaustive
publication in the Times OF Sunday,
December 9Th last showing almost con-
cluslvely that John Brown never travel
led IN Virginia that the man taken sub
seauentlv for him was IN reality Or. Laza-
rus NcIain. Of Lisbon. Ohio, who bore
q striking resemblance 70 the former as
shown by pictures Of the two men IN the
Times.
II has been many years since 7 ran
races and wrostlod Crassled') with the
negro boys. and about the only whipping
I ever got was for playing marbles with
the "niggers' on Sunday. / can never
forget the old slave-time plantation songs
AZ the corn shucklngs. and the hog kill
ing hibilecs by torchlight before day.
"Ola Massa" and "Mlssus" with the
children would 60 down the lane 20 the
cabin 10 witness tho negro Christmas
cuttings and hear the banjo picking for
the old time reels and cotillons, and
see the darkics dance the breakdown
and "cut the pigeon wing, 'or old Sween-
ov'e Gig and execute tho double shultle
with skill that would make a minstrel
mar, envious. Some OF tho old "chunes'
were sugar I'm the Gourd." Money
Musk" "Old Virginia Never Tire MIS-
gissippi sawyer" Midnight Serenade.
Number one" Soldiers JOY" susan
na Gal" and others.
CALLING OUT THE FIGURES.
The sable fiddler who generally sa; on
n stool bv the wall would call out the
figures OF the dance as follows
Choose vo' pardners, time or nyln
Take yo' places on de flo
Don't vo' heah dat fiddle cryin'
Nickcrdemus, Ebbermo'
s'lute yo' pardners bow perlitely
OATS de motion through en- through
Swing dem corners. step up lightly,
Hail Columby. Hallaloo.
Frs 70 forward. keep er diggin';
Now yo' sasshay back agin,
Nebber min yo' ragged riggin,
sos't don't show de naked skin.
rawdv, see dat Peter Slater
How he bow an scrape aroun'
Head look ike a p6aled periater
Slick as glass up on de crown.
Ladies change en- keep or scooun
Cross right ober, now 20 s"lhs'
uor dom hans up highfaMiin,