The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-02-06
LANCASTER.
Correspondence Of The Free Lance }

| y
rapidly, and associated as 1t is wit
he Father Of his Country" is csll,,
10y the school children, Washing
ton' month"
We hope the coming 22nd will no
be SO full of storm and sleet as SOM
oi US remember it to have been tn
winter OF 1858. when the unveili0,
ceremonies of the equestrian statue
of Washington attracted throng o.
visitors to the city of Richmond. Thu
scribe was among the schoolgirls
who really enjoyed the occasion th,
NOR, because Of the snow, which
was as little needed as the pelting oi
feathers.
But few we knew then are living
to day. The grey.haired veteran
who accompanied the writer
the preceding fall to the city, has
long since departed. 1t was the Hon
WllIoughby Newton, and the long
tedious journey was made by lard
yet not tlresome in the company 81
this dear. guardian, aud his son, VIII
loughby the second, whose exuberan
spirits sesmed never on the wane.
a lovely October morn when We
left Liuden, Westmorelapd, Va, and
two Fl .et horses soon carried US to
Warsaw Not cloud in the ea,ly
day TO prevent our setting fOlth, bu,
shortly before we reached Warsaw
we were dstcrbed by a slight mutter
OF thunder, and it had already begun
70 sprinkle when we passed the resi-
deuce of Mr.. Ms nephew. Col. Thos
Jones, whose wife recognizing the
occupants of the carriage as we
passed, called to US to stop, bat as
Mr. n. was already delayed IN his
trip, and in hurry to reach Tapps-
hammock ere night fall, as be was
anxious to push on TO Hanover the
following day, be could not respond
to her kind entresties. He always
chose this route in his trips to and
from Richmond city, in order to visit
his children and other relatives in
Hanover. Tue dusk Of day comes
on apsce when clouds obscure the
declining sun, and when We crossed
the ferry to reach Tappshsnnock
few lights were already twInkling
from tue windows of the town.
Dc Austin BrockenbrC ugh's young
est daughter. q sbriella, met US with
the warm greeting she was so caps ble
Of giving, and it was a ilicult mat.
ter to tear ourselves from this charm
inc family the next morning.
Yes, life's waters were calm and
hearts were joyous then, and ss Mr.
n. pressed the hand of the Doctor
at parting, neither felt a premonition
OF the coming storm, neither felt that
the other would have q noble son
sacrificed upon the altar of VI irs.
a cloud, q tiny spsek, was already
in our nations horizon, gaining time
for enlargement, and ere long to
burst forth into angry war. We re-
remember, while on this journey,
some of the conversation of this sage
with his son. His statesmanlike
vision could penetrate the future, his
prophetic words abide with some of
us still. He was not "ire-e ater,r
his temperament was Of the gentle
type; his disposition so sauguine, and
his heart so full Of love, that the idea
Of discord or disruption, wounded
him.
But the "cloud no bigger than a
mans hand" was seen then slightly
discernible, and the "signs of the
times" would thrust themselves upon
his attention, so like many similar
ki1 d red spirits of peace throughout
the South, he had to scquiesce to
the inevitable.
There were a few, but very impress
sive incidents associated with that
memorable journey, bat the readers
of The Free Lance would not feel dis
posed to read them. Such a change
in our life's history, has wrought
such contrast on the part of our
people.
We spent a few happy DAYS at
Summer Hill and Westwood, in Han
over, and then pushed onward to
where Kind friends were
ready to receive us.
Crowds were already assembling to
the annual fair; the men in shswls-
think of it, ye overcoated boys And |
ne ladies in hoop skirts-think girls
how graceful they were in their
The editor of the Richmond Wing
said in his paper, that the collection
Of women that winter at the Capital,
was particularly homely.
How charinged the visitors felt,
especially tbose who had enlarged
heir hoops, and the school girls
caught up the general Indignation.
This supposed insult was rendered
more glaring, because of the fact
h 1t Mr.. Robt. R dgeway had COM
the general appearance of
he ladies at the fair grounds in the
October of the previous year. The
aides of the Tidewster region re.
,eiving a full me asure OF his praise,
md several mentioned by name,
Imong them was Miss Ella Brocken-
,rough and Miss Roberta Garnett,
he former afterwards the wife of
Bishop Bsckwith, and the latter now
drs. NJ jor Norris, Of Fredericks
)urg.
This writer with other mischievous
,irls had anticipated meeting the
,ditor with warlike vim, but au intro.
Iuction to him at q dinner party com
,letely disarmed us.It was in vain that
dr. Garnett, of the House Of Dele
rates, afterwards Judge g., Of Ben
Ie m ID rd-equslly as mischievous-
Urged US on. Mr. Ridgewsy said so
many nice things it would induce q
modern girl to exclaim "He was
ust too cuts for anything"
The Heathsville correspondent of
Virginia Citizen, Mr.. Henry De.
hields. does not think the life Of
armer an independent one, but
Al |