The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-09-01
WESTMORELAND
Correspondence OF The Free Lance }
M0ntross. Va August 3lst.

a protracted religious service, In
which much interest was manifested
closed Friday last at Andrew Chapel
| (MethodisD Most ot the preaching
was done by Rev. Mr.. Burch, Of the
Richmond Circuit. Rev Il NJ Chand.
Ter, Of Norfolk, preached Wednesday
night.
Rev Mr.. Smith, pastor, began pro.
tracted ser, ices at Grants Chapel tn 8
week.
There are a great many cases Of ty-
phoid fever in the county Oar doctors
seem to handle it well, and in not many
instances has it resulted fatally.
Mr.. 0 d l. Evsns, one Of our oldest
citizens, is critically Ill with q compli
cation Of diseases, most serious Of which
results from wound received during
the days Of the Oonfederacy.
The teachers who received appoint
ments in Montross district last Monday
to teach the public schools are Miss
Katie Harvey, Miss Rosie B. Porter,
Mrs Minnie Shipley. Miss Annie
Wharton, Mr. II Chandler. Mrs. h +.
Parker and Miss Nettie Sanford.
The oystermen and others interested
In the oyster bottom Of Ourioman Bay
are still in a big state Of excitement
over what looks to be loss TO the tongs
men Of the entire oyster ground Of that
bay. IL seems this natural and yalua'
BILE ground was left out the Baylor sur
vey. which, having come 20 light, sew
eral parties residing in the county pro-
posed to rent and use for the purpose Of
planting oysters. II the applicants for
such privilege succeed in their effort II
will deprive large number Of citizens
of the means Of making living through
the oyster industry, business followed
by them principally in Ourioman Bay
ever since oysters have been known &c
be Of any value. From the present out
look it would require the services OF q
modern war steamer to keep everything
quiet along OuriOman Bay
It's amusing for one TO be present
where our new courthouse is nearing
completion aud listen to the various
suggestions made by the sovereigns who
visit the town. The county has in its
employment Mr.. II Horner, who looks
after the county's interest, and Is pres.
ent each day to see that the contract is
kept and specifications complied with.
Some days after the walls Of the build
ing were up to their specified height
several old citizens made an inside in
speotion, and one Of them, on seeing
the air chambers in the walls, pro.
nounoed it the most shoddy and inse-
cure structure in the county, and said
the first heavy storm that visited Mon
tross would see us minus court.house.
Some suggest painting the entire
building black, with 6.inch deep RED
stripe Just feet above the keel would
make 1t handsome and In keeping with
the naval age. Another wants 1t paint
cd green, and another desires pink. OF
course the supervisors and contractors
pay but little attention to the sugges'
tions
All OF which reminds the writer OF
an occurrence in this county some years
since. While two citizens were en-.
gagged in building a boat (canoe) they
had two large, nice pine logs out OF
which the boat was to be shaped and
made. These logs were placed under o
shade tree near the public road, and
while the parties were engaged in work
on the canoe it attracted the attention
of tie passers.by. The builders had
some practical experience in building
rough boats, but did not follow closely
their own idea. One man came along
the Highway and stopped to look at
what was intended to be q two-tree
canoe, and from his conversation our
two enterprising and practical boat
builders concluded they had received
valuable information as to how the for
ward part Of the boat should be shaped.
They adopted his suggestion and laid
aside their model aud moulds. Shortly
thereafter there came along another
would.be boat.builder He also stopped
and gave valuable suggestions, which
were also adopted. Late in the after
noon an old man came along Can oys'
terman) who suggested how the stern
should be shaped. Work progressed I'M
I'll next day, when, to the surprise and
vexation of our two young men. who
had spent money and time in securing
the timber to build the boat. to find two
valuable logs thrown away ruined by
adopting the various suggestions OF the
passers.by. They hauled the ruined
timber just across the road and secured
two more, and again began another
boat. No sooner had the work begun
than a suggestion was made by new
passer.by. Mr.. pointed to the
unfinished boat under a tree near by
aud said: mister, that boat over there
is everybcdy's boat you can work on
that. Suggestions we're frequent dur
ing the day by she passers-by, but they
we're all referred TO the ruined boat
across the road for application. Amix-
ture of suggestions will not work in
boat building, or in courthouse build.
log 80 says our friends. p.
$40. Washington TO Niagara Falls and Re- |