Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-05-31
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

ONC NOhlID GhnO hoOs
"What more precious testimonial OF
ones love Of kindred and home can one
give than that which provides for the
transmission OF the history Of ones an
cestors. IL IL, trust that Providence
has coDfded to our care" No one has
fulfilled this trust more faithfully than
the author OF "One Hundred Years
Ago. Compiled from family papers, IL
10 not only memoir of Rev. Walter d.
Addison out is q record OF colonial
times in Maryland, that appeals strong
ly to people OF this section of country,
embracing, as it does, an area familiar
to US sll. The first chapter describes
Annapolis as the seat. OF q wealthy gov
ernment, its beautiful situation at the
mouth Oi the Severn, its stately man
sions aud luxurious society where the
phantom pleasure was pursued with as
much avldity as In old England and
with all the tastes and habits of her
sristocracy. Here American drama
began its life and while ball room and
race course added to the reputation OF
the'lnhabiianls for gaiety, the unhappy
state OF the church was sore griefto the
more thoughtful part OF the community.
Some space is given to the cause of this
decadeDce. OIe of the interesting
features cf the book is a member is
number tf letters introduced to illus
trate social life among the planters is
the vicinity of Annapolis. Miss Rebscca
Delaney, writes from Rousby Hall,
where she is visiting, TO her sisters
with the unreservedness of youth and
an abundance OF descriptive power. We
almost feel that We know the "lively
Miss Tsyloes" and George Fitzhugh
who Is 30 diverling and in such ''good
spirits" 10 spite oi Miss Moliy's abb
sence Cruel Miss Becky to recount his
detection We are sorry that Mrs.
Young could not leave the "cld virgin"
her guest and so was disappointed Of
the fne christening entertainment. The
brightness OF Miss Bscky's letter is in
striking contrast to the "opprest spirit"
with which her lover, Thomas Addison,
writes the father requesting admission
into his family. 1t plesses us to know
ne succeeded in his suit and also that
George Fiizhugh returned to his al
legisDce. The story goes on with more
than one bright letter, bringing US 10
the time OF Walter Addision's birth and
the commencement of the Revolution.
Toe Dulaneys and AddisoDs, like many
other Maryland familie] who kept up
their intercourse with the old country,
were tories and consequently lost
much by con6scation of property. Wal.
ter Addison was sent 10 England
land to be educated returning to Mary
land in 1889 Coming under the in
flaence of Mrs. Hesselius, a woman re-
msrkable for talents and understand.
ing, as we'll ss piety and dignity Of
character, he resolved to enter the
ministry, for the condition Of the church
and the sore need at that time for true
and faithful men to assist 10 organizing
a new and living Episcopal Church 10
America, must have appealed loudly to
this young soldier OF Christ. No one
could have been better equipped for
the fight than be. Clothed with the
armour of pure intent, he took up the
duties of his calling and through long
and busy life never faltered in his
we'll doing. The value OF Miss Mur-
rays material is not to be questioned.
Not only to those seeking the In ftuence
OF good mans life, but to the lover Of
relics of the colonial period the letters
must prove Of great interest. Written
In an age when good letter writing was
by no means rare, the ones before US
are far beyond the average, showing
culture and refinement, and the i'm
press of the daily lives OF the writers,
yet, as the compiler remarks, written
10 all consciousness of the Importance
of the scenes through which they were
passing. As whole the book is we'll
put together and thoroughly enjoyable.