The Penn's Grove record., 1901-06-14

IultpI OF hECOHb;-
Having spent a week here at
my old home, my crushed hands caused
nom proniscuous Misunderstanding have
somewhat recovered their normal state
and l am pleased to look upon the scenes
of my home-yillage with more case.
l neglected to mention in my letter OF
last week Petersburg, Virginia, particular
Iy, which is, to me, a very interesting
place. \ stay OF about twelve hours
there, the greater part Of which time ]
slept gave me about the following impress
sion:
IT is a city OF about $4,000 population,
with a good tobacco fam backing, Look
ing mp its main street, one would think
that the dwellings, etc, are OF an ancient
build-most OF them. On one corner it is
seen a typical colonial mansion, clothed
i'm body White, from its exterior seeming
TO present the very picture Of comfort,
and as likely to be unoccupied as other
wise. Opposite this stately structure, a
massive brick building, up-to-date from
foundation TO finish, stretches fourth. in
which is carried ON a j part OF the city's
business. Further up the street are
many cottages with beautiful lawns in
front.
The main streets, which are quite mar
row, are paved with stone, and are inter
-persed by a doubie-track trolley line. 1t
was $50 Saturday morning, when | went
9Ht from the Imperial hotel. Carts load
ed with farm produce could be discerned
far and near, Catching a car, l rode for
about five minutes and arrived at Central
Park. This park is said to be, and doubt
less is, the me picturesque part of the
city, Gazing from the entrance towards
tbe central point, where is placed the
fountain, the park seems to have groWn
entirely and naturally, without the aid Of
human skill. 1t has a gradual rise Of
about ten feet from its lowest point to the
centre and carefully constructed roads,
leading from the fountain in the various
directions, lend to the park the appear
ance Of a cart wheel. An oak grove DER
shelters it; and being for public usage, It
Is the rendezvous OF many citizens as well
as strangers.
Camel Park, not far from Central, is
ior private usage, and compares iayorably
with the latter, but is not SO natural in
lis formation, The two parks are about
one size.
Going down 10 the rivers bank, just
before train time, | examined with much
interest a huge rock, about eight to ten
feet square, carved into the shape OF a
basin by nature, in which, tradition says,
~Poeahontas washed her hands. | became
so Interested that | remained gazingdown
from the bridge into the abyss and basin
below, until l was awakened from my
reyerie by the sharp shrill whistle OF the
locomotive.
The things which attracted my atten-
ton most from Petersburg to Whining
ton, y. C., were the broad-brimmed,
heavy slough hats; the chocolate-faced
''brats" who greeted me at each station;
and, last but not least, the change OF dia-
lect. The dialect to a pure Southern
dark, - to my mind, heads all lists OF
languages; and that these negroes, neg
resses and sbrats'' caused me to remem-
Der the days of yore'' | need not affirm.
ON Friday morning, June 9TH, in com
pany with three chums OF mine, | sailed
across the Cape Fear river to a place about
two miles distant-Fort Caswell-well
-FTrynr 70 the participants in the battle
OF Fort Fisher in 1865, and now among
The leading Notifications OF the south
eastern coast. Uncle Sam will not permit
visitors 10 go over the fort, There is one
company Of soldiers there now; two more
companies expected to arrive shortly.
We visited the Z. S. Lie Saving Station.
This is located on the same site where
stood Fort Camel during the Civil War.
The Captain OF the station was the only
one there. The crew are o off duty
until August LIST. He took us all over the
station and explained everything to us.
The station has recently been moved,
since the building OF a sea-wall Tor Fort
Caswell, as the station is on the same Is
land. We enjoyed a good bath in the
rolling surf for an half hour; and the salt
water made us do justice to the luncheon
of which we soon partook.
Monday, June 10Th, was an election
day, as 10 whether or not whiskey shall
be- sold within the incorporate limits OF
southport, which was carried for Lii
cpn~e by a small majority. "Prohibi-
ton and License have been the uh-
ject OF discussion for the past two weeks;
and even the pulpit have not neglected
the subject at all. However, the ma
jority say the city shall be ''wet.
''CouNr DIyIE,"