Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1901-05-09
OLD BRICK CHURCH.
Washington Sometimes Woishiped
Within Its Plain Walls.
Romantic spot In the valley Of nr"sd
creek. Ten Miles from the Cap
itai, ON the Maryland side
of the Potomac.
Especial Washington Lett,rl

%HE forests are clad In emerald
green, the air H. rcdolent OF
floral life and resonant with
the chipperings and twitterings and
chickering's of the fcathered children
of creation; the hills and dales OF
suburban Washington are daily and
nightly travelled, on their superior
roads. 10y riders, drivers, cyclists,
automobilists and pedestrians. Not
only our own people are enjoying the
woodland glories and beauties OF the
country. but visiting friends who
| come from near and far are shown
the country side of the national cap
! ital. as well as It's Official. social and
architectural side.
Thefc is no road leading into or
| out OF the national capital which
does not bring one 20 historic spots;
and they who have been here long do
not realize this fact 80 well as the
casual visitor or occasional literary
tramp. who keeps his eyes open aud
asks questions Of the plain people,
realizing the wisdom of the old say
ing;
Lean not on one fuITts constantly
Lest. where one stood before. two taHL
somcthirg God hath TO say % thee
Worth hearing from the lips Of AL
In one days journey along the old
common road which follows the
Maryland shore Of the Potomac.
down towards Piscatawny creek. BY
asking questions OF the people, We
discovered that this Oft travelled road
is rcplete with history and the
writer has been over u fully four
score times, without asking ques-
tons. by the time ono has travelled
so far from the city that the natives
begin saluting-which they never do
in the immediate vicinity Of town
you can. in your Imagination. date
yourself back three or four genera
tons without meeting anything mod
ern enough in appearance TO bring
you out OF IT," 10 use the phrase of
the hypnotst.
The region was once rich tobacco
country. and a spot OF untitled land
was more rare than wcll-cultiyated
field Is now. Tobacco, or the "sot-
weed" a. 70 was called. made the col
ony one OF the wcalthiest Of the new
world. and the "sot-wccd factor" or
agent. was lord. 10 all intenk and
purposes. though in his loneliness
somewhat registering and iiliterate.
To-day his descendant. II he has
chung TO the land, j. being gradually
forced 20 knucklc under TO the yigor-
Gus second-grow;h Of oak and pine.
which Is slowly eucroachiug upon the
WORKOUT fields. But those energetic,
hard-drinkinc, bull-baiting and cock
fighting old colonists buildcd well
and left 20 their posterity solid walls,
often OF brick imported from Eng.
land, which are as good to-day as
they were century ago; and so their
easy-going descendant has home
in as good repair and quite as re-.
spectacle as his pedigree. You will
find any number Of these picturesque
old places, some In good condition
still, others occupied only In part. a.
the habitable portions have been
slowly contracted by advancing de-
cay. others again quite abandoned
and falling into compete ruin. or
gone entirely, and their sites marked
only by a solitary chimney standing
Ike n gravestone.
\ tcn-milc drive from the city will
bring VS. To point where the road
makes = sudden dip into the valley OF
Broad creek. After we descend the
stony Hill and ca 1sS the stream at it's
foot we will core upon little brick |
church, surrounded by two or three
score OF graves. The little cdifice Is
in fair state OF repair. and there Is |
little about Il 10 suggest great age.
but on one OF the headstoncs In the |