The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-03-01

KING GEORGE.
Prince Henry" Disappointed Letter OF
Regret and Promises TO Come Later-Re.
cites Historic Incidents Of the County.

speaking Ol ITlncc IlcnIt, vi i"0
sia. it il said. he has been reviewing his
geography and reading up on American
history, preparatory to his approaching
visit to this country. In this mental ex-
ercise it seems he has not confined him
self 10 our most prominent States and
chief cities, but has brushed up on the
history of some less pretentious, If not
obscure localities. Who would think ne
knew much, ii anything of our little coun-
ty OF King George2 And yet we find he
is familiar with many details OF its his
tory. This is shown by the following
brief extract from his letter to the Chair
man of our County Committee, in reply
10 an invitation To visit King George e..
II. at some time suiting his convenience,
during his visit to the States After Civ
ing assurance of profound regret" that
his itinerary al mapped out for him by
the National Committee at Washington,
does not include our county seat, he says:
"The cordial terms OF your letter OF invi-
tation no less than my recollection ofthe
manypoints Of historic interest associated
with your royal county OF King George,
intensifies the great disappointment |
feel in being unable to land on its classic
shores. recall how when was but a slip
of boy, me Grandma Wick took me on
her knee to test my knowledge OF geog-
raphy, and taking a map Of America,
pointed out the great plantations, as she
called them, which once belonged to her
Uncle George, and how sorry she was
that her uncle allowed another George,
whose last name she didn't exactly re-
III. 1ber, to oyerpersuade him at a little
tea-party given at Yorktown, Va, to
give them up. Then she pointed to your
county and told me il ever went TO
America to be sure to visit King George,
as it was the only county in all
the States that was named for her dear
uncle and, said she, while at the county
seat don't fail to slip over to Ivy Green,
a plantation once owned by descendant
of Anne Boleyn, who, as the bride, graced
one Of the rapid-fre nuptials OF King
Henry VIII she didn't remember whether
it was his third or thirteenth marriage.
Besides all this which me grandma told
me, recall that it was near your court
house few years ago, the remains OF
one of my Hessian ancestors, who issup-
posed to have died after long attack OF
stomach trouble, were exhumed by Sir
Vim. Caywood, the knight ofIndiantown,
and found to be encased in a handsome
casket OF iron grill-work, an honor con.
ierred by your noble people as a token Of
respect for royal blood. consider too
that visit to your county would not be
marred by any disgusting display OF fuss
and feathers by feeble minded funkies,
such as may encounter elsewhere. You
have been accustomed to entertaining
royalty, for Prince Iturbide, of Mexico,
heir apparent to the throne OF the Mon
tezumas, has told me OF his visits to his
aunt, whose home is in your county;
about the broad fields and hunting
grounds around "Marmion," and OF it's
venerable mansion whose spacious par.
lor bears upon the panels of it's dadoed
walls exquisite landscape paintings ex-
ecuted nearly century ago by one
OF my kinsmen, Hessian soldier and
artist. He has told me too how he
hunted hares with Jim Arthur in the
broOmsage fields around Cash Corner,
and visited that historic spot near
'0ssO,' where the memorable battle OF
THE Pea-patch' was fought, and
where Buffalo Bill made his gallant re-
treat befor the invading forces of General
Howard. You can well understand, +,
my dear sir, how keen is my regret in
being unable to visit land so renowned
in history and so well embalmed in song
by your own poet-laureate, Tomaselle,
in these lines;
Land where in the winter time, the peo-
pie never tire,
OF the dolce far neinte and the sitting by
the fire,
Or a-loafing round the stove at the post
office or the store,
Achieving of tobacco and a-letting
things go.
"When | come to America again | will
sail straight to the Potomac and anchor
off Chotank, where can enjoy the aro-
matte odors OF its historic mint-beds and
hear the music of the old-time fiddes and
the rustic OF the dance, whose echoes,
like gentle spirits. still linger around its
ancestral halls. Then | can enjoy at will
the genial hospitality Of your good peo-
ple on shore, and have the pleasure OF re-
ciprocating on my yacht, where
Wen sail and well fish along
Nangemoy Reach,
And shoot the sportive oyster
As he scampers down the beach.
81 have read much about yourifne oys-
ters, and Prince Iturbide has told me
many marvellous stories about them.
He says they are the finest game bird in
the world; that they come to your
waters from the North much earlier than
the wild duck and remain longer; that
they are very shy and not easily trapped
and the best way to take them is to
shoot them on the wing, and that your
people are so fond Of them they some
times merely strip off the feathures and
eat them raw. This, Of course, Is one OF
Titles jokes. But III find out all about
them when | come"
NJ. Lewis, the druggist, will refund