Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-04
The NORTHERN NECK.
n CONFORM NAN WRITES IN
MOST OPTIMISTIC STRAIN.
Many SIGNS OF PROSPERITY.


The Merchants Did Phenomenal
npsinesH In pecember-Dcfect. In
.hc I.asv As To Commissions of
r,anacs--Isinr George AGnirs-Per-
.onnIs.
CONFORM. KING GEORGE COUNTY.
"a. January 3.--tspecialo-Th Christmas
boBaays passed OF terry quietly here.
pace and goodwill predominated: so
,bat 1rawls. backed eyes, skinned noses.
nd arrests formed no part of the @fes-
uyftics." Visiting and dining out" was
ths order of each day--one neighhor par
,sl.fngg OF another neighbor.s Christmas
turkey. u,incc pies. etc.
Many Of our good people-those OF mode
rate tneans-shared their Christmas good
things with their poor neighbors SO
fha+ there was not destitute family
ar Individual who was not provided for
and made to realize. for the time be-
inr Ell least that "one touch of nature
,osIsas The whole world kin" Homes
where helpless widows and pitiful or
phaI.s dwelI-homes made gloomy by
shivcring poverty and cold destitution-
a5re made bright and happy the past
week by appropriate gifts and kind. en-
couraging words carried by our noble
hearted Christian men and women. Not
one single needy family here was for
gotten. and those Of our citizens who so
.adiy remem bered their less fortunate
rsighbors, made themselves happy by Wis
fling, as well as by providing for. those
who know but little of the bright side
Of life.
SIGNS OF PROSPERITY.
/ majority of the King George mer-
chants have had a larger trade and done
more satisfactory business since the
frst Of last month than in any December
FOR a number OF years. Many of them
,1.bo uelIally have Christmas goods" left
on their hands unsold. after the hoit-
DAYS sold out their stock some days
fsfoTs Christmas this season, and could
rat s,pply the demand. Those whose vol
,,r7a Of business has been no larger than
usual. express themselves as we'll pleased
kin their Christmas trade. for the reason
that they have received more cash for
what they have sold than ever before IN
December. The Increased amount of mon
ev In circulation here just prior to Christ
mas is due TO two facts-many Of the
farmers sold their corn and received the
cash for ii early IN December, and the
large railroads.&c.. and other timber bust
ness. done In the county during the past
wear put good deal OF cash in the
hands Of laboring people ana others.
Indeed every department Of business
n hat fpr- f,rS,,rfaj,t
past year than for many years, but
whether this encouraging state Of things
win continue through $50. cannot be fore
tod FOR the increased business activity
Of 1862 vas due to local causes which
may prove short-ilved.
THE LAW CONCERNING THE INSANA II
II has been demonstrated here that the
Legislature committed big blunder a
few years ago, when ii changed the law
governing the examination Of persons sus-
pecteu Of insanity. TIE old law. which
worked we'll and satisfa ctorily. provided
that & commission OF lunacy should be
composed of three magistrates and one
physician. The present law requires two
physicians and one magistrate to examine
suspected lunatic. The change has
czuse4 no little Inconvenience, delay and
hardship. Here's an illustration: One day
last week q well-know1a white man OF this
county was arrested. on q charge Of in
sanity. and the only two physicians in
the county were summoned to meet the
justice of the peace and inquire into the
young mans sanity. Only one OF the
doctors could be gotten at the appointed
tine The lunatic. who had always been
used TO the comforts Of a cozy home
had TO be taken 10 the courthouse and
confined In the cold jail for the night,
tt,
could be procured. It is always easy to
procure three magistrates and one ply
scian, but nearly always difficult to pro-
cure two physicians at short notice for
such g purpose especially IN the rural
districts where doctors are scarce and
reside many miles apart Many delays
and hardships-to both lunaticS and Of
aoers-have resulted from the present law.
and The Wisest Of our people have never
been able TO see why the former statute
Ess ahrogaied.
HERE AND THERE.
Z is understood that the steamer Wake
field, Of the Potomac river. will lay OFF,
thirty days for q new coat OF paint and
some repairs. The Wakefield is popu-
lar passenger steamer, and will be great
y missed by the travelling public while
she" is being beautified.
Miss Blcunt Mason. OF this neighbor-
hood, has gone to Washington to spend
the remainder Of the winter and her
mother, Mrs II. a. Mason. left q few
DAYS ago for La Grange, Ga. to spend
January and February.
Miss Marcie Campbell and Miss Carrie
and Julia Hunter. who spent the holidays
with kinsfolls In this county. returned
10 their homes In Alexandra ,yester-
day.
Mr.. George Stuart. proctor of the Epis-
coPal Theological Seminary. near Alex
andria. spent the past week with his
mother in This county.
Nr. ]. NJ. Mason and sons, who have
been visiting friends in the National Cap
!tal City. have returned TO their home
hers.
Mr. and Mrs. oscar NJ. styron and
children. Of Philadelphia, are guests of
@r Il. 3. Coghill and family. at King
George Courthouse.
Miss Lucy Parker. of Montross. is a
guest Of the Misses largest. at Bleak
III, near this place.
Miss Lille Shepherd. of Washington.
IS ~ visit TO relatives near here.
Miss Mamie Minor. a student at Or.
>ahnon'E school. at Blackstone. spent the
a2ldaHs with her parents Mr.. and Mrs.
= J. Minor. Jr., az this place.
MI arthur Hooe who spent the past
Week az his parental home in this coun-
~ has returned 10 Washington. where
College.
Mrs James RI Roprs If th;s n,ac. &c