The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-09

derfully pleasing and make 1t hard for
one TO tear himself away and work.
."Peculiosity" and "phenomity" are two
words have added to my vocabulary
since came to Chincoteague.
The Chincoteague people have not had
the school advantages which many OF
them desire. yet In recent years the sons
Of several mon have gone 10 college
from the island. and there were Chinco-
league boys In two or. three Virginia
colleges last year.
It was deeply interesting to hear John
A. M. Wheaton. who was born on the
island seventy-thre years ago. tell Of
his struggles to obtain education enough
to enable him to get along In the world
II could convey to the readers eye a
true picture OF the old gentleman. and
could reproduce his language as he told
me OF his life. l am sure the recital
would be as interesting at second hand
| as 1t was to me.
when I was six years old went to
work with the women helping my father
| pick IN OYSTERS he said. "The women
folks worked in that day and time
never went to school but three months
in my life. But saw that a man had
to have some education If he was going
to get along In the world. ! studied MY
speller, at home and worked all the sums
in Pixies arithmetic until got to the
single rule of three. That was so tough
sent to Philadelphia and got another
arithmetic in that I
worked until 1 got so I could understand
fra ctions, and could work out percentage
and fellowship. Then I got Mitchell's
geography and atlas, and IT didn't take
me SO very long to learn the names OF
all the countries and the States and
capitals and rivers. read Goldslnltn 5
history OF England and history OF the
United States have always liked his
tory. and have read histories of old
Greece and Rome"
Mr. Whealton's language Is, MS RUE.
that of an educated man, though he oc
casionally drops into the careless speech
OF the waterman. ~
God" said the old man solcmnly when
asked him regarding his church pref
erences. ~ do not go to church oIten.
But read the Bible ana God is COCO
iorl lis still living He is in very com
fortahle "Reminiscences, though In 1867 he
saw all his property swept away througn
his having to pay al a matteTs p pep
to the history of Chincoteague,
OLD TRADITIONS.
mrha old people In Chincoteague used
to have the habit Of handing down ira
dItions like tho Indians, said MI; Wheal-
ton. land used 70 'oVo " ''s'e't :"
them,'
Fla has a most remarkable memory.
Freouently. he gives the year, the day
Of the week, aud of the month of an
event, and will then remark in an inter-
iectory way:
II remember the wind was blowing.
might he.
Mr. whealton says that Chincoteague
was first granted TO john Jennifer In 1910.
The grant was allowed to lapse and once,
or twice after that people WHO received
grants Of the 5 hd 2sth o OF Ap .he 1oss
tt% M leland was granted to William Ken
dali and John Robins by, Lieutenant -Gov-
ernor Nicholson, on condition OF their pay
Ing the passage OF irnnin pohns toni1
the so,th end OF the island, consisting of
5'7G5 acres and Kendall tho north end,
| 2.725 acres. :, ,,a a.,
t nver nee p and whites to care for them.
| Mr.. Wheaton thinks the ponies on, the
| island a present are descendants Of the
| horses which Robins and Kendall put
main and tai and fetlock he thinks due
~ axn a,,, and the small size to inter-
breeding, There is, theory that the
PONIES are descended from horses which
escaped from sout.n 1h,nsllcan SNIP
G Tts.9H , mns AGO Mr.. Whealton's seems
mich more plauslble, have neglected to
mention that there are no commons on
this island. All the land - held by deed
or will but the @S''f The ponies rune rn t to
eether the drove often having forty or
| fifty owners. ,a,, hon,h+ zoo
the ]n 1 iss th sss sold 70 Wheao spg
b athsr an neaty dissatisfied with slavery Is