davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

tar and rough stones, in reality which
are inform barracks. nests for pain and
hearth OF infusOria prOmiscuousness, as
well as human promiscuousness.
The inventors express opposition TO
the large sanitariums encountered with
tuberculosis" and they say:
Annexed to Sea-Bathing."
We preIes to them our sun-vHas.
isolated or united In little groups. in
hamlets. In small villages into the for
ests- They VIII be annexed to every
watering place and sea-bathing, actually
existing; TO all the houses OF health in
fun air. We even hope that soon apart
from the patients. the elegance of high
life will say chat a mineral hibernal
station, ard even a summer one, can
only be complete and attractive when
il unites a great deal OF 'Sun-Villas' and
'Turning-Hotels. The question is to
give the tone and TO determine a current
Of great attraction
But the benefits and uses of the Sun
Villa should not be restricted to those
who have the time and the means TO go
to the country places where they are
to be constructed The busy town dwell
Ter may share als0 IN its great advan-
tages. To quote the prospectus:
who could say the benefits that will
result from the obliged introduction in
winter Of the solar rays i'm bedrooms.
dining rooms, and drawing rooms ."
There is no Interrogation point after the
sentence. but If il is a question, who
can? The prospectus answers:
Death to Microbes.
Always food OF sun and air. every
where making an irruDeion into ax-ev,-
coins pursdeing the murderer mi
crobes. killing them with prolonged
dessication. Who would dare to main
tain that mortality would not impair in
a collection OF habitations I'm that way
transformed?
That the patient. the bare dismal fell
low. or even the healthy man will not
feel very happy 10 inhabit a hamlet or
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

The best informed Fauquierians de-
clare that Justice Marshall allowed
young men, and older men. too. for
the matter of that. the usrfruct sof the
land in question in return for their
votes. In those days a man must be
freeholder before he could cast a vote, :
and it is not improbable that
the Virginia jurist established
sort of political feudal system by
parceling out his land to a num-
Der of retainers, who, syhen called upon.
voted as he directed Justice Marshall
is known 10 have been & kind man,
though. and the members of the Mar
shall family now living in, the neigh
borhood of his old home which is on
the very edge of the Free State. de-
clare that he allowed anyone who was
poor and homeless TO settle on his land,
permitting them to live and have their
being without molestation. At ait events.
the Office OF the clerk of the county
court at Warrenton is today full of
records Of suits brought by the descend
ants of Justice Marshall to settle titles
TO land in the Free State many of
which are still extremely cloudy.
Year after year the Free Staters. az
the inhabitants OF this section came to
ing no law but themselves. After the
death OF their benefactor they refused
10 pay his family for the land they oc-
cupied Likewise. they refused to pay
taxes. claiming that they did not culti-
vate their land and that. therefore, it
was worcestershire. Finally. out of this
condition of affairs arose the incident
that gave the place its name.
How the Free State" Got Its Name.
Charles 3. Smith was tax collector for
Fauquier. and upon the occasion of a
visit to Richmond to make his annual
report to the auditor for the State, he
was asked by his superior why ne did
not bring in larger returns from the
upper part of the county. The question
was not a new one. but this time the
auditor called attention to the failure of
those who dwelt I'm that section to pay
anything at all.
Why don't you collect something from
those people. Charley?'' he asked.
"Oh. hell'' replied Smith. who was
something of a character. you can't
get anything out of that part Of the
county. That's the Free State. .
From that day and hour the name
stuck The inhabitants of the Free
state, became known as tree Skaters,
and their fame spread abroad in the
land For while they enjoyed the dis
tinction. but as time wore on they were
jO1ed SO much mat they became SEN
sitive, and today the majority OF the
Free Staters will not admit they live IN
the charmed land. The term, as applied
nowadays IS one of rfdicule, carrying
with it an implied accusation of igno-
rance and DeDeral ShfftlesSneSs md tho
better classes who i've there on the well
cultivated farms are sensitive and re-
sentful Of all such insinuations.
stun. there are goOdly number who
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

Three rings of a little more than an
inch in diameter are suspended from
cross beams. standing I'm a row. and the
object is to catch them all on the
point OF your lance while your horse is
at a dead run
For the ancient and honorable sport
of gander- pulling. live gander is
swung to the branch OF a tree by his
feet. his neck and head hanging down
ward. The object is to ride under him
at run and jerk his head OFF as you
go. Now a gander has a pretty tough
neck and one that viii stand consider
able stretching before It gives way. The
result may be left to the imagination.
Hard to Find "The State
One curious feature of the Free state
is that you will never get an inhabitant
TO admit you are in It, You may ride
backward and forward tllrccgh il all
day long. and so far as admission from
the people you meet are concerned, you
will never find it. This is owing to the
constituencies OF the inhabitants This
is a standing joke all ovP4- Fauquier
and one that affords infinite amusement
to the natives.
jog along the road on horseback and
you will come to a cabin sitting close
10 the road. In and around the door
way will be half dozen children and
numerous dogs, who will ome yelping
out TO the stile. TO be ordered back bv
the man you find sitting on the rail
fence that incloses the cabin and the
small garden" patch that surrounds it,
The man has seen you while you were
yet half a mile away, and has come out
to the roadside for closer observation.
Good morning" you call out
"Mornin !" comes the laconic reply in
non-committal tones.
Can you tell me IL I have come to
the Free State YETI" you will ask. being
innocent
mo. sir. The States about two miles
over that away" indicating by sweep
of his arm the direction in which you
are going.
On you go for a mile or more III til
you think you have found the pronnis,d
land. Then you stop at another cabin.
This time girl Of the type of Mary
will come out to meet you. She will
stand and look at you with a stolid stare,
waiting. according 10 the unfaiIlng Gus
tom of the mOuntaineer. for you to be-
gin. You will try to get a glimpse of
the face under the sunbonnet, but a
brown chin and neck is all you will see
How much farther must l go before
I reach the Free. Slater" you inquire of
the Sphynx beneath the bonnet
You passed the State about two miles
back" will be the reply. accompanied
by a gesture Indicating the road over
which you have come.
And this will go on all day unless you
SHOULD chance TO meet some one not a
Free Slater who would set you straight.
Like all mountaineers the Free
Staters are fine shots, both with the
rifle and the shotgun. The majority of
them use the rife and kill anything they
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

judgment upon his fellow sinners. On
one occasion two COW punchers were
arrested by the sheriff for scrapping
IL wasn't much of a scrap, and no ono
was killed. The offenders were brought
before Squire Bean The squire heard
the evidence and fined one of the COW
punchcrs 81 and costs. The costs came
to $50 Seven dollars and thirty due
the court said Roy.
1.-THE offending COW puncher put his
hat on the side of his head. went down
into his pocket. and hauled out a $40
gold piece.
q Take It out OF that. he said to
Bean.
Bean rummaged In the drawer OF his
desk. the judicial, official bank, as il
were. He found nothing. He then
turned TO the cash drawer under the
bar. The necessary change was not
forthcoming He looked at the 500 goid
piece and looked at the puncher, who
stood gazing at him impudently
The court has been reconsiderin
this case. he said. an 10 has decided
10 fine you for contempt Of court as
well as for disturbin' the peace The
whole fine comes to twenty dollars
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31
x $40 TAXES PAID IN THIS FREE STATE" OF Il2GAH y
OF OMydS Fgnnof FpG tL dOopedyT OeCun
BY - x

n Fauquier county. Va, about forty
miles south of Washington, there
is small section OF country known
TO the people of Virginia as the
Free State" Beyond the limits of the
counties that lie contiguous to Fauauier
the fame of this peculiar stretch of coun-
Try and its still more peculiar fnhabi
tants has not spread, to any great ex-
tent. but wherever the name OF the
Free State is heard it bears the sug-
gestion OF good times of al. sorts: horse
racing hunting. fishing. dancing. card
playing. whisky drinking, lighting and
all the pastimes that have character
lied, from time immemorial, the free life
of the mountaineer. IL is a name full Of
romance. and one which carries with IL
a distinction all its own and difficult TO
describe
To begin with. the history of the Free
State is one that attracts attention. COM
bining as IL does the elements OF legal
record and hazy tradition. with the name
Of one of the great men of Virginia
thrown in TO add distinction, for the
territory covered by the Free State"
OF TO-DAY is part of large tract OF land
granted by Lord Fairfax TO Chief Jus
tice John Marshall the renowned Vir-
ginia iurist, whose name is inseparable
from the traditions of upper Fauquier.
That the land belonged TO Justice Mar
shall and that the present inhabitants
are the descendants of squatters who
settled on it without paying for it are
matters of legal record. as the books
OF the county court at Warrenton will
show today: the origin of the squatters.
who they were. whence they came. and
why they settled in that particular spot
are questions concerning which the ira
ditions of Fauquier are somewhat mixed.
Chief Justice Marshall and Squatters.
The tract OF land Justice Marshall re-
ceived from Lord Fairfax he divided into
two parts. one OF which he conveyed 60
his brother. James Marshall The re-
mainder he allowed to lie uncultivated.
and. after a time squatters began TAX
ing UP their abode upon this without
objection or hindrance on the part
OF the kind-hearted owner One story is
TO the effect that the majority Of these
settlers came from the ranks OF Nor
gan's Hessian troops. who. upon the
close of the Revolutionary war. decided
10 remain in Virginia rather than re-
turn home What lends piausibiHty tC
this theory Is the fact that. for many
months. Morgan and his Hessians were
quartered in Clarke county. in the Shen-
andoah Valley. about twenty miles from
the Free State across a spur OF the Blue
Ridge mountains. There are several fine
stone residences now standing in Clarke
county. which were built by the Hes
slams. The names of the present in
habitants OF the Free State. however
are not Hesslan. but mostly English
so that the Hessian theory seems doubt
full
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

~ WO very ingenious Frenchmen. Or.
PelIegrin and Eugene-Petit. an
Il architect, have recently invented
house. which they have duly
had patented at the Patent Office. which
is intended to provide lines of perpet-
ual sunshine for jewellers within its
walls. Like the sunfiower, which.
turns 10 her god when he sets. the
same look which she turned when he
rose" this house OF the two French
men is arranged so that IL will revolve
and always face the sun.
A Readable Prospectus.
Their invention IS called 1.-The Sun
villa or the Turn;ug-vina. and ac-
cording TO the prospectus. copies OF
which have been received here. sis an
habitation which shows ever its front
to the sun. since its rising till its set
ting" The sun-yilla has been patented.
and the inventors want TO organize a
company called Turning Houses" TO
build several hundred OF these struc-
lures lin the hivernaI places OF azure
share" And IL the dsmpany isn't form
eu II NOu De the IaliI or Dr. Pellegrin
or N. Petit or whoever wrote the pros
pectus. which is a thing TO make life
all sunshine for those who read II.
According 20 the English translation
Of the prospectus. M. DR.. Pellegrin' Is
principal physician superammated OF
the navy and an officer OF the Legion
of Honor. and member OF the ''hy-
giene council Of the district Of Tou-
Ion. while II. Petit is architect expert
In Paris. and officer Of the Academy. 81
Virtue of Suns Rays.
The learned physician gets in his wor1,
on the prospectus. and dwells on the vir-
ture OF the sun as a great healer. and
says in the prospectus that the inven-
ton OF this revolving house was for the
purpose of proving that very power.
starting with the proposition. TO quote
the prospectus that "the Sun. this
great doctor which does not cost any
thing, Is never at the disposal of actual
houses. before which he passes rapidly
into some few hours during the winter, %
the inventors devised an arrangement
on a turntable. fitted as a dwelling.
which can be so shifted. with little ef-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

are of the original brand. and IL is they
who give character to the locality. al
though the leading spirits of the Free
State are of the better classes. The
country is much changed from what it
was thirty or forty years ago, but the
parts that are still uncultivated retain
all the spirit of former times. On those
portions that are under cultivation the
taxes are paid. and the county collector
assured the writer a few days ago that
the taxes OF the Free Staters were less
I'm arrears than those of the people in
any other part of the county.
True Mountaineers.
The Simon-pure Free Slater, the man
who inherits all the traits of the free
squatter. is the interesting character
The country his class dwells in is in
the foot hills OF the Blue Ridge Noun
tains, and in--the rncultivated portions
it is very wild. Game of all sorts
abounds there Turkeys. pheasants.
quail. snipe, woodcock, foxes, rabbits,
squirrels. raccOons, 'pOssums and. some=
times, wildcats are TO be found I'm the
Free State. The people are natural
hunters. and spend most of their time
trapping, shooting and hunting with
hounds.
They are wretchedly poor. but if one
goes among them accompanied by a
friend who is known, he is assured of a
warm welcome and a share OF anything
they lave Riding along u bride path
over the hills and through the ravines.
one will often find himself on a steep
incline, looking down the chimney of a
cabin. stuck under the crest OF the hill.
Ii will contain one. or. at the most, two
rooms, and will be people by con-
glomerate mixture of men, women and
children. WedlOck IS not a condition
precedent TO the rearing Of a family
among this class of the Free Staters.
and many cabin contains a family,
the members OF which bear curious re-
lationships to one another.
Children Sell Nuts and Berries.
In the summer time the children oc-
cupy themselves picking. berries. which
they take TO Warrenton. ten miles dis
tant, for sale, walking there and back.
In the autumn they substitute nuts.
chinquepins. chestnuts, hickoryuuts and
walnuts. for berries, and in the winter
they sell the game their fathers have
killed. Few of them work. The men
hire out to the farmers now and then
to help cut corn. or shuck it, but they
are not steady. II the winter is severe
the corn shocks and granaries OF the
nearest farm suffer.
At such times little stealth is used
The marauders go together in parties
/ all armed. They find corn shock or a
barn. and help themselves. Asked by
a writer why he didn't prosecute half
I a dozen Free Staters who were caught in
/ his cOrnfeld one moonlight night last
! December. their identity being made
certain by the bright moonlight. we'll
to-do farmer replied: 1T is cheaper e
stand the loss OF a few barrels of corn
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

90 QUARE pianos are out OF style.
and they have not been made
~ for more than a decade, said
a dealer in mus al Instruments.
but we could not DO business with
out them. II is not often that an
old square piano goes 10 the junk pile:
It must be practically worthless before
il is unfit for exchange. 1 dare say that
not less than one thousand square pi-
amos were sold in Washington during
the past month for Christmas gifts, and
just as many hearts were made happy
The majority OF the rich and those in
moderate circumstances believe that
home is not complete without an upright
piano. and Shey exchange their old
square instrument, paying US, Of
course, a good sum In cash or notes
The squares are retoned, cleaned up
and made as presentable as possible
and we have no difficulty In finding
ready purchasers among those who are
unable to buy an expensive plano. And
let me say that some of these dear old
time instruments are Ia superior TO the
pianos which have sorced them out OF
the homes OF the rich e.
But.~then. there art many rich people
who WI not part with their square
piano, although they may own one. two.
or even three of the "p-to-date uprights
or grands. They hold to the old piano
because IL is 4 fine Instrument and often
on account of the associations. In some
homes the old square has become one OF
the family. and the head Of the house.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

made uncombustible and able to resist
at a tempest.
''She may be made elegant. susceptible
TO receive all the ameliorations thet The
modern comfort suffers: she may be
made OF every measures since the hum
blest villa till the most pompous palace
We'll understand hygiene proscribes
after all the large hotels made Of NOR
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31
Free Skaters Are Good Sports.

a thing of beauty. IT is. without ques-
ton, joy forever. Listen again 20 the
prospectus:
She may be Immediately inhabited
after her construction. without the peo-
pies run the chance OF catching rheu-
matism, as do the imprudents who
hasten to dry the walls of the houses
built with rough stones. She can be
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

tort. lhat Its glass 1nclOSed veranda viii
always get the fun effect of the suns
rays. All that is needed Is stron6
hired man to serve as motor. The sun
will do the rest. That is. if you sit on
the veranda and read the prospectus.
1T Is designed" says that interest
ing pamphlet. Ito put into practice on
an improved scientihcal fashion, the
heliotherapy or the cure by the sun for.
tive way again those who are well i'm
heaIty."
What the Sun Villa Is.
Il were difficult 10 describe, I'm ordi-
nary language. the villa and what IL is
intended TO do for its occupants. The
prospectus tells the story in a manner
and with words OF Gallo enthusiasm.
Those words should remain unchanged.
For instance:
This original and benefcient inven-
ton by the new element of witch II is
composited and by the obliged improve
ment OF It's execratiOn is destined TO
operate a revolution into the construc-
ton OF mans habitaton. Though IT re-
quires 10 give all its advantage "A Ger
tain loneliness of some yards around II
and that momentarily IL be more par
t1CularlN destined 10 the country, 10 the
open air. however. the necessities OF the
hygiene will soon impose il to the ar
ders OF the future towns steets-
The wants Of the lung are above the
wants of the stomach. The late one
wants only ailments two or three times
In twenty-four hours; the former, on
the contrary, must removal its provision
of air twenty times In a minute, there
fore give him: space, air. and sun
The House of the Future.
The modern house IS a terrible thing,
according to the prospectus. when COM
pared with "our house OF the future -
Speaking OF modern houses. it says:
These receive only the sun during
some few hours; I'm winter time you are
frozen; in summer time il Is the con-
trary. you are roasted. In return our
villa OF progress. the villa of future, re-
ceives the sur in winter during eight
or ten hours: and in summer. when he
becomes burning. she turns her back so
as 70 enjoy the pleasant shadow
Physicians have been talking from an
cient times about this turning the sun g
beams TO account. but there never was
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

any real advance made in the right d.
rection until DR.. Pellegrim and NJ. Petit
took hold Of the matter
The means was wanted: we do bring
it" they say.
The Sun-Villa isn't mere medicine
chest with no suggestion OF grace or
comfort in its construction or furnish
ing. on the contrary. II may be made
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-31

want with it. n a man brings in a
squirrel shot anywhere else but in the
head he is considered a bunKler of the
worst type. When not shooting at
game they have shooting matches TO
keep their hand in.
The crack shot of the Free State and
the man whose unequaled prowess has
earned for him the sobriquet OF king
of the Free State" is Charley Ashby
Concerning the doings OF Charley Ashby
there is much TO be written. and will be.
but 10 some the subject Of the Free
State cannot be left without brief mem
ton OF the most interesting character
there.
Charley is about fifty years old. He
is six feet in height quite thin. but for
physical strength. quickness. toughness.
and endurance he has no superior and
few equals IN the State OF Virginia He
is fairly well educated. considering his
opportunities, and represents the best
class of Free Slater. He f. a man OF
good habits, is married. owns property
his ability as 4 fighter. his marvellous
command ef any sort OF firearm. and
his unfaltering nerve have been tested
50 often that he is today more whole
somely respected and feared by all who
State. Time and again he has been
tackled by men OF superior size and
weight only to come out victor His
personal influence is boundless. Those
who do not like him fear him. although
he is generally popular BY profession
he is veterinary surgeon, his knowl-
edge Of the art having been gained by
practical experience. He is also an am
ateur detective of no mean ability. This
game he has taken up only recently. but
he has become invaluable to the Com
monwealth's attorney for Fauquier in
running down criminals Of every sort
If there are any robberies. cutting
scrapes or shooting Arrays to look after
Charley is the man who nine times out
of ten catches the culp Fit.
One of Charley's Fights.
Chaney's fighting ability was put to
severe test only few weeks ago. and his
capacity TO stand punishment was
proven. He had some difficulty with a
neighbor. who stands over six feet. and
weighs upward Of two hundred pounds.
No fat hampers this big mountain
farmer. He is as hard as nails and IN
the prime of life. Charley Asl.by
weighs little over a hundred and fifty
pounds.
In speaking OF the fight atterward one
of the Free Staters remarked Jim IS
burned good man and purity likely
with his fists. but he oughter known
better'n 10 hang Charley Ashby"
Before the fight had progressed far
Jim got Charley down and when Charley
put his hand against his antagonist. 3
face TO push his head back. Jim took
his thumb between his teeth and shut
down on It. They struggled TO their feet
but Jim held his grip on Charley's thulab
and hammered him for all he was
worth.