Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-02-05
Letter nom Virginia.

| Mr.. Editor :-Newtown in the northern
part Of King and Queen County, Va. is a
pretty little village on high plateau, TWEEN.
| ~ miles from Milford, one oil the best sta.
tons on the Il. +. and P. Railroad, and from
which all freight Is handled. One can see
at glance, from this rising ground, that the
land at one time, years ago, was In high
state OF cultivation. A half dozen fine old
mansions lie within radius of @ mile or
more, bot all show the ravages OF time and
the hand OF neglect. Hundreds Of acres of
level land are in sight, partly grown up In
bushes and briers, with here and there q
patch OF wheat or rye. In the cleared
spaces stand many pine poles twelve TO fl
teen feet high, around which are stacked the
COW peas or bundles Of fodder blades. No
one cuts of corn, cattle run in the fields oil
through winter and strip the stalks. Many
patches OF tobacco stubs show where the
crop had been planted. This county and
the one adjoining, Caroline, It Is said, raise
the finest tobacco sent TO Richmond. No
grass seed is sown, and the rotation corn,
peas and wheat is continued until the land
Is exhausted, then a new patch is taken up.
Not a dozen owners OF land in the district
are working their own land, all, or nearly
all, are renters. Scarcely farm here con
taIns less than five hundred acres. running
up to fifteen hundred. The one where sm
stopping has twelve hundred, and eighteen
months ago sold Tor 1880. By an old pa.
per found in the garnet OF the fine brick
mansion on this place, the owner 40 years
ago had an income oi 800 900 and one hun
dred slaves. 70 day he Is not worth dollar,
am told.
The land Is broken about four inches deep
with right hand pillow. Wheat and peas
are sown broadcast. Corn 10 worked with
one horse barshsre pillow. Everything
seems be from hand TO mouth No one 10
wake them, the people all sleep TIL the sun
is up. And with IL all they seem 70 be con
tented, visiting once In q while, tending
strictly TO their own affairs and agreeing
perfectly. On the sabbath all, or nearly
ell, go to church, and mostly every one 10 OF
the Baptist faith. One Of the finest churches
have ever seen in the country is near New.
town, called the upper King and Queen |
church. II was built IN 1851, and strange 70 |
say not dollars worth OF damage was done |
TO 1t during the war. A beautiful memorial
tablet set in the alcove OF the pulpit is dedl.
Gated to Rev. Andrew Broaddus, founder OF
the church and lite long pastor. Rev. Frank
Beale Is now its pastor and Is very much
appreciated.
In this district on every hand are thous.
ands Of scres of timber, pine and oak, and
sawmills are busy getting It into lumber Tor
the market. Large focks OF wild geese hy
back and forth from Mattapony TO the Rap.
pahannock and numbers have been killed
by hunters here. The woods are hiding
hOcks oil turkeys. Partridges cling 70 the
timer lands and are hard To hunt
Snow 10 now eight inches deep, but melt
ing last. Such q thing az sleigh you never
sec.
Entertainments by private families are
the whole thing here, and all enjoy them.
Among them which 1 have attended was
Q musicale at the residence ot DR.. Richie,
where found SIX Of the family were mu
slcians, playing ACCORDION, violin and Gui'
tar very nicely. Needless TO say II was en-
joyed by all present. May there be many
similar occasions, is the wish Of your writer.
MORE ANON.
Newtown, Va, January 80, lYO4