The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-02-19

| Stringless spinnets and dumb harp
sicbords stand mute records of the
days gone by, while empty chairs and
broken tables, like limping spirits. fill
the halls and rooms with shadows of
the past.
The front and portico of the Car
lyle House remain to-day as they were
originally when they looked unob-
structedly across upon the ancient
market place of the town, and beyond
to the further side of that square,
where still survives the old City Hotel.
built in 1852. and for some time Wash
ington's headquarters.
This same hotel, then known as
Wise's tavern, was built by Lord
airfax out of the same lot of bricks
he imported from England in 1751.
from which he also built Christ
Church, where Washington worship
ped, and the chapel to the same
church at Pohfck, few miles distant.
The Fairfax House, still surviving,
was built between the market space
and Christ church.
The market space of Alexandria is
intimately connected with the story
of Washington's life at Mt. Vernon. At
one time the place was known as Bell
haven, and in those days, according
to Weems, it boasted more of beauty
for the eye than charms for the pal
ate, He says:
Not that the neighborhood of Bell
haven was a desert; on the contrary,
it was in many places a garden spot
Astounding with luxuries. But it's in
habitants, though wealthy, were not
wise. BY the successful culture of
tobacco they had money. And having
filed their coach houses with gilt car
riages, and their dining rooms with
gilt glasses, they began to look down
upon the poorer sort and to talk about
families.
"Of course it would never do for
such great people to run market carts!
Hence the poor Bellhavenites. though
embosomed in plenty, were often in
danger of gnawing their nails. And
unless they could cater lamb from
some good-uatured cracker, or a leash
of chickens from the Sunday negroes,
were obliged to sit down with long
faces to a half-graced dinner of salt
meat and journey cake.
This was the order of the day,
"A. -. "uSd w just mar
ried to the wealthy young widow Gus
tbs, had settled at Mt. Vernon nine
miles below Bellhaven. The unpleas.
ant situation of the families at that
place soon reached his ears To a
man of his character. with too much
spirit to follow a bad example when
he had the power to set a good one,
and too much wit to look for happi-
ness anywhere but in his own bosom,
could not long be questionable what
part he had to act.
"a market cart was instantly con-
structed. and regularly, three times a
week. sent off to Bellhaven. filled with
nice rOasters, kidney-covered lamb
and veal, green geese, fat ducks and
COOLERS, chickens by the basket fresh
butter, new laid eggs, vegetables and
fruits of all sorts. Country gentle
men dining with their friends In town
very soon remarked the welcome
change of diet. Bless us alI!' ex-
claimed they, what's the meaning of
this? You invited us to family fare
and here you have given us a lord |
mayors feast Yes replied the !
others, thank God for sending a Col. |
into our netghborhood'
''The cat was thus let out of the bag. |
% the extreme modification of some !
IF the Little Great Ones that Col. |
should ever have run |
market cart" !