The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-08-15
LETTER FROM T. R. COVlEGTON
He Tells Of a "trip to North Carclinl-Eel Pleased
With What He Saw

GoId>boro. &C.. August llth 1908.
To The Free Lance:
Laugh and the world laughs with
You.
Weep and you weep alone.
How true the above. and how often
have realized these iacts When ! am
mll of fun and joyial all wish to- he about
me. When in tears and -orroW not even
vuur children wish to scrit. Tmucomr,
in Gods blessings: then Ills gracc is all
sufficient Oh how comforting to read
His Word and sing His Psalms. \ lew
more years and we will he gone. to Doe
forgotten here. and Others take our
places ~ blades OF grass do uurauothrr.
had intylded tO write you I'm July.
but things bore too heavily upon me. ]
have been thinking for some time what
littlr part my relatives took in the war
oi the sixties My two uncleS. W. j.
Clarksou and John H. CIarkSon. both
under sixty were not Don the army my
cousin. John Andrew CiarkSon was Kill
ed: my cousin. 4. g. McGeorw: Brothers
!. G.. and X. K. Coviugton, severely
wounded several times; I. Il. Coylngton
and j. 4 Coyington. slightly wounded;
jaime. l.. ClarkSon. a prisoner, and not
touched with "a bullet. nor We're j. II.
Clarkson. Jr.. ". X. McGeorg' j. W
Phillips. or L. e. Phillips.
The above were my blood relatives in
the county oi EsseX.
Two not in the army, one killed. three
severely wounded. two slightly wounded
and five not "a scratch.
only four of the above are dead. and
nine living.
Nv trip through North Carolina rail
roading. was unsuccessful. as was
taken quite sick and had 10 remain az
home four weeks. II does really seem to
me this State Is taking "A stride ahead ol
Nirginia. for Readvillr. 1000; Greens
boro. 10000: Durham. 10000; Raleigh.
10000: GoldsbOrO. 5000; Kingston.
5000: Ncwburn. 10000; Beaufort,
, 300: Moorhead. 900; Rocky Mount.
10000: Wilson. 10000. TarborO. 5000.
and Gncnyillc. 5000. are all growing
more rapidly than any Oi our Virginia
towns and cities.
had IA happy reunion of my iamlly-
wife. five children and three grandchil
dren-on the both. Both and 3lst ol
July. Probably it was the last time we
will be- together again. How sad to say
goodbye. we shall never say good
bve in Heaven" How sweet and com
forting those blessed words.
Wheat in my section OF Culpcper coun-
" is lust about one-third crop; oats fine
hav good. corn fine. Many crops ol
wheat were greatly damaged onaccount
OF wet weather.
Rain has not fallen plentiully here. III
North Carolina. but thecropsol tobacco
cotton. peanuts and corn are good.
Dr.Cunningham preached from Hebrews
10: subject. Rest. which was a grand
discourse. I've repeated and repeated 1t
at home.
Temperance is on a high plane here
OF the cities above named, allar dry but
l. Doctors. lawyers all State and cOun
tv oHicials lees have decreased at least
one-third on accOuntO of temperance. The
convicts are one-third less, too; while on
the other hand the States finances arr
on boom.
The ecolored State lunatic asylum l.
! here. Ufltlpl lllf lllDNi 'N''iH'iN N'''''''r'
ment of DR.. Miller. Just such venerable
old Gentleman as DR.. Charles Cooke. de
ceased; who had charge Of llolllns In
stitute so long, only he Is a Methodist
which denomination seems to have The
inside track here
OF INV four weeks stay here have not
seen half dozen drunken men anywhen'
Eighteen years ago there were only l6'
Mt this asylum, and now nearly GOO
Freedom does not agree at all with TN
negro. There are twice as many temale
as males, and they are much more ann
cult to manage than the males. Dr
Miller informs me that the oifspnngs o
drunken men have a greater tendency t'
produce inebriates than any other cause
nh what a curse TO our land intoNlcat
ing drinks are, and how mean in mem men
her of church TO have speak easy -
wolves in sleeps clothing.
The Confederate soldier here, wltnon
a single exception, praises Virginia ho'
nitolity so much. and especially our ' u
ginio women. who would divide thel
last morsel of bread with a soldier. \
an ex-Confederate, they have given III
| a warm welcome.
| This is truly a progressive s'ctloh
| Good evening.
| T. X. Coyington.