Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-08-18
Communicated)
AFTER TWENTY YEARS, CONES
BACK.
EDITOR CITIZEN:


Some twenty years ago left my native
county CT Richmond and settled in the
far west. have kept in touch with the
happenings, however, of that county and
those adjacent by subscription to your
paper. Some have been sad; others had
giaddened me. The success in life, politi-
eally and otherwise, of Mr.. j. W. CHM,
lr., whom knew as boy, has made me
glad; but recall with feeling of peeu-
liar sadness the fact that Squire Lyell
is no more. As a little boy have often
trudged beside my mother to the home
OF this good man for advice, and re-
member she was always more cheerful
when she left, and she would usually
say: God will reward Mr. Lyell for his
goodness to me-" And DIR. Booker, whose
presence at the bedside of the sick was a
benediction, has gone to his reward. SO,
after an absence of these twenty years,
here am back again among my people.
drove over to Heathsville today and
mingled with the people on the court
green. 1t carried me back to the old
court days at Warsaw. The courthouse
at Heathsvile has been remodeled and
is a stately looking edifice. Mr. William
Cralle is still clerk of the court. NV
father once bought piece OF land in this
county and | came with him to this
place to have the deed recorded, and Mr.
Cralle looks just the same was pleased
TO see the great strides made in the fish
ing industry Mr.. Snow, of Heathsville,
has invested largely i'm this business,
though believe a Mr.. Morris, of Reed
vile, same county, is the pioneer. I'm
mense buildings for the manipulation OF
the guano have been erected and fleet
little steamers cut the water wide open
looking for the menhaden.
l was also gratified to see the great
change in the appearance of the farms,
and even the people. Prosperity seems
to reign. have not seen one of the old
vehicles so frequently seen on the road
in the years agone-an OK cart-since
my coming here. Among many people
this was the chief mode of travel even in
the SOS. The thing that seems to interest
the people now more than anything else
is what they call the primary" This is
something new, but l think a good
change-if managed properly.
OF the two candidates for Senator, Mr..
Martin seems to be way ahead. OF the
three aspirants for Governor, Swanson
is undoubtedly the preference. put in
two Sundays at Marvin Grove, the Chris
tan Mecca OF Tidewater, and away from
the Tabernacle heard little else than
politics. Lancastera and Richmond coun-
ties are fighting over Representative in
the Legislature. III had vote would
give it to my countyman, Lyell, for YOU
can put your finger on that man any
time
In the Gubernatorial fight the thing
that l couldn't understand at first was
why the whiskey element, led by vet
eran, were endorsing the candidacy of
Mr.. Mann. Their object, however. was
soon apparent: A vote for Mann meant
half-vote for Willard, the latter being
the unanimous choice OF the whiskey
people. The situation in Lancaster would
De amusing 1t IL was not so serious. All
the Mann and Willard guns seemed
turned against Mr.. Lee, the Editor OF
the CITIZEN. Don't try to beat Willard
or Swanson or anybody else but Lee.
And, strange to say, some Of Lancaster's
anti-liquor folks, caught by the SIRENS
temperance song, sung loudest by the
Aforesaid veteran, are heartily support
ing Mann. The result? The temperance
movement will get setback from which
it will take years to recover, If ever; and
these same people are now endeavoriny
To undo purpose which some time
back they sought so strenuously to nc
complish. Why? Because the candidacy
OF this man Mann is myth, similar to
Joshua I.evcrine's candidacy and other
Prohibition candidates in Presidential
elections. OBSERVER.