The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-10-19
SCENES OF HIS BOYHO0D
interesting Letter From cOlOred Man Who Visited
Old Home After SIS Years.

Ulo nome After 55 Years.
Moses J. Terry, Readings veteran
barber, has returned from au interesting
VISIT 10 the scenes of his bOyhOod day :
IN IN Nirginia- He has prepared for the
basle the following interesting account
Oi his trip; Thinking it an opportun.
time To Sc my old home. situated on tho
happahannOck River, about - t1iles be-
low fredericksburg. Va. arranged
win my old friend. WIN. II. Baylor. uf
fredericksburg. 10 spend some time wfth
MN on my return from the james town
Exposition.
fredericksburg is quite "a business place
ana her merchants are up tO-date. sociA-
ble and Oblging. I called on Mr.
randolph Howard, gent eman uf
wealth and influence, and was shown l. :
stables lie has number of blood. j
| hOrses, hne carriages and all Handsomely
| equipped Judging from the number of
blue ribbons encased, he hns been ver,
successful at the numerous horse shows
at which he competed. | met many de-
scendants OF old acquaiutances, and all
were glad TO see me. 1 shall ever hold in
grateful remembrance the Kindness and
cOurtesies shown me by the Deople of
fredericksburg and vicinity. " while there
met many of the leading citizens through
my friend, Mr.. Baylor, who il very
wei known and highly respected in the
community.
TRIP down THE RAPPAuANNOCK.
Provided with a guide in the per-on
ot Charles Baylor ana credentials from
the hands of Mr. II. LewisM allace. "A prom.
lnent attorney of Frederick sburR. a
grandson OF Henry By rd Lewis, proprie-
TOR Oi the old homestead Cleve. | pru-
ceeded down the narrow winding river
IL was "a great treat To see SO many old
and familiar places along it, banks. By
and by we arrived at the old homestead
Cieve. was kindly received hy MIR
Lewis. who Is past 80 years old. He is.
however, hale and hearty aud "A true
model oi the Virginia gentleman. lie
was more than pleased to see me and
manifested great interest in INV vlsit
We talked several hours over old times
he declared that was the first person
from the old homestead who had called
20 see him since left 80 years ago. We
then took a stroll over the farm, noting
some OF the old landmarks. A great
change has taken place IN the general
appearance of the place 1 next visited
Canning, an adjoining farm formerly
owned by st. Ledger L.Carter. but # had
been sold To VIM. Taylor Smith long since
deceased. Mr.. Allan Smith, the present
owner, was very glad to see me. He ask
ed me many questions regarding the prop
erty: tanning Is a model farm and
yields abund9ntly. We walked over the
place, noting the many changes that
have occurred during the past 90 years
Old not see single soul on either of
| THESE plantations whom knew but Mr.
Lewis. We returned to Mr. Lewis home
and enjoyed his hospitality In the shape
OF a substantial supper and a nights
lodging In the same house where | lived
prior 10 leaving for Pennsy ylvania in 1852
We were given good breakfast next
morning and then rOwed down the river
20 Port Royal. | called TO see Mr.. Champ
| thornton, who was merchant ia PORT
Royal In my boyhood, he being the only
living person whom | knew there. AL
though SO years of age, found that his
memory was still keen. He Is a remark
able man. inquired of him about the
condition OF the cOlored people | was
sure he would know, having lived there
80 maHy years.
COLoRED PEOPLE GETTING ALONG WE'LL
''He told me that they were getting
| along exceedingly well. They are sober
and industrious and many of them have
acquired farms. They have built a fine
church at Port Royal which he invited
me 10 go and zee. They have up to-date
schools-industrial and otherwise. In a
word, they are disproving the old say |
Ing that the colored people are all lazy |
and won't work. | visited Port CONWAY |
across the river IN old King George |
This Is the Terry which was crossed by |
Booth after the assassination of Presi |
dent Lincoln. At Port Conway | met |
Mr.. II. b. Coghill, who conducted the
store. | found him a perfect gentleman
de gave me the history of many persons
living in King George, most of whom
have passed away. We then returned 10
fredericksburg and visited the county
lair. The second day the fair was well |
attended, at least 5000 persons being
present. | noticed that there were no
Intoxicating liquors sold on the ground
and no drunkenness was noticed.
ONLY ONE SAD INCIDENT.
MY visit was q pleasant one from
start to finish There was but a sin0l.
thing in my observation that caused me
to feel sad This was when visited the
burial ground where st. Ledger Landon
Carter and vile are inferred. There was
not single mark TO tell the location of
those graves. Ii was specified in his last
will that his only heir should provide
suitable tombstones for him and his wife
IL Is a shame that their resting place IN
so neglected. Mrs. Carter was a first con.
sin of Gen. Robert L. Lee, and her bns-
band was the grandson of old King Car
ter, a man OF wealth and influence IL il
said that old King Carter lways attend
ed ehurch on Sunday in coach and
lour ana by prearrangment, when he
thouSnt the sermon had reached its Limit.
he would give the minister wink. which
4 ah l..