Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-06-13

natives of this section. Indeed, most
of US who are living elsewhere are al
ways a little homesick for this old home.
There are those, however. who half
seriously and half in fun say what is
also true of this section that here you
can live on nothing and make less. :"
These last we know are much in error,
for whilst one can live cheaply. and
there is unusual healthfulness. due
mainly to abundant pine woods, fairly
high ground and salt waters and hy-
gienic living, am reliably informed
that this whole peninsula is in excellent
financial condition, and that in this
very county OF Accomac whilst no one
is greatly wealthy, the per capita
wealth is greater than in any county in
the United States. Surely here one
can always find steady work in seeking
wealth from the soil and water also.
To absorb however. the most charming
spirit of Makemieland. you will need to
tarry here. as | expect to do. for the
next ten days. and drive as ! often do
through this lower Peninsula and to
many of the old colonial homes here
abouts which are as rule situate away
from the railroad and mostly down the
little necks of land covered with Christ
mas tree woods and between the water
courses. Many of these places are in
excellent condition and still affection
ately owned by those to whose ancestors
they We're granted by the crown nearly
three hundred years ago, and have
never gone out of the family, and who
still have faithfully serving them old
slaves who have never left their old
homes. Here we find also chiefly the
old type English homes and the
Englishman's love for the good old
place, and desire to keep it in the
family. The very names even of those
old Colonial places and their owners are
so suggestive of the best in the history
of our country.
Would that had time to speak fully
of Colonel William Stevens. who first
sent to ireland for our beloved Mackenzie.
and who held the patent from the
crown for all that great section of
Mackemieland from the Capes of Della
ware to within mile of this monument,
and whose public services were so
prominent and great, and whose grave
is near Makemie's beloved Rehoboth
Church in Maryland just over the Mary
land and Virginia line and almost with
in sight of where we are now standing,
and near Stevens grave is also the
grave of the interesting and distinguish
ed Madam Hampton, sister-in-law of
Madam Holden, and like her three
! times married.
Hours of interesting and profitable
talk could also be given concerning
Beverly, the Dennis homestead. one OF
the oldest and perhaps the finest in this
section. and on the charming and his
tuIlG IoCuiiOhc RiNti dbohA Hihnay
between this monument and the old
Rehoboth Church. Much also would
like To say, did time permit. about the
various historical homes hereabouts OF
the Great Custis family Mount Gusts
and Deep Creek in this county and
Mount Arlington in the adjoining county
of Northampton. for which last place
the we'll known and distinguished Gus
tis Lee Homestead, now known as
Mount Arlington National Cemetery,
opposite Washington. ID. c., is named
Nor must | omit the several other
charming colonial homes on the severa
creeks near Eastvile in Northampton
County, in whose Court House are the
oldest continuous court records in tn,
United States.
Also would tell of some Of the early
preachers who kept the affairs burning
in these first Mackenzie Churches here
abouts and some Of whose descendants
are gladly here to-day. Rankin of Ber