The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-11-30
ON HIS TRAVELS
Mr.. COyingtOn Writes of His Impres.
siOns in New Jersey.

Mr.. T. X. Covington, Of Stevens
burg, Culpeper county, visited in New
Jersey recently and sent US the follow
ing communication from Murray Hill in
that State:
never go 10 Richmond but what
sadness comes upon me when travel
almost in sight of Capt. VIM. Latane's
grave and not anything there after
forty-seven years 10 mark it. Some
times feel like doing il alone.
How I've been prosecuted since last
wrote you, but ! a thousand times
rather be prosecuted than pessecute.
have been greatly blessed. have
good home, five excellent children
and free of debt, then too have lots
Of friends. All these things ought 10
make me happy, yet it does not; only
the grace of God can be an abiding
comfort TO any of us and trust in him.
SO many things have happened in my
section since I've written you | cannot
refer 10 them or I'd take up full side
Of your paper.
Recently left old Virginia to visit
my old friend, Rev. w. A. l.. Jett,
here in New Jersey. made up my
mind last June TO do so and with what
open arms he and his household re-
ceived me. God bless such people. On
my route here ] found the drouth not
so bad as in Virginia and the lands not
as good as / expected 10 find them.
From New York here is about twenty
five miles and it is almost a continual
town. So much wealth is everywhere,
but do not like as do in old Virginia.
There are too many foreigners here. |
believe the Italians are in the majority.
Ny friend, Rev. w. A. l.. Jett, is
tiptop fellow. He is from Rappahan-
mock county and had at one time a
church in Essex county. His adopted
daughter married and her husband left
her abundant means and she takes care
of Mr.. Jett and his wife. am sure
there is not a preacher in ten thousand
who gives his time and talent to a
church as Mr.. Jett does and receives
no pay. Oh, ye preachers, just think
of Brother Jett.
The soil here is fine; so many adver-
tisements are everywhere to sell one
acre farms.
Bull Durham and Dukes Mixture are
advertised all the way from Virginia TO
this place.
Some queer notices are here, viz:
"a miles to Jine's dinner table, " 81
mile to Klnock's 5 supper plates. "
Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterlans,
Episcopalians and Catholics are here.
I've been spinning over these fine,
oiled Jersey roads in a $1,000 auto be-
! longing to this place at from 80 TO 10 miles
per hour.
. There is a dairy here that sells but
ter at 81 per pound and eggs at SOC per
dozen. Its cleanliness is beyond any
thing of the kind I've ever seen. The
cows are washed all over each day and
thoroughly dried.
attended reunion of Confederate
soldiers at Morrisville, Fauquier
county, recently and Mr.. c. c. Carlin
made an excellent address. Before
that | was somewhat predjudiced
against him, but not now since | heard
him make such a conservative speech.
Mrs. passenger, the owner of this
elegant home, has been giving me an
account of her trip abroad and it is the
most interesting | have ever heard.
She was Miss Selena Leadbetter, OF
Rappahannock county, Va. poor there,
but now her home is fit for any king to
live in, yet no home is too good for this
happy family. She has in one OF her
large mansions established home for
orphan children, called Pattie Watkins
Children's Home. | have visited 1t
several times and what blessing to
those dear orphans. Mrs. Passenger
really has the true missionary spirit,
for charity begins at home, " and she
is looking after the destitute at home
first and then those abroad. ] told her
last night | would not live here amongst
these foreigners for anything. Her
reply was, "they have to live some
where" What true, noble, Christian
spirit. If one-tenth of those who had
means did as she has what different
world this would be. Anyhow, it is
the world and all wehaye and the best
we can do.
Newark streets are about as rough
as any | ever saw.
| took a day IN New York and not
living soul did see that | knew; how
lonesome amongst millions of people.
Newark, it is said, is the finest
lighted city on earth, but the I'D should
be put on, for stores and saloons are
open on Sunday.
| forgot to tell you that in the
church went to was informed there
were more than two hundred women in
the church that had on bonnets or hats
that cost over $500 each and two ladies'
were there whose hats cost over $500
each.
Goodbye,
n