Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-08-13
In THE TlDRWATRR REGION.
Interesting Sketch Of Irvinston by
Our Former T0wnSman,
IRvINGroN. VA Inlu /.

lRVlNGTON, VA, July "A, 1909.
The sojourner in this part of Vir-
ginia, though at first bringing with him
preludices as to the country, its mate
rial tendencies, the bad water and lack
of facilities for travel, as he dwells
among the tidewater folk feels these
prejudices quickly melting as he sees
for himself the country. To stop at a
hotel good as any in the land, with fish
right out of the water, and fairly flop
ping in the pan; with vegetables so
fresh as - have no time for willing
for the landlord raises them in his own
garden over the fence close by; with
water from an artesian we'll 600 feet
down, and flowing in copious stream
water so pure that it is almost like
distilled water; with fresh breezes blow
ing over the salt surface of the Ches-
apeake only a few miles away; and
with oysters of your own raising within
twenty steps of the porch; with not a
mosquito to be heard or seen-but see
this sentence is to be interminable, and
l cut it off abruptly.
1t is an odd thing. but it is hard to
find an up countryman who has not in
soRe way absorbed the idea that the
land bordering on the Chesapeake and
its tidewater tributaries is poor, worm
out and unfertile, and the climate a
dangerous one, full of fever and ague,
and that the inhabitants are thin, ague-
smitten and sickly. But as a fact !
doubt If a stronger and more robust
set of men and women may be found.
Sunburnt they are, and Drowned by ex-
posure, but for all that, sturdy and hard
working. The development of truck
ing-raising vegetables for the market
and for canning-has made money for
these people; and what with the fish
and oyster industry and the canneries
that take the crop from early peas to
tomatoes and corn, with all sorts of
fruits-all these have money and live
well. Scarcely man but owns his own
dwelling. and not q few have substan-
tial accounts in the bank.
Politics here seem not much in evil
dence. Outside the local papers. which
are advocating the election of Mann
or Tucker and legislative aspirants, we
have little to stir the public heart.
Irvington fills up rapidly during the
summer. Those who have once found out
that the place is an ideal one for quiet
recreation never fail to return, and of
ten bring others with them. The hotel
here is an excellent one, the creek
(Carter's Creek) is fine for bathing,
the water salt, and the place as retired
and sequestered as could be wished.
1t is favorite resort for Baltimo-
reans, and not few from Richmond
come here for the restfulness and quiet,
to say nothing of the excellent fare.
There are some steamers week
from Baltimore and one from Norfolk,
and as these make return trips we have
one at the wharf almost every morning
and evening. The founders of irving
ton failed or neglected to put a wall
that would mark it's boundaries. AL.
together they claim 1000 inhabitants
and this estimate does not include hor.
ses or cows. The colored contingen,
all live across an arm of the creek,
and so the place is in sense lily white
though distincly democratic. j. B.
Hodgkin, in Manassas Journal.