The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-08-18
LETTER FROM Mr.. C0WNGT0N
He Gives His Views on a Variety OF
Subjects.
Stevensburg, Va, Aug. 18th, 1910.


While with my son near Manassas, he
and went over to neighDor ana
bought a COW from Mr.. woodward. We
were shocked to find green snake had
lust bitten his wife upon the forehead
and hand, both of which swelled con-
siderably and was giving her much pam.
DR.. Battle, from Charlottesville has
been helping Rev. G.. w. Hunt here IN
an IL days meeting; . united with the
church.
Rev. Mr.. Shinton Of the Methodist
church il on his third series Of meetings
now.
Mr.. Collins Shackelford, near Kelly
vile. died last Saturday and was buried
Sunday. He leaves a widow and chill
dren. 2 married and single. His wife
was a Miss Wheatley. lie was one OF
our best citizens and will be greatly
missed, farmer and stock raiser.
Mrs. Caully, from Richmond. is visit
ing near here.
Our section is filled up with visitors.
really don I know of any place better
to spend the summer than right here.
The fine air, beautiful scenery, eX-
cellent water and people make 1t superb.
Wheat threshing is about through
and is an average crop. Crops generally
are doing well.
Little sickness and few deaths are
reported. Not a death has occurred within
seven miles of here Of resident Tor a
long time.
forgot to say the hay crop is shorter
than ever known here.
NV son ordered 30 Rhode Island Red
chickens lone day old from New YORK
State. which cost II cents each, and al
died but 3. lie, however, has little
son. & months old, named Alfred Broad
dus. and he is worth more than nine
hundred and ninety-nine chickens.
Nv cousin. John II. Clarkson, writes
me he will have a monument unveiled
to John Andrew Ciarkson, who was
killed at Waterloo bridge 22nd OF Au-
gust 1862, at Ephesus church, IN Es-
sex county, the 22nd Of this month.
All the cousins, - Of them. are worth
on an average of $751; each, and Just
to think only $685. from all of them
has been raised. think the stone
ought To be unveiled where he was
buried. in the Baptist church yard at
Jefersonton. in this county, or at
/ Lebanon Methodist church in Essex, Of
which he was a member; professed re-
ligion and joined the church there IN
| August. 1858, the same time | dld, one
month after my fathers death.
There is more rush for earthly fame
and money in this section than We
ever seen and less for spiritually. 1t IS
indeed rare you ever hear anyone speak
of their or their nelghbor spiritual
welfare, but continually OF their money
matters. Truly If the dead were 10
Use they would not believe. Wen
might Rev. A. Broaddus assert In your
columns the association TO be held m
his district should be one of God and
not Of revelry. Should larise in con
gregation and sing
cold man. old man, may have your
daughter?
Yes, Yes, Yes, if you treat her as
you oughter.
If YOU don't I'll torment you,
And when | die my ghost will haunt
you"
Now how ridiculous the above would
appear before congregation, yet 1t
would be far better than see young
man and lady who profess Christianity
sitting in a house Of God giggling at
everything in sight, something ] never
did in nv life. I've been afraid. !
always remember the words, Behold,
this IS My house, enter it with rever-
ence and PRAYER" ] am in favor of
addressing a note to all such asking
them TO stay at home. All "many
will be called, but few chosen. en-
loved reading Mr.. Broaddus letter; he
signed his name. If we are ashamed
for people to know who writes then
don I write.
If anyone in Virginia ever goes west
90 to Watertown, S. ID. There the
water is fine, people good, churches
plenty, schools unsurpassed, soil rich
and productiveness unsurpassed. l do
not see or hear or smell an ounce OF
commercial fertilizer while ! was there.
-Four miles from Watertown Is Lake
Kampeske, as fine water as is in the
: world. This lake is "a square miles
} and has beautiful cottages all around 1t,
; The bottom is sandy and grayelly, filled
with pickerel, pike and perch fish. lr
! some places this lake is so feet deeT
and the water is as clear as a crystal.
In the winter wild ducks and geese are
in great abundance, also the prairie
chickens. To be there now and see the
= immense fields Of small grain is won
derful. What vast wealth there is II
South Dakota. In the last 10 years
; Virginia has increased 10 per cent II
} population and South Dakota % pei
cent. Go where you choose in Soutl
Dakota and you see vast wealth. The
lake | referred to has enormous sprlng
of pure water in it.
| spent nearly four months IN tina
city and but for the whiskey sold Their
= il would be one Of the most desirable
. places | ever saw. But it is indeed sa'
to note that no place would ever g
T. wet but for wet members OF th'
: church.
i About 10 years ago | bought a ear
Y load of lime and put on 20 acres OF tn
e poorest land | had. put 1000 lbo. u
the acre. Today it is the best piece o
land have, it has steadily improved.
. Well, shortly shall start on anothe
: journey. Please forgive me for writ
ing such long letter.