The Republican journal., 1915-12-16
A Journey Through the South.

"A journey through tilS OOutl.
IA paper read by Mrs. Thomas B. Dinsmore
before the Unitarian Alliance Dec. End. and
published by request Of The Journal
If one wished to take trip of few
weeks during the winter, there could be
no mistake in going south. What could
be more interesting, ut was to slthan
sail down the beautiful Potomac river
from Washington to Alexandria, Va. a
quaint old place which has the look of
having been forgotten. Sore OF Its
streets have paving stones which it would
be impossible to drive any sort of a team
over, except mule team, this being a
common sight. The stores, at least those
we went into, had the appearance of be.
ing places of rest. AS we were in need
of trunk strap (some one having reli4
ed US of one of ours) we went into shop.
There was no one in evidence, SO we kept
on toward the rear, being attracted in
that direction by the sound of person
sleeping. A window was open, with the
morning sun shining brightly through the
Virginia creeper which covered the
screen. Tipped back in comfortable
chair sat an elderly man, presumably the
proprietor, soundly sleeping. Feeling
that he would much p efer to finish his
morning nap to making so small sale as
a trunk strap we took one last look and
silently passed out.
A little later, when in quest of post
cards, we were waited on by pretty
girl who in speaking had the soft
southern accent that is so fascinating.
After a few moments conversation
about the cards she said, "You are
from up north" We admitted that we
were, and from Maine. She said: "Oh,
are you? Do you live near Eastport?"
When she was told we did not live very
near there, and we asked her what she
knew about Eastport, she said: Il look
at the weather report every day, and
when we are suffering from the heat it is
always cold there" A little farther on
We saw several negroes working on the
street under guard of an officer who car
ried rifle. Noting that each man was
dragging ball and chain from his ankle,
we asked what crime they had commit
ted, and were greatly surprised when
told it was for drunkenness. We felt,
being in the south, that it undoubtedly
applied only to negroes, and could hardly
feel that "the punishment fits the
crime"
There are many fine old residences
here, but the most interesting place is
Christ Episcopal Church, where George
Washington worshipped. 1t is small,
of red brick, with white trimmings,
and is enclosed, together with the old
burying ground, by high fence of brick
and iron. On both of our visits here the
same old sexton showed US the church.
The altar, which is of solid mahogany, is
very plain, with tall silver candlesticks
on either side. The communion service
is of heavy Sheffield silver, and both were
brought from England long before the
Revolutionary war. After showing these
to US the sexton asked US to follow him.
He took US down the center aisle about
half way, opened the door of pew and
asked US to enter and be seated. After
moment he said: 'Y GU are sitting in the
pew which George Washington occupied
during his life" The pew was unlike the
others, it being twice as large. Across
the end opposite the door were two seats,
and the entire woodwork was covered
with red brocade, as were also the
cushions, much faded and worn.
When he thought we had been suitably
impressed he opened the doors and asked
US to pass out. He then took US down
the aisle little farther, opened the door
of another pew, and again asked US to be
seated. He then told US that Gen Robert
E. Lee occupied this pew, and was sitting
here one Sunday morning when he handed
him the telegram from Jefferson Davis
summoning him to take charge of the
army of the Southern Confederacy.
Services are held in the church every
Sunday, and visitors, who are always
welcome, are seated in either of these
Ito the old seXton) sacred pews. When
we left the church we thanked him for
his kindness nd expressed much interest
in the church and all he had told US. He
returned our thanks by saying, $50 many
visitors come in laughing and talking and
show so little interest in what tell them
that wonder why they come"
He walked down the street with US and
pointed out the tavern where Colonel
Ellsworth was shot. In 1861 Confeder.
ate flag was flying over the tavern, and
young Ellsworth OF the New York Zoua-
yes. accompanied by two soldiers, went
to the top of the house, tore down the
flag, and was returning to the street
with it when the proprietor suddenly ap-
peared and shot him. The next instant
the proprietor himself was shot dead by
one of the soldiers. This>was called the
first invasion of the sacred soil Vir-
ginia, an expression that became a by
word.
The sexton had sad and reminis cent
manner as he told US all this, for he had
lived here through the horrors of the
war and the sadness of it all seemed to
cling to him. Here we bade him ''good
bye" feeling that the pleasure of meet
ing a courtly southerner mad been ours.
| looked after him as he passed down
the street and felt that he must be the
counterpart of Thomas Nelson Pages
"Old Gentleman With the Black Stock"
We wonder sometimes if all the guides
tell is true, but no one could doubt the
word of this gentle old sexton.
The ride from Alexandria to Richmond
is uninteresting; past negro cabins spraw-
ling in the sun, and shacks where "poor
white trash," as they are called, just
exist. At every station there was a
queer looking crowd that seemed as
though they might have been relics of
some broken-down Uncle Toms Cabin
company; for there was always among