The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1920-11-19
"REMINISCENCES
WRITTEN FOR THE ENoUlRERl

Prior to the opening of the Pope's
Creek line of the Pennsylvania railroad,
the old stage coach was quite an in
stitution here. 1t brought the daily
mail from Washington and also pas
saEgers. 1t was of the type of the
Tailyho, swung on leather springs, with
high seat for the driver, and arrang-
ed to carry trunks behind and small
baggage on top. 1t made the trip
from Washington in the morning and
returned in the afternoon. The time
| of the journey varied from about
| four hours in summer to six hours in
winter and spring when the roads
| were bad. This Stage was usually
| drawn by horses with relay at Forest :
vile. The writer remembers taking
: one trip on the stage with his Aunt,
when quite little boy. 1t happened
to be the time of muddy roads, and the
trip lasted from about one o'clock P. M.
until nightfall. The monotony of the
journey was relieved by the With
cisms of fellow traveller, stranger
TO this part of the country, who found
much TO amuse him in the unusual
.ens along the WY. | eme mber well
that the conditions of the road COM
PEELED the coach, or stage as it was
commonly called, to take d circuitous
route which brought US in sight of
singularly constructed dwelling which
was known as "the mud house, and
witty friend remarked that ample mat
eraI could be found in sticky clay of the
road to build many such structures.
have said that the stage carried the
mails and the starting point was at the
village pos stoffice. which was at that time
presided over by Mr. Ned Scott, rare
character; and was located in dingy
dirty old building standing where the
colored Knights of st. John now have
their hall. > Nearby towards the jti
was the tailor establishment of MIR.
Westerfield who sat cross-legged on a
table, IN the old time style, and indus
.triouslY piled his needle. On the op-
posite side of the street near the Catho-
lie church, in the house now standing
Mr.. and Mrs. Rothstein conduct
ed the town bakery where hot bread
and ginger cakes were regularly
manufactured, and sold to residents
and to the county stores in the COM
| munity. Here too, and more particu-
larly at Christmas, was the empor-
| ium for toys, and co sequently popu-
lar rendezvous for the children.
And must not forget to mention
the dancing School which was, for sew
eral Summers, conducted here in the
Grand Jury room of the old Court
House by the elegant and courteous
French master, Monsieur Labey, who
taught the little beaux of his school all
| the gallantres of his race and the little
bellies the graces and courtesies of for
eign Courts. How beautiful he play
ed the violin, and how particular he
was about the manners of his pupils,
no one could forget. The quadrilles
and the Lanciers were taught to be sx-
ecuted with measured steps and grace
full bows and courtesies; and woe to
the lad who was inattentive, for the
favorite chastisement of the old master
was rap with his bow upon the great
toe of the offender. The chaste Vesu-
viana and the elegant Mazourka were
the highest accomplishments of the
masters pupils, and the climax of his
summers training. Most of those,
who figured in the delightful pastimes
and entertainments of that distant day
have passed away, but there are still a
few persons living in our midst to whom
these "reminiscences of the 10Th Cen
tury may appeal for there are ever
Deposited upon the silent store
IOf memory, images and precious
thoughts
That shall not die, and cannot be des-
troyed.
Az revoar.
FREDERICK SASSCER