Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-10-29
HOME FOLKS COLUMN
By r. S.
4 Fathers Tribute.

Down the ripping tide OF the Delu.
tiful Potomac, where the historic o!c
stream widens until Virginia IS on,S
q haZy dream of mauve and green!sh
grey, creek makes in the Maryland
shore. 1t appears on the nautlct.!
chart as Il tiny vein not of sufficient
Importance to bestoW upon it q name,
vet it is known to the sailors and to
the oystermen, as we'll as to the To-
calitv from whence its waters spring,
by the simple name, Smith. Perhaps
it is in honor of the doughty captain
who intrepidly explored these waters
1t may have originated at a later date,
taking on the name, as small streams
are wont to do, of some early settler
along its's banks. Viewed from 2
canoe, yea. tossed about like a chip
upon it's bosom Smith creek is not
tehtiny ribbon the chart
would have US believe. Instead, i
stretches it's yawning mouth full q
mile wide. A wayfaring breeze flutes
it into soft ruffles and cascades, while
spanking one makes it bristle tur-
bulently and slap upon the shore ant:
curl around the rotten piling of an
cient wharves and boat landings.
The morning was calm, howeve",
my log book tells me, and IT was the
fifteenth day of August. We had left
Point Lookout with its dcep-throatcd
roar of mingled Bay and River, ana
had glided into calm waters in our
frail cockleshell of boat, relieved
for the time being of keeping her nose
to. or fighting white caps with our
blades.
Smith Creek was unknown to rs,
but we were aware that somewhere
up toward the fountain of it, was the
little village, Wynne, and at WynEe
could be found the post office where
we hoped to intercept 4 load Of mail
that we knew had been following rs
around ''hither and yon" as the oid
crabbcr expressed it. Our unfaml-
liaritv with the surroundings caused
us to effect landing at an oyster
wharf which stretched itself on bar
nacled piles, full length, like huge
cen5ipcde into the water. If cent?
pcdes lived near water, which they
do not.
High hills Of bleaching shells Dor"
mute evidence of the strenuous tong
ing and husking season. All was de-
serted now. the empty sheds stand
ing whitewashed and in apple pie or
der for the approaching month whose
"R" ushers in the ''fry-stew-broiIed
\ scalloped.'
The winding road vas dusty. and
to the side Of it corrallcd within &
paling fence in diverse stages Of di-
!apidation, stately mansion thrust
great chimneys upward, nigh it seen-
ed. in order to escape the embrace
of encroaching creeper and drOutk.-
dried weeds. 1t was vacant, staring
with sightlcss eyes out upon the
stream that in the first days of its n%-
istcnce doubtless gazed daily upon
indian canoe, and the white mans
dugout.
Old mansions had so long been our
hobby that ordinarily we would have
passed this one by with a casual sur
vev. Yet two features it bore, that
were different. Two distinctive marks
that stamped it patrician to the heart.
On one end, the brick chimney was
built double, and abutting the wide
mouthed fireplace within, another
similar, but of larger proportions
turned into the yard. So cavernous it
was. that stood upright within and
looked away upward to the tiny
square patchwork Of blue that shona
through at the opening.
Then, on the waterward side OF the
house, from high window, was sus-
pended powerful lens, which refec.
ed the noon sun. but could not tell lis
it's mission, or whose hand placed i
there.
1t is one Of the unwritten laws on
the social register Of men, that if
you can't find out something you wish
to knew real badly, go ask the bar-
Der shop, at the same time 1t was
soothing and restful to lie tilted bac!;
and listen to the soft drawl of the
barber's voice as he talked in har-
monv with the droning of the electric
clippers.
Te told US everything he knew
Stories he had in plenty, having
served several enlistments on one OF
Uncle Sans men of war. We wen:
with him through the Gulf, and the
waters of Cuba. Steamed through
the canal, kissed the Philippines, lazeo
on the Mediterranean and Far Away
Lands, and finally wound up jus,
where we were, on Smith Greek.
We came to and asked him about
the dingy brick mansion hidden Il
the Strappiinp orchard by the shore