davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1925-03-08

Creek, without doubt, takes it's name
from the Pope family. of which Col.
Nathaniel Pope was the first in Vir-
ginia and the first recorded owner of
this land. Bridges Creek probably
takes it's name from the Bridges fam
lily, long settled in Virginia, some
member of which owned land through
which the creek flows.
X X X
A T the time the United States Gov
a ernment became Interested in
Washington's birthplace it built a
wharf where Bridges Creek joins the
Potomac. This was to make easier
the way of visitors to the birthplace,
the mouth of Bridges Creek being
nearer deep water in the Potomac
than Popes Creek. The Government
bought a strip of farmland from the
wharf to the house site, fenced it
with wire and called it A road. 1t
seems to me that the Government
called il an avenue.
The wharf was never of much use.
The lateral channel, dredged from
the main channel, would shoal, and
20 years ago The Rambler was told
by the captain of a steamboat that
Government rules made it impracti-
cable for boats to stop there. The
Bridges Creek, or Wakefield, wharf
steamboats, travelling between Wash
ington and the lower Potomac. Ice
and neglect had made the wharf a
ruin in 1904, and as time went on
only broken piles could be seen at
low water
In one of the circulars sent him by
DR.. Richard Washington, correspond
ing secretary of the Wakefield Memo
rial Association, The Rambler reads
this:
Meantime 10 acres have been ac-
Quired by the association. These 20
acres include the beautiful wooded
bluff overlooking the Potomac and
surrounding the spot on which once
stood the house in which George
Washington was born The particu-
lar spot is now marked by a ceme-
terial monument, erected and main
tained by the Government, which also
owns the right of way into the in
closure and to a wharf that has long
since been destroyed by ice"
If you follow the trail from Bridges
Creek toward the site of the house on
Popes Creek you will, when half a mile
from Bridges Creek, see in a field to the
right low red stone wall which incloses
a Washington burial ground. For years
this plot, with it's fiat gravestones, lay
unfenced in the field, which was plowed
and titled each season. A clunlp of trees
Evening star., 1925-03-08

and second, Col. Henry Willis of
Frederick sburg.
The birth farm passed from Law
renee to his son, Augustine, who
married, first, Jane Butler, daughter
of Caleb Butler, lawyer, and resident
of the Popes Creek country, and
second, Mary Ball, daughter of Col.
Joseph Ball of Epping Forest, and
his second wife, Mrs. Mary Johnson,
believed to have been a Miss Mont
ague.
The children of Augustine's first
marriage were Butler. who died in
infancy; Jane. Lawrence and Angus
tine. The children of Augustine by
his second marriage were George,
Elizabeth, Samuel. John, Augustine,
Charles and Mildred.
Augustine, father of George Wash
ington, left the Popes Creek farm
to his son, Augustine, who left 1T to
his son, William Augustine Washing
ton. The latter left the farm to his
son, George Corbin Washington, who
sold it in 1913 to John Gray of staf-
ford County. who left it to his son,
Atchison. Gray, who sold the place
to Daniel Payne. Payne took the
farm in connection with other prop
erty and owed a balance on it of
$4,000. Payne sold the place SUBJ
ject to this debt to Henry T. Garnett,
a prominent man in that part of
Westmoreland: Garnett moved from
Virginia to Alabama and he sold the
farm to Charles c. Jett, who titled
it for five or six years, but did not
pay the balance owed.
X X u
DANIEL PAYNE died, and the
- farm, which had been named
Wakefield, probably by William Au-
gustine Washington, was sold at
lContinued on Sixth PAGE
Evening star., 1925-03-08

immune to the "squeal' or exposure
of those he trusts and in whom hx
confides.
Ordinarily these imitation MASTER
pieces are turned out wholesale and
dumped onto the market through well
understood channels, but they are
also made to order to suit certain
verdant buyers. Men who positively
invite imposture turn up so often
in the galleries and studios that the
faker has a despairing cry of justi-
fication, which he commonly utters
with tragic gestures.
How can a man be honest when
there are that kind of fools in the
world?"
x X x X
one afternoon I was sitting in the
~ shop of one of these flash deal
ers, talking about old coins, a sub
ject in which the man in question is
as deeply versed as any one in the
country. The door opened and in
came a stately woman of so. with a
tiny dog on a leash and a suppressed
husband in the wake. My dealer re-
Evening star., 1925-03-08
Historical Rod.

THE Longmeadow Historical Society
has a queer hollow rod, about
five feet long, which was a ''courting
stick" of the Puritan days of 100
when etiquette was precise and
chaperonage was omniscient. When
the young people of Pastor Williams
home at Longmeadow gathered about
the big fireplace and chaperons kept
vigil lest words too sentimental be
passed from youth to maiden, the
lovers calmly outdid the chaperon by
using the courting stick. There was
license for it's use when privacy for
engaged couples was impossible in a
large family circle. If your sweet
heart sat across the hearth and you
wished to whisper sweet nothings"
into her ear. the courting stick came
to the rescue.
Evening star., 1925-03-08
THE WAKEFIELD MONUMENT.

inscription on it could not be read. In
the cemetery the Colonial Danes laid
memorial stone inscribed, I'm Memory
Of Augustine Washington, Father of
George Washington, Born in the Year
1894. Died May IL, 1743.' George WASH
ington's mother died in Fredericksburg
and is buried there. her grave being
marked by tall shaft resembling that
which stands where Washington was
born.
Turning back to his old notes,
which were obtained from sources
unQuestioned at the time, the Rambler
Evening star., 1925-03-08

NEkANl Il smart SlanQS on the
~ site of the home in which
~ George Washington was born
4 L and small plot of land at the
monument is inclosed by
tail, strong iron picket fence. The
monument was built by the United
States in 1895, and then the Govern
ment bought two strips of land across
the Washington farm for use as roads
TO, the house site.
The monument Is on land that is,
perhaps, 20 feet above tide and 100
yards from the steep bank of Pope's
Creek. That creek has its source on
the watershed between the Kappa
hammock and Potomac, and is a
crooked usual kind of brook for most
of its length, but its mouth is broad
and bay-like and a tidal estuary of
the Potomac.
The Washington house stood back
from the bank trimming much of the
tidal part of the creek, and had an
extensive view IN, down and across
the Potomac, there about three miles
wide. The course of steamboats,
is about two miles off the Virginia
shore. From the monument you see
such boats Is pass along the chan
nel and river passengers may see the
monument on fair day.
Outside the fence of the monument
and the wire fencing of the land
strips taken for road the Washing
ton farm has been given to growing
corn, wheat and grass. Part of the
farm has always been pasture and
part of it woodland. That was the
way things stood when The Rambler
wrote his first story about Wakefield
In 1904, and later rambles showed few
changes there.
The Rambler has been told that the
farm is now used for raising live
stock. and he knows that an auto
mobile road connecting the house
site and the highway from Fred
ericksburg along the Northern Neck
recently has been built by the State
of Virginia. Part of the farm has
been bought by the Wakefield Ma
tional Memorial Association, and this
association plans to buy the whole
birthplace farm" saying that the
purpose Is, first, TO keep the sacred
spot from exploitation either for
profit or for pleasure, and then to
seek to set it apart as goal of
patriotic pilgrimage for all the
people"
A mile and half nearer Washing
ton than Popes Creek another creek
passes through this Washington
land. That is Bridges Creek. Popes
Evening star., 1925-03-08

of the Xth month, 1896, and died ye Gath
OF 9/1729."
Augustine Washington, father of
George Washington, died at the Wash
ington farm opposite Fredericksburg in
1743, and all the information the Ram
bier has is that he was buried in the
family plot on the Bridges-Popes Creek
farm. The Rambler believes that when
this little cemetery came to be taken
care of by the Virginia Colonial Danes
the gravestone of George Washingtons
father was not found or if found the
Evening star., 1925-03-08

and brush grew above the graves. When
the Government bought land for the road
wire fence was strung about the grave
yard and foot of earth was shoveled
off the gravestones. That was the con-
dition when the Rambler was there in
1904
The Colonial Danes Of Virginia in
closed the pot with a stone wall in 1908.
and did what could be done to restore
broken gravestones and make the
epitaphs legible.
Inscriptions copied by the Rambler
were: Col. John Washington of Whar-
Evening star., 1925-03-08

is not known, but it is known that she
crossed the ocean and was buried with
her two children in Virginia at Wake
field John married for his second wife,
Ann, widow of Walter Broadhurst and
daughter of Nathaniel Pope of Glou-
cester."
John Washington settled in the
Northern Neck, in what is now West
moreland County, and bought a farm
between Bridges and Popes Creeks,
about IL miles below Colonial Beach
and 70 miles below Washington City.
Evening star., 1925-03-08
Beetle Broadcasts.

THE broadcasting of beetles love
song to it's mate was the feature
of program sent out by a London,
England, station. The occasion was
a national history lecture in which
the life cycle and habits of the beetle
were discussed. At the appropriate
moment the beetle, which had a spe-
cial microphone to himself, was per-
mitted to give his call. Many radio
fans complimented the beetle on his
performances.
Evening star., 1925-03-08

finds that two Washington immigrants
arrived in Virginia in 1857. They were
brothers, John and Lawrence. John was
the great-grandfather of George Wash
ington. Descendants of John and of
Lawrence are numerous, and there have
been marriages between Washingtons
descended from the immigrants. The
Wakefield National Memorial Associa-
ton, in a pamphlet, says: John Wash
ington, born 1633-34; he came to Vir-
ginia in 1858. The name of his first wife
Evening star., 1925-03-08

ton, England, died January, 1877; Law
renee Washington, eldest son of Col
John Washington, born 1861, died 1897.
Here lies the body of John Washington,
eldest son to Capt. Lawrence Washing
ton, who departed this life year 1861,
January 10, 60 years" Also Mildred
Washington, who died the With of Au-
gust, 1896. the eldest daughter of Sarah
Washington Here lies the body of Jane
wife of Augustine Washington. born at
Popes Creek, Va, Westmoreland, ye gath
Evening star., 1925-03-08
Rambler Renews His Acquaintance
With the Historic WASHINGTON Land
Fmiy iden
Area About PopesCr kand idge Creek.

GRANITE shaft stands on the
site of the home in which
George Washington was born
L and small plot of land at the
monument is inclosed by
Evening star., 1925-09-14
RAIN BRINGS HAVOC
IN SAVING CROPS
One Killed by Lightning in
MaryIand-DoWnpour
After Prayers.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HAGERSTOWN, Md, September IA.
Rain that saved thousands of dol
lars in crops for farmers throughout
Western Maryland took an equivalent
toll in property damage when the
downpour driven by a high wind and
accompanied by a severe electrical
storm, broke over this section late
yesterday.
Property damage estimated at
$2o0,000 was reported from Chambers
burg, Pa, where the tempest. sweep
ing along a narrow path, wrecked
buildings, tore down hundreds Of trees
and left a tangled mass of telephone
and telegraph wires in it's wake. In a
single wood north of Hagerstown hun.
dreds of trees were uprooted.
The repair shop Of the Western
Maryland Railway Company here was
destroyed with valuable equipment by
fire caused by a bolt of lightning.
One man was killed by lightning
and much damage done to electric
lines during the storm that broke the
grip Of an extended drought in Ale
sany and Washington counties, where
the temperature at times during the
past two days reached the 100 degree
mark. breaking all September records
Tor quarter century.
Evening star., 1925-09-14
RAIN FOLLOWS PRAYERS.
Richmond. Va, and Shenandoah Val.
ley Are Visited.

RICHMOND, Va, September Ia Op).
As il in answer to prayers through
out Virginia yesterday, in accordance
with the proclamation Of Gov. z. Lee
Trtnkle, Richmond was visited last
night by its first rain in 10 days.
Throughout the churches of the
city prayers were said. the Episcopal
Churches invoking moderate rains
and showers" and these were an
swered with thunderstorm which hit
the city at o'clock tonight. bringing
at first a light shower and then a
generous rain. The city had swell
tered during the day under a sun
which sent the Thermometer to 95.
Other parts of the State are under
stood to have been visited by rain,
the Shenandoah Valley reporting
showers in the morning which failed
10 bring much relief from the heat,
while last nights rain is said to have
reached the western section.
Evening star., 1925-09-14

friends will form a long automobile
caravan and journey to the scene of
the celebration over the new concrete
highway connecting Alexandria direct
with this town.
The Alexandria Booster Club will
have charge of the caravan and cere-
monies at the fair. The object of the
parade and subsequent festivities will
be the promotion Of good will between
Alexandria and contiguous territory
especially in the interest of trade.
The automobiles forming the pro-
cession will be gaily decorated with
streamers and will bear banners ex-
planning the advantages Of Alexandria
as a commercial and merchandising
center. The caravan will assemble at
the Chamber Of Commerce headquar-
ters In Alexandria at IL O'Clock and
will start moving toward the fair
Evening star., 1925-09-14
LOCAL LEGION UNIT
YIELDS ITS CHARTER
Washington Post Auxiliary Dis
bands in Interest of Harmony,
Mrs. Walker Announces.

In the interest Of harmony. ac-
cording to members, the George
Washington Post unit Of the American
Legion Auxiliary has surrendered it's
charter to the national legion auxiliary
organization and gone out of exist
ence. This action was taken last
week. Mrs. Thacker V. Walker, presi-
dent of the Washington department
of the auxiliary said, to promote
harmony in the ranks Of ~, organi-
zation and to remove a weapon from
the opponents of the unit. Several
members of George Washington Post
Evening star., 1925-09-14
Drought Brings
Mosquito Plague
To Maryland City
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CUMBERLAND. Md, September
14.-Stagnation of streams and pools
left row by the long drought has
brought a plague of mosquitoes to
this city and environs which officials
and citizens are battling with oils
and lime.
Rains are depended upon as a final
weapon, since mosquitoes do not
breed in fresh water. but the prospects
OF rain We're not encouraging today.
The health department will receive
a carload Of lime late today for use
along the river bank in Wills Creek
and among other low places. Kero-
sene is being used on catch basins
and in manholes and sewer openings.
Evening star., 1925-09-14

are understood to be considering steps
for the formation Of a new auxiliary
unit with the sanction Of the post.
Action OF the auxiliary in disband-
ing and turning back its charter was
entirely voluntary. according to Mrs.
Walker. The auxiliary was in good
standing with the national body, and
1t was explained that during its two
year existence the unit has spent
nearly $4,000 for welfare and relief
work among former service men.
Mrs. Walker, who was member of
the George Washington auxiliary, has
transferred her membership to the
Robley d. Evans unit In order to
avoid the raising Of any question as
to the legality OF her presidency Of
the local auxiliary.
Evening star., 1925-09-14

grounds Immediately. A general IN.
vitation has been extended to all
Alexandrians to participate in Alex
andria day"
special program Of addresses and
entertainment, with music by the Gull
pepper Band, has been arranged for
the sojourn of the visitors at the fair,
Judge Laughlin said.
Evening star., 1925-09-14

1t required three weeks telephoning
every day and at least 20 letters to
gain Thomas Hardy's consent to a
revival of Tess of the D'Urbervilles"
in London September
Evening star., 1925-09-14
FAIRFAX FAIR TO OPEN
WITH ALEXANDRIA DAY
Automobile Caravan to Convey
Business and Professional Men
and Families Wednesday.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE, Va,
September 14.-Opening day at the
Fairfax fair will be alexandria day."
Judge Clifton Laughlin, president of
the Fairfax County Fair Association,
announced today. The fair begins
Wednesday on the local fair grounds
Business and professional men of
Alexandria and their families and
Evening star., 1925-09-14
100000 Fire in Joplin, Mont.

JOPLIN, Mont, September IA Vo.-
Fire destroyed an entire block of this
city yesterday, the loss being, esti-
mated at 100000. The post offlce, a
hotel and a number Of business houses
were burned.
New Britain herald., 1925-10-31
13 Is [23Ez94NHE

bands In the morning of our love.
By the way, Karl tells me he has
no intention of marrying Mary
Stokley or anyone else at the pres
ent moment. He says that his adj
ventures in love and marriage have
not been so happy that he is anx-
ious to try them again. can see
that Mary's sister Betty Is very
much disappointed. but between
you AMI me, dear, ] do not think
Mary would make him happy. I
would like very much TO see him
married. but, as I told him. ! want
him to be sure this time that he
loves the girl he's going to marry,
Leslie. / never could have had a
son that would be kinder and
more considerate TO me than Kari
has been and q. I'm quite sure !
do not know any difference be-
| tween him and a boy OF my own.
I think now we will come home
in about two months. Karl wants
me to open his house for him and
play hostess and l think, perhaps,
| that l shall do so.
Have you any commissions for
me over here? If so, will you please
cable them Immediately?
Give my love, dear, TO John. ]
have been perfectly at ease, know
ing he is at the head of the plant
and am looking forward to seeing
your baby that was born since
came away, and you can tell Jun.
Tor for me that probably shall moi
know him, he will have grown so
I will close now, knowing II will
be only a little while till I shall
clasp In my arms the dear, deal
daughter who has never given ms
a moments unhappiness.
Lovingly,
Mother.
Copyright, 1928, NEA Service,
| Inc.1
TOMORROW - Gable from Kar
! Whitney 10 Leslie Prescott.
New Britain herald., 1925-10-31

act out the whole story. A new story
Miles Standish," will start on Mon
day. Watch for it.
After year of trial the Maid of
Orleans was condemned to death.
On the Gath day of May, 1881, she
was led from prison wearing long
black gown. A guard of 800 SOL
diers surrounded her to keep off the
crowd. But suddenly there rushed
through their ranks haggard and
miserable figure. 1t was Nicholas
Loyseleur, who, seized by remorse,
had come to ask forgiveness. But
before he could reach her the SOL
1iers drove him back. Joan prob
ably neither saw nor heard him for
she was weeping and praying con-
tinuously.
She called for a priest, who
heard her confession, then bravely
she went to her death, saying,
MY voices have not deceived me"
The French people soon saw
that they had made terrible mis-
take, but it was too late. In spite
of her tragic death. however. the
marvellous deeds of Joan of Arc
will always keep her name at the
forefront of the worlds great lead
ers.
Copyright 1925, Associated Editors
| Incl
New Britain herald., 1925-10-31

well, there's another one gone, /"
said Peter Rabbit as he stared at
the place where slowpoke the Box
Turtle had disappeared and was
still digging his way down TO go
to sleep for the winter. IF this
keeps on there won't be many left
by the time Jack Frost gets here.
| am glad that there are some who
are not afraid Of cold weather. I
would go look for Nimbleheels
the Jumping Mouse, but 1t would
/ be useless. He went to sleep long
ago. I believe he is the first to go
, TO sleep and the last to wake up.
! He spends as much time asleep as
he does awake. What a lot fellow
! like that misses"
, He does So" said a voice. II
! don't know what you're talking
New Britain herald., 1925-10-31
A Wife's Confessional
Adele Garrson's New Phase OF
REVELATIONS OF A WIFE

the coffee, II It isn't just the
heaven-sent moment for serving It,
nobody's going to kick except
Mother Graham. And ten to one
she'd ind fault with II, anyway. so
you might just as we'll let her have
some real cause for criticism. As
for me, I'm going to have my cup
right now and here. Then when
you've taken Or. Meredith upstairs
to see Katherine, you can signal me
when and where you want the
trays"
IF you dare to carry tray" I
threatened her, ''I'll come down
after them. Now. promise you'll
be good, or | shall mount guard
down here and let DR.. Meredith ring
the doorbell off"
Another loud, impatient peal
punctuated my sentence. and Lillian
leaned against the table laughing.
'Only Let That Man I'M
IN promise anything" she said,
only let that man in"
Remember" said melodrama-
tcally as ] sped to the door. At
any other time / knew that my
mother-in-law would have insisted
upon Katie answering the door, and
her failure TO send the girl down
told me plainly that she was not yet
ready to have the noted alienist
enter katherine's room. 1t was
silent signal ] dared not disobey, and
/ racked my brain for an excuse to
delay DR.. Meredith downstairs when
4 should have admitted him.
He looked impatient OF all delay
as | threw open the door. With a
'good-evening," almost court, he
strobe into the hall, his handsome
face bereft of Its usual rather fiorid
color, his keen eyes betraying his
anxiety.
Where is Mrs. Bickett?" he
asked. In the same room her pa
tient had? Shall l go right up?"
had no other weapon against
his impetuosity but frankness.
No, you cannot. just now, DR..
Meredith" l said smiling MY
mother-in-law is with her, and she.
in all probability. would swoon If
you entered the room before every
ptllowcase and coverlet were adj
justed to her IDEAS. You probably
have met the perfect housekeeper
before. Mother Graham Is one par
excellence and we never think of
disputing her mandates. But I am
sure she will summon us In a very
few minutes. You have just time
for 4 cup Of hot coffee. Please
come this way"
He followed me obediently, appar-
entity not needing the slight noise
which caught my ear. It was the
stealthy closing of the door. into a
passage leading to the rear stairs. !
realized in panicky instant what
had happened. Dicky had rushed
down the gear stairs nearest his
room at the sound of the bell intent
upon answering It, and was now re.
treating after having heard my in.
vitation 10 fascinating Hal Meredith
to take coffee with me.
Copyright, 1925, by Newspaper
Feature Service, Inc.)