Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. REMEDY.

Two hundred years ago cur Colonial
ancestors were wrestling with the same
problems that are. monopolizing the
headlines in the newspapers today, with
conditions exactly reversed.
Among interesting historical material
which is now being published are the
executive journals of the Council of
Colonial Virginia The fourth volume
of this series just issued by the Vir-
ginia State Library Board, of which
Representative r. Walton Moore is a
member, covers the period from 1721 to
1880. 1t shows the contrast between
! conditions and practices at that time
! and now.
Instead of there being a surplus of
| grain crops, there was such shortage
| that drastic measures were taken to
| prevent expectation of the wheat and
corn. The principle Of separation of
church and state. on which Gov. Pol
| lard of Virginia doubtless rested his re-
cent refusal to recommend day of
prayer for rain, was, of course, not then
| In effect.
Thus it is found that under council
| orders the Governor on one occasion
proclaimed a day of fasting and hui
initiation, because cit hath pleased Al
mighty God for the punishment of our
sins to aff1ict this colony with a large
and violent sickness and grievous NOR
tally" 1t being thought proper that
"all persons may be excited to a speedy
repentance that so the Almighty may
be moved to avert his judgments"
On another occasion there was SINH
lar action because ut hath pleased
Almighty God in a very surprising and
unusual manner to overspread this Do
minion with vast multitude of cater
piallars which threaten destruction to
fruits of the earth and which we have
just cause to fear are wagent upon us
as a punishment for our many sins and
impieties. And for as much as q sim
cere and unfeigned repentance with
speedy application to the Throne of
Grace will be the surest means to avert
the impending Judgment"
* 4 X
Members of the diplomatic corps who
are making warm-weather holiday at
Point Lookout, some 30 miles from the
Capital, while they keep in close touch
with their respective embassies and le-
cations in Washington, have become
greatly interested In the historic ground
on which they are taking vacation.
On account of its stragetic location
on the Potomac River and the Chesa-
peake Bay, which offered easy access
to the naval forces as well as to the
National Capital at Washington, Point
Lookout was chosen as a military loca-
ton by the Federal Government and
used as such in the war Of the Sixties"
with large hospital, fort and stock
ade, or prison camp, in which we're
held q large number of Confederate
soldiers and officers.
On an inspection trip TO this famous
prison, Gen Benjamin F. Butler dis
played marked humanity toward the
prisoners. When he found that their
principal complaint was lack of fire.
wood, he detailed 100 Confederate pris-
oners, placing them on their honor not
to make any attempt to escape and al
lowing them the use Of four-mule wag-
ons to go into the forest cut and haul
TO camp all the firewood necessary to
make them comfortable.
To prevent an outbreak Of scurvy
among the prisoners, Gen. Butler adj
vised that boatload of onions be or
dered from the North to add to the
camps provisions When advised by the
commanding officer that necessary
funds were lacking. Gen. Butler ordered
che onions to be shipped at once and
they we're paid for out Of his own pro-
vost funds.