The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-06-16
LOOKING BACKWARD

by the late Jos. A. Roman, a former
resident of Colora section, who NOV
ed West years ago. All those men
toned in the letter have long since
gone to their reward.
Oregon City, Oregon
May 10Th, 1917
j. j. Hanna,
My dear Sir:
Your letter was glad surprise to
me. When man gets to the height
of eighty years the prospect he gazes
upon is often dreary. The advice of
the sages has been for us to keep in
touch with younger men.
l thank you for this chance to use
their advice, also for your invitation
to visit you. 1t is hardly probable
that my feet shall again tread those
well-known paths of Cecil Co., Md,
but shall keep the memory of them
and of the people who frightened
them, among my treasures.
| My earliest recollection of the
West Nottingham church was when
l attended a Sunday School picnic,
or as it was then called, harvest
home, held in the grove standing on
the left of the road leading from
"Korner Ketch' to the church
about 1916 or REV. George Bur-
roughs was the pastor in charge. He
| had the children repeat in concert
after him pledge something after
this style, II really do think l never
will drink any gin, brandy or rum,
or anything else to make drunk
come" l was not one of the Sunday
School scholars, nor had ever heard
concert speaking before. The incl
dent was probably impressed on my
mind by my fathers commentator
of MIR. BIS temperance instructions.
At that date there was more jeal-
ousy among religious sects than ex-
lists today The members seldom com
plimented those not of their belief
l do not know why but at an early
age l had great respect for Mr.. Bur-
roughs. A few years after this he
shocked some of his Pensioners by
marrying his dead wifes sister. This
in England was against the law The
English traditions were stron g
among the old families of Noting
ham. Members of the other sects
were free in their hypocritical cen
sure of Mr. B. He resigned his pas
torship and became the tutor of the
two sons of Commodore Conner.
You speak your admiration of the
late Prof. Bechtel. 1t was not my
fortune to know him personally, but
my brother, who had been at Prince
ton with him, quite often spoke OF
him in high terms. At one time the
two of them seriously considered
plan for charging the Academy
along the line it had been successful
in, i. e., as a preparatory school fol
Princeton College. l think it was
the matter of Mr.. BIS health that
led them to give UP the idea
1t is loss that there has not been
a local historian with the genius to
write and preserve the many quaint
sayings and doings of the generations
that have lived among the hills of the
Octoraro and Conowingo. Wallace
Wiley was most interesting man
| to listen to when he talked local
history. George Gillespie (of George
and John McNamee, brother to Fred,
were men whose minds We're filled
with entertaining stories of the 8th
District. Col Dunbar, McGoldrick,
Simmons, Boyle, Hill, Andy Lowe
and Simeon Donelly, the wandering
tailor, whose Irish wit never failed
to see the ridiculous in his drinking
comrades.
George Gillesie (Polly's George,
he was called to designate HIM was
one of the scholars at the Crooked
Tree" or Log Cabin School" when
Gen. Lafayette in his coach and six
| horses with outriders passed on his
way from Lancaster to Port Deposit.
''The Master" had his scholars in line
beside the road to salute the General
who bowed his acknowledgements.
Lafayette held a reception at Port
where everybody of sufficient impor-
lance went to see him. George said
the General would extend his hand
with the inquiry, you be a married
MANI" If the answer was Eyes"
you be one happy, happy man; if
mo" was the answer "Oh! You be
one lucky, lucky fellow"
Some people believe the spirits of
the departed retain knowledge of
the affairs of men ON earth, that to
some extent we are swayed by this
invisible force. l have been wonder
ing how the spirits of Washington
and Lafayette were affected by pre-
sent conditions. Or if as others be-
lieve, they are re-incarnate animating
our heroes of today. If Washington
has drifted far from his old time
moorings. The entangling alliances
he cautioned us to avoid are with us
in defiance of our belief in the wis
dom of his advice. This conflict be-
tween the Divine right of kings and
declaration that governments derive
their just powers from the consent
of the governed, is as irrepressable
Ioc hot