country through its many agencies in all the largest cities. It is said that by the application of these to the soil, that two blades of grass will spring up where but one grew before. Thus causing almost worn out fields to put on a grass sward and then heavy crops of tobacco and other products. This beneficial aid to nature appeals to the farmers and encourages them to never despair, but to always resort to the excellent fertilizers which are made and adapted to each crop by the reliable Virginia-Carolina Chemical Company, and then his plantation2 will always yield a large and remunerative3 increase over its former productions.
Among the pleasant and interesting customs of the past, was the regular habit of Virginians to gather together just before important elections and hold barbecues, which were always well-gotten up and carried out by a committee appointed for the purpose, who attended to the cooking; there was always a quarter of fat beef, and a whole mutton barbecued to a turn, and when dinner was announced the political speakers adjourned4 the meeting until the crowd had partaken generously of the meats and also of the good toddies furnished freely to the voters assembled on the festive5 occasion.
And when dinner was all over, the orators6 would resume their pleas for votes. The last barbecue of this extensive sort that I remember attending was at the Drewry Mansion7, near Manchester. It was a very delightful8 place for such a meeting of suffragans; it being a handsome dwelling9 in a beautiful grove10 of stately old oak trees, commanding from an eminence11 a magnificent view of the plantation and the winding12 James River below. Among the speakers on the occasion were George D. Wise and
Richard Beirne, who pleased every man present and all returned home well satisfied with the whole outing.
Among the well-known characters of Richmond was one George Dabney Wootton, who came here before the war and was employed by the South, a newspaper published by Mr. Roger A. Pryor, and when the paper was discontinued he scraped together a smattering of what he thought was law, and hung out his shingle13 at the police court. Many people credited him with having “rats” in his head. One thing is certain, the man possessed14 inordinate15 self-reliance, or “brass16,” as it is called. He advertised a good deal in the newspapers and a certain Western man, who read his “ads,” came on to the city with a good fat case of law, involving a large amount of money, which he placed in Wootton’s hands, but subsequently finding that it would not be safe under Dabney’s skill, in other words he was not qualified17 to manage so large a case, he sent and offered him a nice sum of money if he would give up the matter, but the learned attorney declined to withdraw from the case, and said that he proposed to go through with it. His client then had to employ assistant counsel, and obtained the legal service of Col. James Lyons, one of the most eminent18 lawyers of the bar of Virginia. Of course that settled it so far as Mr. Wootton was concerned.
I remember several years ago, when Mr. Isador Rayner, the United States Senator from Maryland, spoke19 at the Academy of Music, upon the subject of the tariff20. Now, as a matter of fact, this is a generally dull subject, consisting of so much detail, and so many statistics and figures. But on this occasion it was quite the reverse of dull, for he discussed this intricate question in such an interesting manner that our attention was rivetted throughout the address, and every listener was charmed from the beginning
to the finish. It was indeed one of the very finest speeches that I ever heard.
A prominent and remarkable21 man was in his day, Mr. Joseph Mayo, who succeeded Mr. Lambert as the chief magistrate22 or mayor of Richmond; he was a good lawyer, indeed one of renown23, and the author of the celebrated24 work called “Mayo’s Guide,” a book of high standing25, and an authority at the bar for all legal forms used in the Richmond courts. At that time the Mayor performed the office of police judge, and well I do recall seeing him seated in his big chair with all the high dignity of a Roman senator; he was always dressed in a blue dress coat with brass buttons and ruffled26 shirtbosom. He dispensed27 even handed justice, and was a highly esteemed28 citizen of Richmond.
When the army of Northern Virginia, under General Robert E. Lee, was fighting at Spotsylvania Courthouse; occurred the battle at New Market, between the Confederate forces under General Jno. C. Breckenridge, and those under the Northern General Siegel. When Grant withdrew his lines of battle General Lee marched on parallel lines to Grant’s. We stopped at Hanover Junction29 and there sharp skirmishing took place. The railroad train conveying the cadets of the Virginia Military Institute stopped a short time, and I went on board and inquired if Cadet George Kennon Macon, my brother, was aboard the train, and the answer was, to my distress30, that he was not, as he had been wounded in that celebrated charge of the cadets at New Market, in the Valley of Virginia, by a canister shot passing through his arm, and he had to be left behind under the care of those kind and skillful surgeons of the corps31—Doctors George Ross, and Marshall. Captain Miles C. Macon, of the Fayette Artillery32, my brother, also, was then just recovering from a spell of
typhoid fever, which had prevented his being in the engagement at the front, went up to the valley and brought our wounded brother down to our mother’s home in Richmond, and it is needless to say that everything that love and sympathy could suggest or inspire was employed to relieve his pain and hasten his recovery. He was the idol33 of the family, and his wound was attended to by that most skillful surgeon Doctor Petticolas. It was an ugly wound and he suffered from it to the day of his death.
The brilliant charge of those young boys—cadets—at the severe fight of New Market, forms one of the brightest pages of military glory, and in all history there has never been its equal. Their steady, stoical bravery at the crisis of the battle, under circumstances and surroundings that staggered the old veterans. As these gallant34 youths moved across the field in the face of a withering35 fire of artillery concentrated on them, they were literally36 mowed37 down, but their ranks were filled up as coolly as if they were on parade, and they never faltered38 in their charge until they had captured the guns before them. This was, as often written, one of, if not the most striking achievements, of the great war between the States. Many have blamed the commandant of the institute, General Smith, for allowing the boys to be carried to the front, though he had no option in the matter; it was a case of emergency; of salvation39 to the army, and indeed of safety to the institute, and accordingly General Breckenridge called forth40 the corps, and they were eager for the fray41, and proved their mettle42.
A gleaning43 of significance was: A certain lady was the fortunate possessor of two sons whose ages were respectively twelve and fourteen years; these boys were once invited to a juvenile44 party, their mother having provided
them new roundabouts with plain brass buttons and trousers to match with well starched45 collars, their faces having been, of course, washed clean, and the chaps were well dressed and smart looking. Before parting with them, when they were leaving home for the entertainment, their mother, after carefully inspecting them, said, now boys you are both big fools, and now don’t you open your mouths while at this party. The host of the entertainment came to them and complimented their behaviour and appearance, and inquired about their mother. The boys looked directly at one another, but remained as dumb as oysters46 in the shells. Their hostess fared no better, and received no satisfaction when she kindly47 inquired of them about their parent. As she left the boys she remarked, well those are certainly the greatest dunces that I have ever seen. They overheard her remark, and one of them said to the other brother, they have found us out. Let us go home. Those very boys afterwards developed into intelligent men. It was truly wrong in their parent to thus discourage her boys on their first start into society; she should have taken an optimistic view of the matter, as the final result proved, as they both grew up to be well informed members of society.
A characteristic feature of the period of the time in which I am engaged writing, is the friendly relations now existing between the sections of the country; the North and the South. Nearly half a century has elapsed since the surrender at Appomattox. All the acrimony engendered48 by the late strife49, has ceased. The bone of contention50, the “Slavery Question,” which once divided the States, no longer exists, and now we see the Southern girl marrying the Northern beau, and the Northern knight51 woos and weds52 the Southern heroine, and thus results a commingling53 of blood and interests.
During the winter just preceding the great war between the States, a Miss Duryea, the daughter of Colonel Duryea, of New York, was making a visit to my brother-in-law and his family, Mr. Peyton Johnston, of Richmond, they being strong mutual54 friends. The colonel consented to her visiting in Richmond, and she was a very attractive young lady, and as I was at the time a young man, I was, to some extent, drawn55 to her. I well remember that she played a good game of single-hand euchre, and that we had many pleasant games together. She left for the North just before the beginning of the war. Her father commanded the Duryea Zouaves.
A unique character of the city was one Captain John Freeman, who commanded one of the passenger boats between West Point, Va., and the City of Baltimore. He was a great epicure56, and was noted57 for providing the best meals on his steamer of any one of the line, and passengers to and from Baltimore and Virginia deemed themselves fortunate when they found themselves his guests for the trip on the York River and the Chesapeake Bay route. The genial58 old sailor had, by good feeding, acquired a fine front of genuine aldermanic proportions. A certain man once approached him and remarked that he could give him a receipt which, if he would follow well, would reduce his stomach to its normal size within thirty days. The captain listened attentively59 to him, and then he replied, “My good friend, it has taken me about thirty-five years and several thousand dollars to obtain the generous front that I have, and now you come and tell me how to get rid of it in thirty days or so, after all my time and money has been spent in acquiring it. Now, my dear sir, I must most respectfully decline to make use of your receipt.”
During the war between the States a certain quartermaster with the rank of major, whose duty never took him outside Richmond in extremely hot weather, when the mercury in July ranged from ninety to ninety-five degrees, had a negro boy whose sole employment was to fan him and keep off the flies. Now, this worthy60 official of the Army of the Confederacy always thought himself to be one of the hardest worked men in the service. Peace to his ashes; he has long since “passed over to the other side of the river.”
A time of great interest to the Virginians in the past, was the exhibition of the annual State Fair, when almost every farmer and family came to Richmond during the month of October to attend it. They would put off until then to do the shopping and trading for the fall and winter. The city would then be thronged61 with the visitors from almost everywhere. All the hotels and boarding houses were then filled, and all hands bent62 upon seeing and being seen, would flock out to the Fair Grounds. At night the Mechanic’s Institute was open and filled with machinery63 and mechanical products. The Fair Grounds were situated64 then at now the corner of Main and Belvedere Streets, which had been used during the war as Camp Lee. It is now the beautiful spot called Monroe Park.
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1
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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remunerative
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| adj.有报酬的 | |
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adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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orators
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| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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shingle
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| n.木瓦板；小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌)；v.用木瓦板盖（屋顶）；把（女子头发）剪短 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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inordinate
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| adj.无节制的；过度的 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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tariff
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| n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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mowed
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| v.刈，割( mow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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gleaning
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| n.拾落穗，拾遗，落穗v.一点点地收集（资料、事实）( glean的现在分词 )；（收割后）拾穗 | |
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juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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starched
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| adj.浆硬的，硬挺的，拘泥刻板的v.把（衣服、床单等）浆一浆( starch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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50
contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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52
weds
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| v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的第三人称单数 ) | |
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commingling
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| v.混合，掺和，合并( commingle的现在分词 ) | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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epicure
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| n.行家，美食家 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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